VETERAN SCHOLARS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19125, 21 September 1936, Page 10

VETERAN SCHOLARS

OLD BOYS OF GISBORNE

SECOND ANNUAL REUNION

MR. J. 11. BULL HONOURED

Survivors of the classes of'Gisborne Central School for the past CO years were represented at the second annual reunion of veteran scholars of that institution, hold on Saturday evening'. The attendance was not as large as had been expected, but the sentiment which prompted the formation of the Gisborne School Veterans' Association Inst year was again well in evidence, and in the course of the evening tributes were paid to former headmasters, teachers, and pupils of the school who had distinguished themselves in various ways.

The gathering honoured especially Mr. J. H. Bull, third in the recognised line of headmasters, the first and second being the late Messrs. Mabcrley and Morgan. Mr. Dull was present. and the warmth of the greeting given him when, he rose in response to the toast of “Early Schoolmasters” was remarkable. Bis own reaction to the greeting was marked, and he pleaded the indulgence of the old pupils for his failure to express adequately what their goodwill meant to him.

The chairman for the. evening was Mr. Robert; Robb, who called the pupils to their places with a ring of n, bell, and kept order in the classroom without difficulty, the moral effect, of a stout cane and a formidable strap which lay close to his hand perhaps contributing materially to the excellent, discipline. In opening the proceedings, Mr. Robb referred to the many messages received from other ex-pupils of Gisborne School who were now living outside the district, but who had sent, their greetings, in some cases including in their letters brief reminiscences of their own days at school. PREPARATION OF REGISTER The chairman mentioned further that a. register was being prepared for future reference, and that the committee would appreciate assistance in securing the names and addresses of old pupils not already identified. A number of messages were received from old boys of the school, who unanimously expressed regret at their inability to attend the reunion, and who, wished to convey their greetings to their old masters and the mates of their boyhood years. The chairman remarked incidentally that most of those who had forwarded letters could hardly have wbn any prizes for their handwriting. Mr. .Robb expressed his pleasure in again presiding at the annual gathering, and paid a tribute to the committee, and especially to the secretary, Mr. C. W. Muir, and the vice-president, Mr. Alf. Wade, for their work in organising the function. It was regrettable that many of those who last year, had expressed a. keen desire, to see a further function of the kind organised had not supported this year’s effort. It was essential that the spirit of co-operation should prevail in the association, or it could not he successful. Mr. Robb added a few comments on (he changes in the educational system of the country, in the direct ion of making school work' less arduous ami more attractive. Ho expressed much satisfaction in noting the good health enjoyed by his former master, Mr. J. 11. Bull, and hoped that Mr. Bull would he able to attend many more of the association’s functions. (Applause.) TRIBUTE TO MASTERS T! lc toast of “Early Schoolmasters” was entrusted to Mr. G. 11. Scents, who stated that it seemed to have been, taking a big chance in asking him to propose it, since he was one who had suffered much at the hands of masters and -school-mistresses. No doubt he had shared with many others in his earlier years the feeling that perhaps the world would bo better oil without schoolmasters, but now time had healed old wounds and he could recognise that the teachers had had a job to do, and had done it well despite, many handicaps. Looking back, one could appreciate all the trials which had been placed upon the shoulders of the profession of schoolteaching, and the wonderful spirit with which they had l undertaken, and completed their tasks. Greeted with prolonged applause and musical honours, Mr. J. 11. Bull expressed his deep appreciation of the invitation to he present, and of the further honours done, to him. He was not accustomed to giving expression to His thoughts in these later years, but ho wished those present to believe, that he. was greatly touched by (he reception given to him. lie had wished to address the gathering at greater length, but lie did not feel equal to the occasion, and would ask his, old pupils to excuse him. Mr. Bull resumed his seat amidst renewed applause.

The chairman, in (lie interval which followed, paid a warm compliment to Mr. Bull as a coach to young men in tlie night school which the speaker had attended in his youth. Not only had Mr. Bull given him coaching, but also had taught his son Frank. This lad, the chairman confessed amidst laughter, had been an associate of Mr. Bull’s own son Noel, and the pair had been the “liveliest young devils” lo be found anywhere. A ‘' BULL-ITE ’ ’ —AND PROUD. .Speaking on the toast of the “Gisborne '(School Veterans ’ Association, ” Mr. Harold Bright remarked that ho ■felt quite a youngster among all the grey-heads present. He knew nothing of the M'aberley period of the school, he said; lie was a “Bullite, ” and proud of it. (Applause). He felt that this gathering was a tribute first to the free, secular education provided in Now Zealand. The new-fangled ideas now coming into vogue undoubtedly were i'meigii to the older ideas, but no less surely they had the barking' of modern and expert opinion. 'l'lie secondary object of the gathering was to pay respect to the memory of the kite Messrs. Morgan and Maberiey, and to their present guest of honour, Mr. Bull, wh.ose warm heart and tine character had. offered an example to all who had passed under -his eye in his days as headmaster of the Gisborne (School. Those present represented but a small proportion of the old pupils of the school resident in Gisborne and scattered throughout Now Zealand and'’' in other parts of the world; and in proposing the toast, he wished lo link it with the memory of all who might bo called absentees. TOO YOUNG TO UK OUT! The toast was honoured with enthusiasm. and was responded to by Mr. ,T. Hurrey, who expressed thanks to the gathering for the manner in which many of his best friends bad been honoured. His ,owu school days went

buck t,o Mr. M abcrl ey’s term at the Gisborne .School, and lie felt that the i;eason why many others had failed to attend was that their parents would not let them out so late at night! {Laughter.) 110 warmly commended lo old boys of the school the object of keeping the association alive and active. its sphere of action and the sentiment it represented were both 100 valuable to be allowed to fall by the wayside, he held. This observation was endorsed by the gathering' with warm applause. At this stage the "playtime” bell rang, and those present were advised by the chairman that an interval would be allowed for an exchange of reminiscences.

