BALCLUTHA SCHOOL JUBILEE.

Otago Witness, Issue 4014, 17 February 1931, Page 75

BALCLUTHA SCHOOL JUBILEE.

CLOSING FUNCTIONS. The final functions in connection with the jubilee celebrations of the Balclutha School took place on Tuesday, when keen interest was still manifest in the proceedings. In the afternoon a sports meeting and picnic was held on the Sports Ground, and was largely attended. A banquet was held, commencing at 5 o’clock, and on its termination at halfpast 8 the jubilee ball was commenced. Such was the extent of the patronage of the last-named function that a section of the dancers had to be accommodated in the Band Hall, as the Oddfellows’ Hall was filled to overflowing. The following are the results of the sports meeting:—Girls under five— Thelma Scott 1, Sylvia Murray 2. Girls under seven—Valda M’Noe 1, Phyllis Washington 2, Phyllis Middleditch 3. Girls under nine—Myra Middleditch 1, P. Haydon 2, Edna Gormack 3. Girls under 11— Audrey Currie 1, P. Middleditch 2, Genty Anderson 3. Girls under 13— Dorothy Rodgers 1, Alberta Millie 2, Dorothy Lyall 3. Girls under 15—Isabel Fullarton 1, Verna M’Auslan 2, Edna Lyall 3. Boys under five—Allan Schrader 1, C. Cook 2, J. Jardine 3. Boys under seven—Bruce Ludlow 1, J. Randle 2, M. Belisky 3. Boys under nine—J. Clark 1, K. James 2, G. Guest 3. Boys under 11 — D. Randle 1, lan M’Noe 2, Allan Scott 3. Boys under 13—S. Richardson 1, M. Anderson 2, R. Buchanan 3. Boys’ threelegged race, under 10 —Edwards and Mulvey 1, Pearson and Guest 2, MuLflUr and 1' ryer 3. Boys’ three-legged race, under 14—Stephens and Melvin 1. Petrie and Arnold and Blair and Fullarton (dead ,eat) Girls’ three-legged race, under 12 — D. Simpson and D. Algie and A Currie and P. Middleditch (dead heat) 1. Girls’ three-legged race, under 14.—Millis and Rodger 1, Bruce and M’Auslan 2, Gold and Lyall 3. Boys’ race, under 15 — Melvin 1, Arnold 2, Petrie 3. Wheelbarrow race, boys under 10—Clark and Scott 1 - Er 7 an d Edwards 2. Randle and V. Wheelbarrow race, boys under Buchanan 1, Orchard and .Melvin 2, Bates and Ward 3. Wheelbarrow race, girls under 10—Shepherd and bimpson 1, Washington and Clent 2, Davie and Buchanan 3. Wheelbarrow race girls under 14—Lyall and Mitchell 1, Borthwick and Lyall 2. Girls’ HMi ,°L ehampionship—V. M’Auslan 1 K MAuslan and E. Lyall (dead heat) 2. Youths 100 yards—lvan Stewart 1, A. Landels 2. Married men’s race—T Wil- •’ , H ’, 9i Hara 2 - Captain Stone 3. Married ladies— Mrs Campbell I. Mrs Murray 2, Mrg Cunningham 3. Ex-pupils’ Hall.—Todd clan—Robert Moffat I George Ludlow 2. Grigor danK. I*. Henderson and P. . Bell (dead ?> eat ’t?.’ . A ’ Lattimore 3, James Sim 4. Pope-Richardson dan (ladies)—Mrs Tosh L Mrs Shepherd 2, Mrs Edgar 3; men— W Dripps 1, J. Shand 2. J. Clark 3. Mklrea clan (ladies)—Mrs M. Scully 1. Mrs Cunningham 2, Mrs Shepherd 3; men ~9 E ’ O’Hara 1. S. Walker 2, D. Sinclair 3 furner-Nicolson clan (ladies) — Jessie Borthwick 1,1, E. Carter 2. Hazel Wallace 3; men—J. Craig 1, J. Muir 2. Mitchell 3. Modern elan (ladies) —M Borthwick 1, V. M’Auslan 2. Dorothy Edwards 3; boys—A. Landels 1. Hawley 2. 1. Stewart 3. Jubilee Committee—D Sinclair 1, Captain Stone 2. T. Wilson 3 Consolation, boys under 10 —I M’Noe 1 D. Randle 2, R. Buchanan 3. Consolation, girls—Alberta Millis 1. D. Rodgers 2. E. Borthwick 3. Young Men’s Race— J. Muir 1. I. Stewart 2, W. Jardine 3. P°o S ’tt and inder—M. Anderson 1, S Richardson 2, J. Hansen 3; girls. 14 and under—E. Borthwick. 1. Jean Gold 2, L. Bruce 3. Jubilee Cup. men over 60 —Robert Moffat 1 John Dunne 2. J. H Matheson 3. Boys, under 16, 440 yards— D. Clent and R. Melvin, dead heat, 1, lan M 4 Noe 3. A. Stewart 4; girls, under 14,.350 yards—Jsla Millis 1, Dojis Algie 2, Jean Gold 3 Mr Matheson, in a humorous speech, presented the cup (the K-ft of Mr D Ash) to the winner (Mr R Moffat). During the afternoon step dances were given bv Miss Cara Peterson, who was accompanied on the bagpipes by Mr D. M‘Farlane. THE BANQUET. About 300 persons sat down to a banquet in the evening at the Oddfellows’ Hall. The chairman (Mr W. M’Elrea) read telegrams from a good number of ex-pupils, regretting their inability to be present and extending the best wishes for the success of the function. A silent toast was observed in memory of those who had passed through the school and whom death had claimed. The toast of “ Education Authorities ” was in the hands of Mr F Waite, MP who said that, on behalf of the Parlia-’ ment of New Zealand and the people of South Otago, he wished to congratulate everybody concerned on the way in which the arrangements for the jubilee had been carried out. The people of. this country had a great deal to be thankful for. :n tlie uplifting influences of . the home, the Church, and the school. Someone had defined education as what remained after one had forgotten all that one had learned, and the early settlers of Otago had realised that the three influences referred to were the things, that mattered Whatever changes would be made in edu cation, he said, there was no neec’ to reform the primary schools. They had stood the test, and those who had attended the school were eloquent proof of the value of -'rimary education.

