A BAND OF BROTHERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 39 (Supplement)

A BAND OF BROTHERS.

—L. Hinge, photo.

— A STIRRING APPEAL. Among the telling speeches delivered at the High School Old Boys’ gathering on Monday last was that of Air Graham Turton, one of the Wellington representatives. Owing to the late hour at which Mr Tarton spoke, we wore unable to do more than make hare reference to the speech, bat it was of such excellent quality that we have pleasure in now giving the greater part of Mr Turton’s remarks. Mr Turton. after expressing the opinion that in order fully to appreciate the jubilee it was necessary to have been away from

Dunedin for some time, said there were four separate reasons for which he was glad to come. He went on to particularise as follows: —First, to see dear, muddy old Dunedin, a beautiful town, where the kindest hearts in the world beat, and where those who have made you a friend once stick to you for ever. Second, to see the old school—the actual buildings themselves Alas, for many of the old boys, the original building has gone, but others of us have had the good luck to come back to see the old doors wo entered by and the spots where we sat in the different class rooms. Third, we were glad to come back and see our old masters —“ Danny,” “ G.AL,” “ A.Y.,” ‘Mungo.” John ! Hanna, and others, who came later.—

(Cheers.) What a joy it has been to us visiting old boys to sec them again and to express to them the love and esteem wo have for them.— (Applause.) I can well imagine what the feelings of our old masters have boon during the past few days, and I oan assure you T would rather have been a master or an ox-master of the Otago Boys’ High School during the past week than have been the Emperor of China —(Loud laughter), the Pope at Rome, or the King Emperor of all the Britains. —(Applause.) I would rather have been a master of the Boys High School during the past week than have had the D.S.O. or Victoria Cross pinned on my breast by his Majesty the King. Fourthly, our greatest happiness has been in meeting

our old friends, our schoolmates, the boys! plar.se.) Fate at times deals some of',us who were our chums, or those older than ‘ hard knocks, and some old boys have in us whom wo admired in our young days. I the past, and others in the future will, Some of them we have not seen for years i go down the ir'll a bit; sometimes through and years; we have not even exchanged a j their own fault, sometimes by sheer had postcard with them; and to have met so | luck. Let us all, therefore, determine that many of them in the last few days, to have 1 as a result of this reunion we shall always seen the smiling faces, and to have felt ] help an old boy who is down, .- mply the warm, strong handclasps has been the I because he is an old boy.—(Applause.) I greatest possible joy to us vis ting old i don’t moan to give him a sovereign and pass boys. — (Applause.) The great Admiral, Lord on; but give him something more valuable. Nelson, at the time just, before Trafalgar, j give him some of your time, give him described his captains as “a happy band the hand of friendsh p.—(Applause)—a of brothers, and that is what I hope you word of encouragement; show some kindly all feel about this reunion. Wo are a ! interest in him and start him afresh in happy band of brothers, and I trust one I life’s battle.—(Applause). If all of us do result of this reunion will bo to draw 1 this it will just fy what I claim we are—this bond of brotherhood t ghter.—(Ap- i a happy band of brothers. —(Loud cheers.)