AN INTERESTING FUNCTION

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XL, Issue 11408, 27 October 1915, Page 4

AN INTERESTING FUNCTION

FLAG PRESENT ATKy CEREMONY.

Some time ago the Saujj Boy’s. Association, which sents all ex-pupils of the g School, adopted the idea ol piling a Roll of Honour memorate the action of thoj scholars who have given ttj vices to the Empire by volunjj for service abroad. Until't| is over a complete list of the cannot of course be obtain; the meantime, however, the 4 ation has purchased a flag on, will be inscribed the names of who enlist. At a recent fuuct connection with the Carnival flag was put up for auctiq realised the creditable amoj over two hundred pounds, anj eventually bought in by an o!| who desired to present it j local school. The presen ceremony took place last Wedj afternoon in the presence t scholars and a fair attcudai adults, including Mr Georgs iiams, who was the first j master at Sanson in 1872, ai James Wilson, who was preset special invitation. Mr was the first speaker and on® was greeted with warm apt from old and young. His re were brief but full of Addi’essiug the children partit ly he urged them to live ; healthy lives so that they mil fitted to face life’s battles' every prospect of success andi a ripe and healthy old ag| spoke to them from tested ei ence, having reached the grea of eighty two years—a record* only five men in every the attain. His presence there day recalled a flood of mem® days gone by. He was renaiuj his own boyhood days in El and would deem it one of the] est of privileges could he onl the old school in which taught the rudiments of lear It was his earnest wish that! boy and girl passing throng! Sanson school would cherisi kindliest feelings towards teachers and each other whet became men and women. J ring to the war and the part ) in the firing line by New landers, Mr Williams felt pro think that the Sanson scliod district was so well reprej and he thought it fitting that little recognition of the 1 sacrifices should be made, twenty ’odd names were all attached to the flag and merer follow. As president of the As tion he had much pleasure ini ing over the flag to the headm Mr McKenzie, and he had noi that it would he treasured school possession.

Sir James Wilson then addi a few remarks to the childre prefaced them by stating tl thought the presentation of tb to commemorate the loi’altyoi school boys a very excellent ot worthy of general adoption. S ing of flags in public places rd him of some of the ancient j drals that he had visited ini Britain, In some of those h| buildings were to be seen mental-flags, which had soens in the great epoch making batjj the world, There they were, and disfigured by shot and i bleached and faded byageais posure to the elements, but glorious traditions of the natioi the men who fought under! flags would never fade. Justs English warriors of old fonj redeem the world from the despi of tyrant so are the young mi to-day repeating the deeds doi their'ancestors. It was, he'asss a great privilege to fight for preservation of race, of good evil, nay more, it was a duty was not for him to say who si go or stay but everyone umsti nise what would befall if allied foices -were not victos better ,to die than to have to si to the invader. The stake | great that each and every f who lives under the protect! the British flag must do hist part to bring about a succi issue. Just as our fathers grandfathers fought to secure in New Zealand so is the nati present engaged fighting foil and to preserve its people frdi domination ot a tyrant who f if his desires were not trust create a reign of terror and d« ism throughout tue world. 1 ing through the names on tkj Sir James noted one of foiif the same family who are t front, had found a final n place on foreign soil and he 1 think of no more glorious sac than to lay down one’s life fi country. He felt sure that wi last victory was won and tlxei vors of the fray returned to native laud they would be rec with that gratitude which was j'ust due. On behalf of the School Cci tee, the chairman, Mr John i son, expressed thanks to speakers for their patriotic ao structivo remarks. He felt that the children would appK what had taken place that afte and would remember the wci wisdom they had neard. W gard to the flag, which emblem of freedom and demol lie felt sure that it would 9 served and handed down ft® generation of scholars to anot a priceless heirloom. At the conclusion*of the cett ample justice was done to u freshments which were provi® dispensed by the ladies.