A SCHOOL'S TRANSITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2858, 23 December 1908, Page 13

A SCHOOL'S TRANSITION.

The termination of this school year marks the close of another 6tage in the life of an historic school in Dunedin. "The Stone School," as the fathers of Dunedin know it, and the Union Street School of the present generation, this year passes from its old-time character of an ordinary primary school, and next year assumes its new role of the Normal School in connection with the new Training College. It will thenceforth belong to no school district, and the aforetime householders' committee will give place to the Education Board, which will have direct control over theschool. It » only to be expected that a public school around which the associations of close upon half a century have gathered could not pass away from the control of the householders, through their committee, without occasioning regret and reminiscence on- the part of ineny who have fond, and loving recollections of the 'Bohool in* its various phases in which their early training was received. It was fitting, therefore, that the retiring committee should on -the 16th arrange for a. social gathering of past and present committeemen and teachers of the school. The gathering was held in the gymnasium, and formed a happy and enjoyable reunion. Mr James Dick (chairman of the school committee) presided, and* among6t those present were Messrs A. Miller, P. Aitken, H. Lslip, G. Campbell, G. C. Israel, and Canning (members or committee), the Hon. T. Fergus (chairman of the Education Board). Mr A. Stewart (former head master of the school for 46 years), Mr P. G. Stewart (acting head master of the sohool), Mr D. R. White, M.A. (principal of the Training College and a former assistant teacher in the school), Mr James Edgar (one of the school's earliest pupils), and Messrs Meggett, M'Kinlay, ana other ex-members of the committee. There were in addition a large number of ladies, included amongst ■whom were several who had in past years occupied positions on the staff of the institution both as the Stone Sohool and as the Union Street School. The whole of th» present staff of teachers was also present, ings after a number of apologies, saids The "ipast Listory of the Union Street School, as you all know, is a very notable one. We have with us to-day our old friend Mr A. Stewart, who for the long period of 45 years was master of the school, and who, I hope, will favour us with*; some reminiscences of the past. I need only say that .the beginning 1 of the sohool was really in a small cottage in King street in the

year 1861. The old Stone Sohool waa built in 1862 on the King stret front of the present grounds, and the jKesent school was erected in the year 1878, 30 years ago. I think it seys a good deal for the way the building has been looked after that it is now, after 30 years, as good as new. Under Mr Stewart's cibarge the sohool waa carried on with remarkable suooess, and turned out a very large percentage' of pupils who made their mark in after life. In that connection I may mention a few: Miss Connor (who was the first to take the SJ.A. degree with honours), James Edgar, S. Solomon, K.G., Thomas Mackenzie, M.P., Peter Smeaton, Gilbert Anderson, William Stevenson, besides many others. Associated with Mr Stewart as teachers also were many_ men and women _ whose names have since become familiar as prominent and successful in the various professions and spheres they have since occupied. Among these I may mention Sir ! Robert Stout (Chief Justice), Mr D. B. White, Mr William Murray^ (afterwards inspector for Taranaki), Mr W. E. Spencer (editor of the sohool journal), W. Burnside. eto. The school has been fortunate also in the_ past in having men as members o£ committee who have taken a live intere#o in educational matters, and I need only mention the names of Messrs Cohen, J. I* GiHies, Bull, Meggett. Duthie, and last, butf not least, Mr Israel, to show how fortunate it hae been, and that it must have benefited by the services of sudh committeemen. Since I have been associated with the school as eommitteeman I have been always struck by the interest and pride every individual member of the committee has shown in the well-bejjig of the school. A keen interest ha*, always been manifested in the ytaff, the teaching, and the results, and a pride in improving the school and its surroundings. Addresses were delivered by the Hon. T. Fergus, Mewrrs A. Stewart, G. C. Israel, and D. R. White.