BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23992, 15 December 1939, Page 6

BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL

BREAKING-UP CEREMONY address by dr hercus The annual breaking-up ceremony of the Otago Boys’ High School was held last night in the school hall, and was presided over by the chairman of th - school Board of Governors, who ha<l associated with him on the dais thDeputy Mayor (Mr D. C_ Cameron;, tho Drincipal of the Girls High School (Miss M. H. M. King) and member* of the board and of the executive of the Old Boys’ Association. Chairman’s Remarks Mr Brugh prefaced his remarks by reading a telegram of greeting from a number of old boys who are at present in camp in Ngaruawahia. ana, after briefly reviewing the activities of the school during the year, made special reference to the death of Mr G. C. Proudfoot, an old boy. through whose generosity the Proudfoot Scholarships had been established, and Mr A. Y. Smith, one of the original masters of the school x Value of Active Citizenship The speaker for the evening was Dr C. E. Hercus. Dean of the Otago Medical School, whose remarks tended to emphasise the value of education, especially on the physical side, and of good and active citizenship as mediums for the development of international understanding. He had. Dr Hercus said, an immense belief i:n education, whether primary secondary or university, and it was not necessary to look at the school’s honours list to appreciate its proud traditions. It was. indeed, safe to say that the Otago Boys’ High School stood in the forefront of the great schools of New Zealand, in the work it had done not only for the Dominion and the Empire, but for countries beyond the Empire, for it had sent forth distinguished old boys who in every part of the world and in every walk of life, were doing their jobs to the best of their ability It was gratifying, nowadays, the speaker continued, that in modern education, emphasis was being placed on things other than the mind as. for example, on the physical side. This was a marked advance, and a great and fundamental exercise of anv democracy. “If I had the power of a dictator,” Dr Hercus said. "I would see that every boy and girl of 18 had at least six months’ travel—the cost would only be about the expense of one day’s war—snd they would be able to come back and see their own little stage in much clearer perspective, with a fuller appreciation of what a wonderful little country New Zealand is. and with renewed respect for the pioneers who founded the country IDO years ago.’’ „ . Dr Hercus then went on to tell nis hearers of the work being done under President Roosevelt's new deal by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which had carried out what might be considered a great experiment in the restoration of territory. The denudation of the land, and the erosion which had taken place in the Tennessee Valley was a lesson to New Zealand and a warning against the ruthless destruction of forest—” Nature’s blotting paper.” What Dr Hercus termed a second significant experiment under the new deal, was the establishment of 3000 self-contained camps, each containing 200 young men who were given useful work such as afforestation ana erosion control, and at the same time had the advantage of a magnificent educational programme. As a result these young men were better citizens, and were fitting themselves to go back to the world’s work. It was an idea that might well be considered In New Zealand, for in six months work could be done in such camps as would be of great advantage to posterity.

