OWAKA DISTRICT HIGH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22807, 17 February 1936, Page 11

OWAKA DISTRICT HIGH

SCHOOL DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS COMMENCED The celebrations of the diamond jubilee of the Owaka District High School was commenced at Owaka during the weekend. The normal population of the township was almost doubled by the number of visitors—chiefly ex-pupils—and the enthusiasm which marked the inaugural functions indicates that the event will long be remembered in the district. On Saturday afternoon the proceedings were of a semi-formal nature, a procession and the roll call and the taking of group photographs occupying the major portion of the afternoon. Yesterday the only official function was a combined church service, which was of an appropriate nature, and formed a memorable part of the celebrations. THE PROCESSION. The procession was well organised, and was a particularly representative one, the trade, industry, and progress sections, into which the displays were classified, all being large ones. Appropriately, the leading place was taken by the progress displays, which ranged from sledges to horse coaches, to wheezy motor cars and to the latest model automobiles. In each case the vehicles were manned with people in typical period costumes. The horse coach was one of the outstanding units in this respect, the atmosphere of one of the busiest epochs in the province’s history being well re-created. Practically all the local trades and industries were represented in the other two sections, some of the floats displaying a considerable amount of ingenuity in their construction. The school children also formed part of the parade, most of them being in fancy costumes indicative of various school subjects and sports. One or two concert parties on large lorries helped to stimulate the gaiety of the proceedings. The proceesion was formed at the south end of the town, and afterwards, headed by the Balclutha Pipe Band, under Drummajor D. Malcolm, proceeded through the main street, which was decorated with greenery and with colourd lights, to the school. The procession, which more than extended through the business portion of the township, was a colourful sight, and very appropriately marked the abandonment of the town to the spirit of carnival, which will rule throughout the jubilee celebrations until Wednesday, when the final function will be held. SPEECHES OF WELCOME.

After the arrival of the parade at the school grounds the chairman of the School Committtee (Mr H. A. Brough) extended a cordial welcome to the visitors. He that the occasion was a “ red-letter day ” in the history of the district, and he was pleased to see that the ex-pupils were responding in such a manner that the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of a school at Owaka would be celebrated in a fitting manner. Mr T. Maginess, on behalf of the local bodies of the district, said it gave him great pleasure to welcome to the town all the visitors, and particularly the expupils. To them the meaning of the celebrations would be most evident for the progress made during the 60 years since the opening of the school would be a matter of personal experience. They had, many of them, waded also knee-deep in mud through the rough tracks in the district. The scenery had greatly changed in many respects since that time, and it was thanks to the labours of the older people that those changes had been made, and that the district had become one which was second to none in the province so far as production was concerned, To the younger generation he expressed the hope that they would continue in the example of their parents. Their reward would come in the celebrations of future jubilees of the school. Mr W. R. Brugh, a member of the Otago Education Board, said it gave him particular pleasure to represent the board at the jubilee, since he had a personal connection with the district in the early days. He referred to the amicable relationships which existed between the board and the local school authorities, remarking that this was due to the sympathetic co-operations which had always existed between the two parties. The board, he said, was especially willing to co-operate in such matters as the celebration of a jubilee, as the gatherings which then took place served to stimulate a wide personal interest in school affairs, and it was usually an interest which did not soon evaporate. Mr D. T. Fleming, another member of the Education Board, also offered his congratulations to the Owaka School Committee on the progress, which it had made, alwavs keeping pace with the development of the district. At one time Owaka had been an exceedingly difficult place to reach, but now it was served by a good railway, and fine motor highways made it easily accessible. These were only two indications of the general progress which had been made, fie complimented the Jubilee Committee on the thoroughness of its organisation, stating that the precession in itself was a credit to the town. In conclusion he expressed the hope that all the visitors would enter heartily into the spirit of the occasion and abandon all formality in seeking out old friends and exchanging the reminiscences which were always one of the most enjoyable features of a school jubilee celebration. ROLL CALL. The ex-pupils were then separated into contemporary groups and the roll call was held and photographic records of the occasion were made. After this afternoon tea was served and the function assumed the form of a conversazione of a completely informal nature. One of the centres of interest was a specially arlanged display of photographs and other objects of a historical and sentimental value. The whole period of the settlement of the district was covered by the range of these exhibits, some of the early sketches of the “ Big Mill ” and the photos of Owaka and the surrounding district being highly interesting. During the. afternoon the Balclutha Pipe Band rendered an enjoyable programme of selections.

