HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 76

HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS.

ANNUAL REUNION

That the spirit of reverence for their school was not weakening was shown by the large attendance of ex-pupils at the annual reunion of the Otago High School Cid Boys’ Society held in the Embassy Hall, Moray place, on Wednesday evening. Mr J. J. Mallard (president of the society) occupied the chair.

The Chairman, in welcoming the assembled boys, read a telegram conveying the good wishes of the Christchurch Association. He apologised for the absence of the Rector (Mr W. J. Morrell), who was unwell. Mr Morrell was in his twentyfirst year as rector of the school. Mr Herbert Webb, one of the "first decade boys,” had not sought re-election to the Board of Governors at the last election. Mr Webb had done yeoman service on the board.

Hie toast of “The School” was proposed by Mr L. Fairmaid. He prefaced his remarks with a reference to the significance of the word “School.” The buildings were not the school, he said. They were only the material evidence of it. The school was the spirit that was housed within—the spirit that had spread with the old boys to the four corners of the earth. That spirit had filled the hearts ot the men who feil on the battlefields of Palestine, Flanders, and Gallipoli, and of those who had reached the high places of tho land.

“It is a well-worn toast, and it always creates the same feeling of brotherhood,’ said Mr F. 11. Campbell in reply. Th? boys of the present day were honestly trying to emulate the deeds of distinguished old boys. A very high standard had been set, but he believed that the material in the school at the present time was almost as good, if not quite as good, as that of the old days. The present pupils were indebted to the old boys for the interest they took in the school’. He did not think that the interest of the old boys was shown better than in the way they supported the school athletics. The school"could not produce the giants of the old days or the great players of a few years back, but no school team had done so well as the present one, considering the size and weight of the boys. It was a very plucky team. The masters were trying, in addition to giving the boys the best in the way of book education, to teach them to. behave as gentlemen, and to realise that as they belonged to a great school they must do nothing to tarnish its honour. In speaking of the secondary school Rugby tournaments, Mr Campbell stated that in the many he had seen he bad never witnessed anything to the discredit of the boys. They had no Ranfurly Shield to play for.— (Laughter.) They played for the honour and the glory. The tournaments had done more to cement good fellowship among the secondary schools than anything else. Mr A. C. Stephens proposed the toast of "Old Boys’ Clubs.” There were now three clubs, he stated. The first, the Association Football Club, had been for l ed in 1909. and it had proved a lusty infant. In 1925 two clubs, the Cricket Club and the Hockey Club, had been formed. Both hoped to reach First Grade soon. The Hockey Club had won the Second Grade competition last year, and it had a substantial lead this season. It was good to see the old boys ‘•'sticking together.” “The Old Boys* Cricket Club is going to do a lot for cricket, and it will keep a lot in the game who might otherwise be lost,” said Mr G. R. Dickinson in response. The boys leaving school, however, were not supporting the club as they should. Mr E. Race also replied. Other toasts were: “School Athletics,” proposed by Mr D. M. Stuart, and responded to by Mr T. J. L. Rantin, and “ Kindred Associations,” proposed by Mr W. R. Brugh, and. acknowledged by representatives of various schools. During the evening Mr Herbert Webb expressed appreciation of references to his services on the Board of Governors, of which he had been a member for 12 years. He had retired to make room for a younger man, and he was glad that Mr J. J. Mallard had taken his place. He congratulated the old boys on securing such a representative as Mr Mallard. Items were given by Messrs G. Burk A. W. Alloo. A. A. Finch, W. J. Strong. J. Calder, D. J. Calder, and G. Stuart Thomson.

Professor T. D. Adams was the pianist.