NONAGENARIAN SCHOLAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23223, 22 June 1937, Page 5

NONAGENARIAN SCHOLAR

PROFESSOR D. R. WHITE TRIBUTE FROM EX-PUPILS Professor D. R. White, who during the course of a distinguished career gave yeoman service in the cause of education not only in Otago but throughout New Zealand, celebrated his ninetieth birthday yesterday. In accordance with a custom of some years’ standing, several of his oldest ex-pupils marked the occasion by calling on Professor White in the afternoon at his home in St. David street and proffering him congratulations. Mr W. J. Strong extended the good wishes of the party and expressed the hope that the happy gathering would continue to be an annual function lor many years to come. A group photograph was then taken, and it is intended that an enlargement of this will later be presented to Professor White. . . . Professor White commenced ms teaching career at the St. Leonards School, and after a term at the High Street School was appointed farst assistant at Union Street. In 1884 he graduated M.A. at the University of Otago and was shortly afterwards appointed headmaster of the Normal School, in conjunction with which position he was lecturer in English on the staff of the Dunedin Training College. . . , It was, however, as principal of the Training College that he was best known, and there are to-day throughout the Dominion many of the older generation of teachers who bear for him an affectionate regard. Professor White was a member ot the council of the University of Otago from 1904 to 1912, being the first graduate to be elected to a seat on the council. He was also the founder of the New Zealand Educational Institute, of which body he was the first secretary. „ , Despite his great age, Professor White is still mentally alert, and yesterday. during the gathering at his house, he sang his visitors a song in a voice that had lost little of its old-time vitality.