CHURCH SERVICE ADDRESS BY THE REV. R. BLAIR. A commemoration service was held in the Memorial Hall yesterday, a large attendance filling the building to overfiowing. The officiating ministers were the Rev. Donald Hillman, vicar of Balclutha, the Rev. Eric M. Enwright, Baptist Church, Owaka, and the Rev. Robert Blair, Presbyterian Church, Owaka. A combined choir rendered special music, including the anthem “ The Gloria ” and the “ Hallelujah Chorus.” The hymns included the “Old Hundredth,” “Abide with Me ” and “ 0 God Our Help in Ages Past.” A solo, “Follow the Gleam,” was also sung by Mrs Ramsay Howie This number was specially composed for such occasions by Dr Harold Findlay. Two addresses were given during the service, the first being a message to the children by Mr Enwright, who impressed on the younger people the meaning of the jubilee celebrations and appealed to them to observe high ideals of service. The principal address was delivered by Mr Blair, who based his sermon, “ Our Debt to the Past,” on the reading from St. John iv: 31-38, and especially on the words: “ I send you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour; other men laboured and ye have entered into their labours,” These words, said the speaker, were an introduction to a principle that was universal in its application; most of the essentia! work requiring to be done in any generation had already been well provided for by the preceding generation.

The speaker then illustrated from history how, despite much destruction and wasting, it was true that one civilisation wag enriched by another, one generation by another, and one field of human endeavour by another. True history was an ordered recital of human endeavour and human progress in their broader and narrower sweeps. He referred to the inheritance that the present civilisation had received from the empires of the past. From the god-conscioug race of Hebrews came the development of religion to the church militant of the Western world. From the Greeks, the masters of philosophy, art, literature, and government, came the development of the sciences. Rome, that benevolent despot at the commencement of the Christian era, had also handed on a valuable heritage. The same great principle could be observed working in the history of the British Empire—the greatest co-operative effort in statecraft the world had ever seen.

Applying the same idea to New Zealand and to the foundations of the province of Otago, the speaker said;— “ Some of us are among the second generation of immigrants, while many of us are among the first generation of New Zealanders born. We have experienced or we can remember some of the rigours of the way, but there were always those farther back who endured even greater hardships. I hope we shall be agreed that there could be no better illustration of our text than this beautiful countryside in which we find ourselves, with its background of hardship, human endeavour, vision, defeat and victory. How true it is in this Qatlin s area that we are reaping that whereon we bestowed no labour; other men have laboured and we are entering into their labours. “One need hardly spend time, he said, “ recounting the historical and general development of this district and its progress along many lines. We remember that, at first, access was almost entirely by sea until in due course tracks were blazed through the bush from Port Molyneux and Glenomaru. In these early days to ride into Owaka was quite an achievement. With the advent of the sledge and vehicular traffic, roads began to take form. The wanderlust and necessity were upon many who found occupation with the various sawmills that began to make their appearance. As well, there was the beginning of business enterprise. Some brave spirits early turned to the land in the endeavour to establish themselves and carve homesteads out of the bush. Scottish communities lay great stress upon the undefeatable trinity, the home, the Church, and the school, and all of these early made their appearance, and with them came greater permanence and more ordered ways of life. The result has been a prosperous township and countryside with promise of consistent development in many directions for years to come. So fast have we moved that, instead of being a very much isolated and anathematised community, we are now definitely part of the modern world, and enjoy our full share of its amenities. It might touch the imagination if we reflect that to-day one could take a trip round the world as quickly as 60 years ago one could make the return trip from, say, Balclutha to Chaslands. “In our tradition,” he concluded, "as we have noted, the school is a potent factor in the life of the community, and surely here we have a fine example of the principle that other men have laboured. Executives, board members, craftsmen, teachers, committeemen, parents and scholars have done their part, and we have entered into their labours. It is a story that should thrill the most callous of us at this diamond jubilee season, and should inspire us as we add our contribution to make it even worthier than those that have preceded. We look back with gratitude and pride, acknowledging our debt to the full; we look forward with courage and hope and with the prayer that we, too, may be kept faithful unto death.” The organist for the service was Miss Ruby Price and the choirmaster Mr 0. G. B. Ibbotson. CONCLUDING FUNCTIONS To-day a picnic will be held at Pounawea, and to-night a surprise entertainment will be provided. To-morrow, visitors will have an opportunity of visiting some of the scenic resorts of the district, and, in the evening, the official jubilee banquet will be held. The celebrations will ba concluded on Wednesday. A field day will occupy most of the time, and a ball will be held at night.