PATRIOTISM IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Southern Cross, Volume 8, Issue 31, 24 November 1900, Page 9

PATRIOTISM IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE PARK SCHOOL FLAGS. The formal unfurling of the flags presented to this school took place on Tuesday afternoon in the presence of a numerous company, the guests of the committee including His Excellency the Governor, the Hon J. G. Ward, the Mayor (Mr J. S. Goldie), the Hon. H. Feldwick, M.L.0., and Dr Smyth. His Excellency was welcomed by Mr Walter Spite, Chairman of the School Committee, and introduced to the assemblage by His Worship the Mayor. Mr J. Aspray, Chairman of the old boys’ and girls’ committee, expressed regret at the unavoidable absence, through an affection of the throat, of Mr J. A. Hanan, M.H.R., an old pupil of the school. As Chairman, he had much pleasure in handing to the school charge of the staff and flags presented to it. The Union Jack was the gift of Mr Spite, the Hew Zealand Ensign of the School Committee, and the British Ensign of Mr H. Cunningham, sailmaker, while the ex-pupils provided the funds for the flag-staff. In concluding, Mr Aspray stated that seven ex-pupils of the school were fighting for Queen and country in the Transvaal. Mrs B. G. Spiers then unfurled the Union Jack, Miss Challis, daughter of a member of the Coinmittee, performed a like service for the Hew Zealand Ensign, and Miss Mitchell, daughter of Mr J. A. Mitchell, set the British Ensign free to wave in the breeze. The unfurling of each

flag was followed by cheers, and the playing of appropriate selections by the Garrison Band, under Lieut. Siddall. Addresses were given by His Excellency the Governor, who dwelt on the associations connected with the British flag and incidentally eulogised the pioneer settlers of the colony ; by the Hon. J. G. Ward, the Hon. Mr Feld wick, the Mayor, and Dr Smyth. The last-named gentleman in the course of an address dealing mainly with the care taken to instil love of country into the minds of the youth of Germany, said that the German Emperor had described the heroism of the soldiers who went down in the Birkenhead as the grandest deed ever done. They perished that woman and children might be saved. Dr Smyth also stated that in the churches in Germany there were brass plates bearing the names of the soldiers who. fell in the war of 1870-1.

His Excellency the Governor, acknowledging the cheers called for at the instance of the head-teacher, Mr J. Hain, mentioned that at the unfurling of the flag at the Mount Eden School it had been his sad duty to unveil a memorial in that school to the memory of Trooper Connell, the first member of the New Zealand contingents who fell in South Africa. Dr Smyth had also referred to the loss of the Birkenhead, and he might add that the last thought of the soldiers was of their Qneen„for whom they gave three cheers as the ship went down, the last cheer being silenced by the rising waters. Lord Rauf nr ly closed by'stating that the children had got him to leave his fireside that afternoon, and he would pnnish them by proclaiming a whole holiday, to begin next day. The proceedings, which were marked by great enthusiasm, closed with the singing of the National Anthem. Before His Excellency left the ground he engaged in a chat with two worthy veteran ex-soldiers in the persons of Col-Sergt. J. Patterson and Sergt. Barwell. It should be added that the flagstaff, which is of Oregon timber, was erected by Messrs Donaldson and Watt, who made a most workmanlike job of it, and that its height is 72 feet 2 inches, the topmast being 24 feet in length. THE SOUTH SCHOOL. The unfurling of the flags at the above school took place on Wednesday morning, and was carried out in a manner reflecting the utmost credit on the headmaster, Mr Webber, and his colleagues. Rows of seats had been ranged along the front of the building, from which the singing of the children was heard to great advantage, and a platform had been erected for the Hon. J. G. Ward and the other gentlemen who accompanied him. There was a large attendance of deeply interested spectators. Mr A. Bain said the movement had originated with seven ex-pupils of the school in the North Island, namely, John A. B, Walker, Napier; Jno. M. Wilson, Hastings; Jas. Constable, Napier; A. Hazlemore, Woodville; Jas. Holmes, Napier ; M. Cavanagh, Palmerston North; and Stanley Ayling, Napier, who had presented an ensign to the school. The local old boys, with Mr C. Borne as secretary, then took the matter up, and the result was the procuring of two more flags and the erection ot a handsome flagstaff. The flags were then unfurled by the Hon. J. G. Ward, who delivered an eloquent address dealing largely with the splendid exhibition of patriotic feeling evoked by the war in South Africa. In the course of his remarks he referred to the history of the school. It had been opened 22 years ago, and since then no less than 4650 pupils had passed through it, and there were to-day upon the roll 717 scholars. The average attendance for the last six years had been 650, and the number of scholarships gained by its pupils amounted to the respectable total of 48. It was the largest school in Southland and

(he eleventh largest in New Zealand, The fiagtaff, which is 50fb high, was erected by Mr A. Bain,, whose assistants were all expupils of the school, and the staff itself has a history, having formed part of the mizzen-mast of the Wairoa, an old trader between London and the Bluff. The timber was bought from Mr Guy A. Whealler, of the Bluff, into whose possession it came when the Wairoa was converted into a full-rigged ship. Addresses were also given by the Mayor and Mr F. Borne; the lastnamed, who had been deputed by the old boys to make the formal presentation of the flags and staff to the Schoool Committee, acquitted himself admirably. The City Band, under Mr P.H. Mohr, played the accompaniment for the dumb bell exercises, and also gave a number of selections, their playing being much appreciated. The Mercantile Rifles were in attendance, and tired a feu dejoie.. Cheers having been given for all who bad contributed to the success of the gathering, the National Anthem was sung, and the children were dismissed for the day at the request of the Hon. J. G. Ward. The programme was carried out without much curtailment. The boys of the upper school are divided into five squads, and it bad been intended to give an exhibition of the drill of all five squads under their respective instructors, Messrs Porteons, Sebo, Stenhouse, Brownlie, and McKay, but the unpropitious weather led to this being cut down by more than a half, and only the first and third squads were put through their evolutions, much to the disgust of the other squads. Military drill is a subject which receives more than usual attention at the South School, and the opinion of all who saw Wednesday’s exhibition, was that it would do credit to an adult corps. Major Hawkins and Adjutant Capt. Henderson, who were present, were very emphatic in their admiration of the skill and steadiness displayed by the youngsters. The pupils of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh standards were ranged on the tiers of seats already mentioned. These classes are instructed in singing by Messrs Porteous and Stenhouse, and rendered in admirable tune and time those favourite patriotic songs, * Red, White and Blue,’ * The Union Jack,’ i Soldiers of the Queen,’ and ‘ Sons of the Sea.’ Messrs Porteous and Stenhouse are to be congratulated on the correctness and precision with which the pupils did their part. The songs were distinutly beard and appreciated by the whole of the large assemblage. A charming feature of the ceremony was the excellent exhibition of dumb bell exercises by the girls of the fifth and sixth standards. These young people, who had been trained by Miss McLeod, assisted by Miss Morton and Miss Henderson, acquitted themselves in a manner that gave much pleasure to the onlookers and that reflected great credit on their trainers. The whole arrangements in connection with the pupils were under the general direction of Mr Webber, and both he and his staff have reason to be proud of the appearance of the little ones and the general tone and discipline of the school as evinced by their behaviour in public.