From America Dr Hercus took his hearers across the Atlantic on the Queen Mary, and then on to Stockholm, where he saw the great athletic conference in the Olympic stadium opened by King Olaf of Sweden. For a fortnight, he explained, athletes from various parts of the world demc.,strated various types of physical training, and the harmony and friendship that existed among the visitors was an illustration of how physical training of this nature could help to break down international barriers. “ I commend this suggestion to you.” he concluded, “for the future is in your hands if you go out and carry the traditions of your school and of active citizenship into all branches of life.” The presentation of prizes followed Dr Hercus’s address and Mr J. D. Fletcher then moved a vote of thanks to the rector the staff, and the Board of Governors, the rector (Mr H P Kidson) replying. During the evening the school choir under the direction of Mr C. R. Spackman. rendered several songs. The following is the prize list:— Dux of school (Board of Governors’ Gold Medal, Dux Association Book Prize, and Brown Memorial Prize): James Kenneth Laing. Proxime accessit to dux: F. K. Rennie (Dr Thomas Mill C.M.G.’s. Gold Medal) Form Prizes Mod. lII.—N. M. Donaldson 1, T. S. Campbell 2. lIIc. —G. P. H. Prain 1, J. McQuitty 2. A. R. Mutch 3. Illb.—R. W Beadle 1. N. H. Hogg 2 D. Ashton 3. Ilia. —E. R. Harding 1. A, B. Cowie 2. S. G. Gapper 3, S. L. Jelley 4. Mod. IV.—L. N Ceilings and N. F Bond 1 (equal). IVc.—A. F. Glenn 1, D. U Halligan 2, P. E Maxwell and J. Edgar 2 (canal). IVb. —A. F. MacDonell 1, N. G. Collins 2, G. A. Falconer 3. IVa. —N. Roydhouse and K. J. Douglas 1 (equal). E. J McCoy 3, A. H. Foster 4. V. rem.—W B, Johnson 1, R. M, Sargison 2. Vd.—L. R. Butterfield 1. J. V, Ingram 2 W. S. Brown 3. Vc.—H. R. McCoy 1. W. K Sinclaii 2. S. Goodman 3. R. B. Seddon 4. Vb—N. A. Wright 1. J R W Logan 2. A. J Ritchie 3. Va. —R. P. Partridge 1, G. M Poole 2 C. I. Overton 3. A. A. Jelley 4. Lower Vl.—English: J. E. Goodyear. Latin: J Murray. French: J. Murray. Mathematics: J N Dodd. Science; J. F McCall on VI; English: J K. Laing 1, G. A, Tait 2. J. E McCoy 3, Latin: F. K. Rennie. French: G. A. Tait. Mathematics: J. K Laing 1. F K, Rennie 2. Science: J, K, Laing 1. B. E. Pierard 2, Fulton scholar: F K Rennie. .Special School Prizes Head Boy’s Prize: M. J. L. Phelan, Best all-round boy: J. K. Laing. Prizes for good work:Seniors, S. I. M. Roxburgh (VI), P. J. Duncan (Lower VI); Fifths—B. E, McPherson (Va), K E. Wing (Vb). P. C. Grayson (Vc). J. Robb (Vc). G. D. Revie (V rem,); Fourths. W, R. D. Inder (IVb): Thirds -R. G. Dykes (Ilia), E. R Ireland (Illb), G. L. Butcher ( Hlc). Drawing; Senior. D. J. McGregor (Vb) 1. W B Johnson (V rem.) 2: Junior, G. G Simpson (Mod. III). Writing:, Senior. R, J. McCully (Lower VI): Junior, E. J McCoy (IVa). Shakespeare reading: G. A. Tait (VI) 1, J. K. Laing (VI) 2. Debating: J K. Laing (VI) Oratory: Senior cup, J. C. Parr (VI): junior, R. C. Barnes (IVa). English essay: G. A. Tait (VI). Bursary for commercial work; F. R. Bond (Vb). David Baxter Memorial. Athenaeum Prizes.—Seniors; R. W. Bremner (Va), I. McMillan (yd). Juniors: K. L. Wynn (IVb), M. O. Clark (Mod. IV), L. B. Brighton (Ilia), F. G. Weedon (Illb). J. L. McDermott (mod. III). Chamber of Commerce “ n .?. e , 5 ;7~ Senior: J. N. Dodd (Lower VI). Middle school: H. R. McCoy (Vc). Junior; N. Roydhouse (IVa),

Special Prizes Gymnastics.—Senior Challenge Cup and prize: A, A. Jelley. Junior Challenge Cup and prize; N. S. Johnston. Cadet Prizes. —Challenge Shield for most efficient platoon: No. 2 Platoon (A Company)—Senior Sergeant J. K. Laing. Sergeant J. E. McCoy. C.S.M. B. E. McPherson. Challenge Bowl and Cup for most efficient n.c.0.: Senior Sergeant J. K. Laing, Sergeants’ prize and challenge cup: Sergeant J. E. Goodyear. Buglers’ prizes: SeniorCorporal J M. Crawford: junior— Bugler K. J. Douglas. Drummers' prize; Drummer W. D. Ross. Best cadet in area .11: C.S.M, B. E McPherson. Best-turned-out cadet: Corporal C. K. George. Shooting.—Challenge cup and Hislop Trophy: R.Q.M.S. C. 1. Overton. Junior challenge cup: Cadet A. G M. Passmore 1. Cadet S. W Ag new 2. School matches: Cadet R. B Johnston 1, Sergeant R. W. Pile 2. Company challenge cups: Cadet W A, Penrose, Cadet B. E. Logan. Sergeant M J L Phelan. Cadet G. M Stewart. Cricket.—Challenge cup (1938); T. W Somerville. Bat for highest average (1938): R. G. Gough. Bat for most improved player (1938): T. Freeman. Intermediate bat: R, E Corbett. Junior bat; E. J McCoy. Rugby Football.—Challenge cup and prize; M. J. L. Phelan. Association Football. —Challenge cup and medal: R. A. S. Clarke. Hockey.—Most deserving player; ■) K. Laing. . „ „ Fives. —Open Singles: J. H. Randle Open Doubles: H. R. McCoy and W. K. Sinclair. Junior Singles: A. H Simes Junior Doubles; R. B. Seddon and H. G. Balk. Distinguished Scholastic Career James Kenneth Laing, this year s dux of the school, received his primary education at the Maori Hill School. A pupil of exceptional ability, his scholastic career at the Boys’ High School was a distinguished one and he also played a prominent part on the sporting side of the school’s activities. During the past season he was captain of the hockey eleven, and this year he has been captain of the second cricket eleven and twelfth man for the first eleven. He was also a prefect, and was considered by his officers to be one of the outstanding n.c.o.’s in the cadet battalion.