“TE RURU”

Putaruru Press, Volume XXVII, Issue 1362, 19 January 1950, Page 4

“TE RURU”

SCHOOL MAGAZINE • 1949 Chronicled The year 1949 as chronicled in the school magazine, “Te Ruru,” has been a momentous one. Opening formally with a foreword by the headmaster, Mr T. H. Sissons, the magazine provides reading refreshing in its clarity in these days of the abstruse. It is obvious that the production has been as enjoyable as the editorial committee (Mr H. L. Baker, editor; committee, Pattie Wells, Merle Goodhue and Heather McDonald) acknowledge. Covering the highlights of the year, there is some good reporting of the official opening, staff news, prefects notes, school news, examintion successes, and the recently-held parents’ day. Inclusion of the school song with acknowledgements to Mr A. D. Morrison (words and music) and Miss M. Lang (harmony) was a 1 fitting tribute to that which will add further to the pride of school now apparent in Putaruru. House System

First humour appears on page 5 Where after a factual note introducing the house system, each house is separately reported by a proud scion. Influence of recent electioneering addresses on style is apparent.

Eton House (red) as reported by G.H. commences, “In the British Empire there are only two houses of merit. One is the British House of Parliament in Westminster. The dther is the Red House in Putaruru.” Modesty is evidently not his forte, but the hyperbolical . vein is most enjoyable. The report is followed by examples of the personnel of the house, such as: "Mr W. Beanmarks adder (not a snake); Merle Goodhue^—she did a brave thing —she sat for school certificate; Lois Hall—the stormy blonde of Form n.” Harrow House (gold) reported by N.S. commences modestly: “While we have had our ups and downs during the year, and do not yet know the final total of points for the year, we can feel on the whole quite well satisfied with our House and its achievements.” But before its conclusion it boasts of the provfress of its pianists. Rugby House (green) is reported by M.V., P.G. and M. 8., whose opening sentence is remarkable. “The house system has been very successful in the High School, proving beyond doubt that Rugby is the most competent of the four houses.” They continue with a true evaluation o± activities with here and there an

“intrepid Domett” or great successes on the field of sport. Winchester House (blue) reported by W.D.F. opens with, “Ever since tbe house system was begun, blue house have had a good share of topping the pole at the end of each week. Admittedly, there have been times when our prestige was lowered but on the whole we have held our own.” This contribution displays pride tempered with honesty, concluding on a Sincere note that it had been “cheerful toil” living up to the name of the house.

It was pleasing to note that pupils took advantage of their opportunities, displayed initiative and asserted their individualities.

Form Notes Several pages of form notes follow, but so much attempted verse was unwarranted. Most are in rhyming couplets, and, unfortunately, three forms adopted the alphabetical personality style: A is for Arthur, Tinker for short; B is for Barbara, whom all the boys court, etc., witn the result that Form IVC’s bright and breezy prose report, was all the more enjoyable by contrast. Sport Sport not unnaturally occupies five pages and a portion of a slashing cricket report bears quoting: “Faced now with the task of making 60 runs in 30 minutes, High School set about it willingly; but when there was time left for only one more over, High School still needed 10 runs to win; if Old Boys were to win outright they had to take the last two High School wick,ets for less than nine runs. The, High School batsmen, K. Roche and G. Bean, rose to the occasion; with vigorous hitting by Roche and good backing up by Bean, eight runs were scored off the first five balls of the over—one more ball to come, one run needed to draw, two to win. Roche made a mighty sweep at the ball—missed itI—but 1 —but so did the wicketkeeper, and the boys made a daring run—the ball was not thrown in straight, and the boys made another run—and then two more. The match was won.”

Athletics, football, fenpis, basketball, swimming, and the new favourite, softball, all hold their own, reported by enthusiasts. The cadet, corps and choir, recent innovations, are also covered.

Original Contributions Contributors in this section for some unknown reason overwhelmingly decided upon verse as their medium. Of them, “To The Poppy” impressed with its lilting rhythm, while “A Moonlight Evening in Putaruru” captured the mood of the local scene. Originality was certainly the keynote with the delightful parody of Shakespeare’s “Once More Unto the Breach.” speech from Henry V, with others of good quality too numerous to mention. “On First Riding in a Lichfield Bus” was a real gem, the conception of which was better than the execution, whiletopping the list was “The Gates of Da-School-Grounds,” signed G.K.H., Form V, giving rise to the suspicion that those initials conceal the same person as G.H. who wrote the report for Eton House.

Three short prose pieces, “????,” “Parade” and “Burglars,” all justified their inclusion; the first with its well conceived suspense and the second with its atmosphere of feverish activity and anxiety at parades. Several limericks lacked the quality of other contributions. Last minute _ results of the house aggregates for the year were included in the “Stop Press.” They were: Harrow 74’2J, Eton 738, Rugby 7255, Winchester 7061. In conclusion, it is worthy of note that pupils are so proud of their school. The magazine, which is duplicated on foolscap, has the school crest on its cover, and contains a -list of staff, school committee, etc., and will make a charming souvenir with which bbys and girls in future years will recapture the flavour of 1949, a vintage year. In view of the pleasure it afforded, it is perhaps unfair to complain, but it seems that, the name of the magazine is the only lack of originality. “Te Ruru,” the owl, is not quite appropriate even if there "is an owl in the school crest. Even “The Incubator” would prove more suitable as the magazine has batched the ideas which pupils do not always have an opportunity of expressing.

Well done, Putaruru District High School, you have lived up to your motto and offered your best