At a later stage a roll-call of pupils at the respective periods of control of Messrs. Maberley, T. Morgan, and .T. If. Bull provided the gathering with much material for humorous interchanges. MAORI AND PAKEKA.

Proposing the health, of the "Combined Races,” Mr. N. If. .Bull remarked that ho felt il a great honour to have this toast: entrusted to him. The East and the West had met in the Maori and European races in this country, and if there had been hard feelings engendered in the past, during the occupation of this country by a foreign race, the Maoris themselves must realise that the march of progress must have brought them under the domination of some foreign race. If the Maori asked himself which of the foreign races he would prefer to have in common occupation of his land, he felt conceited enough of his own race to believe that they would choose the British. A gentle, lovable, and sportsmanlike race, the Maoris had competed on an erptal footing with the Europeans in their midst, and had shown a remarkable aptness for the characteristic British sports which they had adopted. It would be the fervent wish of nil who understood the Maori race that for all time the two people would march shoulder to shoulder down through Ihe pages of history. “UNDER THE UNION JACK” The reply to the toast was offered by Mr. George Ilaaj.ni, who expressed great pleasure: in being present with so many of his old school friends, and in hearing bis own race so finely eulogised by Mr. Bull. The Maori people bad played their part well in the Great War (applause), and without doubt would prefer to be under the: Union Jack rather titan any other flag. He reminded the gathering that during Queen Victoria’s reign, tint sovereign had expressed the desire that the Maoris should not be called on to light abroad, but. during the GreatWar the Maoris themselves had asked that their services bo accepted. (Apjtlause). Mr. Haapu, with pride, also referred to the: part taken by members- in the. Government of the, country; the late Sir James Carroll having reached the pinnacle of the aeting-Premiership of New Zealand, while many others had furnished examples of success in various walks of life, including those of sport. Recalling his own days at school, under Mr. Morgan, the "speaker mentioned that he had been informed by the late Mi. Henry Hill that be was the first- Maori in the Hawke’s Bay education district to pass tho sixth standard examination, tins: information drawing fresh applause from the gathering. Mr. Ilaapii closed by singing a Maori version of "The Lads in Navy Blue.” “The Uhl Girls” of the school were toasted at, the instance of Mr. 11. 11. Do Costa, and on their behalf Mr. P. W. BushucU made an appreciative response. AN ONEROUS TRUST At the invitation of tho chairman, Mr. .T. E. Shimmin, the present headmaster of the Gisborne. Central Scliool, addressed the, gathering and declared that he had to pay tribute to- the great teachers who' bad held the post, in the, past and had built, tqi the institution. Their names were known to their old pupils with affection and respect-, and thpir photographs, hung in the school as a warning and an inspiration to their successors. Mr. Shimmin recalled that he had succeeded directly upon the heels of one of Nature’s gentlemen in Mr. John McLeod, and had "realised as he took over from Mr. McLeod that he was receiving a trust- of the greatest value. When he had looked upon the roll of honour of the- school, lie had realised, moreover, that probably no school in New Zealand had a prouder record. It- was one of the finest things, in life, to retain the fellowship and comradeship- of old school mates, and the feeling of respect which one seemed readily to concede to- one’s headmasters. It was only when one. had lost- that comradeship and acquaintance, through removal from one’s old sphere, that their true value could be assessed. He had noted with the keenest- satisfaction the reverence in which, the school and its early headmasters were obviously held by all present. Mr. Shimmin added that he now anticipated with regret the- necessity for severing his, own connection with an institution which had inspired so deep a feeling among its early pupils. A ROLL OF HEADMASTERS At the close of Mr. Shimmin’s remarks, Mr. De Costa, suggested that one, objective of the association should be to have the names and periods of control of the various headmasters in the history of the school. This suggestion was warmly supported. The entertainers were honoured on the motion of Air. E’. L. Maude, who remarked that much of the success of the gathering had been due to the efforts of the orchestra and the individual artists. Mr. Basil llaeche replied briefly to the toast, and later tho executive of the association and the press were honoured in turn, on the suggestion of Messrs. H. E. Bright and E. E. Somervell, the first toast being replied to by Mr. C. W. Muir, secretary of the organisation, and that of the press by Mr. G. C. Jones, tho programme closing with the. singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem.

In the course of the evening, enjoyable selections were rendered by a highly capable orchestra, and songs were contributed by Messrs. Basil Hacche and Harvey Johns, while Mr. .David Lee was heard 'in two monologues, and Mr. Owen Pritchard led the. gathering in a series of rousing choruses. Of particular interest, too, were harmonica, and jews’ harp solos by Mr. M. 1 Vision, who was described by the chairman as champion ] (layer of the school in ills day.