Replying, the chairman of the Otago Education Board (Mr J. Wallace) said that it was magnificent that schools in Otago could attract such crowds as Balclutha had It was more than a passing whim. He had attended many such functions, but each one made him feel glad that he had gone to school in Otago. He thought that their sympathy would go out to those scholars in Hawke’s Bay who had lost their schools. If Otago could do anything, to assist he was sure that the Otago Education Board would say to the department, “ We are ready.” — (Applause.) Mr Wallace referred to the last special committee’s report on education, and said that he believed that it would stay as such. That committee was one of the least fit to bring down such a report as it had.— (Applause.) Mr D. T. Fleming, M.L.C., representing the Council of Education, said it gave him great pleasure to join with the

cx-pupilg m celebrating the jubilee of the school. They had spent a very pleasant tune during the past few days in meeting old friends and talking over incidents of their younger days. In no province in New Zealand, lie said, was there such an interest taken in education as in Otago. These were changing tunes, but he doubted very much whether the changes suggested in education would go nearly the length that it was proposed that they should. It would be a great mistake to go as far as was recommended by the report of the Committee on Education referred to by the previous speaker. It had been said that education was costing too much, but lie doubted if the expenses of primary education could be reduced without impairing its quality. The two men at the head of education affairs in New Zealand —Messrs T. B. Strong and A. Bell —knew their work. -They were actuated by the highest of ideals, and had the general ability and experience for their positions. The political aspect obtruded itself sometimes, said the speaker, and brought about changes in educational administration, but he doubted that they had the approval of the departmental heads. Mr Fleming stated that the gathering that night did credit not only to the school and its pupils, but to the town of Balclutha.

The Rev. James Rattray proposed the toast of “ The School,” and said that he would cherish the memories of the old days. He referred to the different , teachers whom he had known, and stated that the school had suffered a great loss on their leaving it. They had constructed the right foundation, without which it was impossible for any institution to prosper. The headmaster of the school (Mr W. O’Connor) said that it was unfortunate his immediate predecessor (Mr J. P. Hawke) could not be there. He (the speaker) had known little about the district. when he arrived, except that it had a reputation for business solidity, and that the surrounding districts backed their schools up well. He had since found ample evidence of that. Mr O’Connor stated that he had an excellent staff, and that he owed a deep debt of gratitude to the former teachers. He was proud to accept the responsibility of carrying on the school as they had done, and he and his staff would do their best to maintain its high name. “ Ex-pupils ” was the toast allotted to Mr John Reid, principal of the South Otago High School, who said that the High School was the link between the primary school and the future. Many of the ex-pupils were there that night, not because they had been in the primary school, but because they had been drawn by the High School. He had met many ex-pupils of the Balclutha School in the Otago Boys’ High School, and he had always been impressed by the pride with which they regarded it. Mr Reid went on to refer to those among the products of a school who were honoured, and whose names were placed on the scroll of fame. These were the lawyers, the doctors, the politicians, and the University graduates Wrong values, however, were being given. Service was the thing wnich really counted. No man was educated if he could not turn up his sleeves and work.— (Applause.) Educational institutions stood to do something for the rank and file, and the depression which was at present overhanging the country would drive them back to realise the value of service.— (Applause.) In replying, Mr A. M’Neil gave a review of the early history of the school and the district. Mr A. V. Hope made refer ence to the early teachers of the school, and the invaluable work they had done in placing education on a high plane, while Mr J. H. Guest stated that besides merely teaching the scholars, they inculcated in them the high ideals of good citizenship Messrs James Hogg, H. C. Anderson, and D. G. Buchanan also spoke. The follow ing toasts were also honoured:—“ Exteachers,” proposed by Mr E. E. Boyd, and responded to by Messrs W Renton and J. H. Matheson; “Committeemen,’’ Messrs Parker, M’Kinlay, and J. Gormack and “ The Executive,” Messrs R. Hutton and G. H. Mitchell. During the evening songs were rendered by Messrs D Kaye, J. H. Guest, and J H. Matheson, the accompaniments being played by Mrs J H. Matheson and Mr A Wise A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the banquet. The school jubilee functions proved very successful from a financial point of view. The takings at the ball were £B4, concert £6O, and banquet £75, a total of £219. It is anticipated that there will be a substantial surplus after paying expenses.