The Middle School Flag

Southland Times, Issue 14798, 15 November 1900, Page 2

The Middle School Flag

The official unfurling of the Union Jack recently provided by the old scholars waa held yesterday afternoon, and. there was a large atttenance of ex-pupils md others interested in the school. The school children and the cadet corps were ranged in a square round the base of the flag pole and a platform had been erected for those taking part; in the ceremony. M.r W. N. Stirling, chairman of the committee, said they were assembled for a purpose that only occurred once in the history of a British public school, and that, was the hoisting of the Union Jack. When once unfurled it remained there, and there waa no hauling down the flag. The occasion had been looked forward to with a considerable amount of interest and the ux-pu pils were to be commended on the result of their patriotic labour. It redounded very much to their honour that they had come forward and done what they had. Middle School pupils had attained to high positions and he ventured to say that no other school in the colony could boast of having two old members in Parliament. The Middle School could say that, both the member for the town and the member for Mataura being ex -scholars. They would shortly hear Mr MeNab, but he had to apologise for the. absence of Mr Hanan, who was suffering from an affection of the throat. The Garrison Band then played a patriotic selection. Mr W. A. Ott said that the Imperial spirit had been quickened within the past few months, not only in New Zealand, but in every colony in the Empire. When the Mother Country was plunged into war every colony gave a tangible expression of its patriotism by sending men to fight for the grand old nag. So, in like mannor, the old pupils of the school wished to give some expression of their love for the Old Country. A meeting was called, and as a result collectors were sent iound and the sum of £41 raised, and with that amount the flag pole was erected and the flags purchased, On behalf of the committee of the old boys it was his duty to hand over the possession of the pola and flags. They all remembered the famous signal at the battle of Trafalgar, and he wished the children to bear in mind that the injunction of the ex pupils to them was " England expects every man .this day will do his duty. " Mrs W. G. Mehaffey, a pupil who attended the school on the day of its opening, then unfurled the flag, and as its ample folds waved aloft in the breeze, three hearty cheers were given, the cadets fired a feu de joie and the band played the National Anthem. Mr R. McNab, M.H.R., said .he had been asked to spsak on behalf of the old boys of the school. It was a long time since he had become acquainted with the old Grammar School. He could not claim the honour of being one ot those who assembled on the first day, but he joined not long after that. That carried him right back to 1873, just about as far back as anyone cared to go, and'he was proud of it. He had often regretted that it waa not our custom to have the British flag continually before us. It struck him during his wanderings, and particularly in America, that other natious were always able to produce their flag at a moment's notice. He doubted that until the recent awakening of Imperial ardour three out of ten people could have told the colours and their posit ion in the Union Jack. One of his earliest recollections in connection with the sihool waa standing up in the ranks of a cadet corps, and he was so frightened that he ran home as hard as he could. One of the first men to check him was one whom they all knew as the officer commanding the volunteers in this district. One of Major Hawkins' first acts of discipline was to chock him for some of the errors of his youth. The boy 3of the Middle School had spread all ovcx tho colony. Many were in Auckland and Wellington and in Dunedin, and of course in Irveroargill there were a great number. Some had token to the legal profession, others to the medical and then others had drifted inta politics. He looked upon the flag and pole as a monument of the gratitude of tht> old boys to the school. The pupils then sang " Red, White and Ri»« " the band accompanying, and the

New Zealand flag was unfurled by Miss Molvor, representing her mother, who was one of the first teachers m the ' schooL Another fw de joie was fired and cheers * M?Hogben, Secretary for Education, said he had memories similar to those referred to by Mr McNab. Thirty-seven years ago he was present at the unfurling of tfce TJnion Jack at a school at Home, and one of the last things he did before leaving England, over 20 years ago, was to make a speech to the boys of his old school. The old flag represented liberty and freedom, which had been hardly won, and it behoved us to be worthy of that flag. We were part of a grand empire and had a great duty to perform. " Rule Britannia " was then sung and the ensign unfurled by one of the cadets. Mr J. S. Goldie said he did not intend to make a speech. He hoped that the flag would long fly over the school, and that the children would grow up worthy of the Union Jack. . Mr W. G. Mehaffey said that in other countries one of the first things done in school was to salute the country's flag. It had not been the custom in our British schools, but he believed the time was coining when it would be the first act of every child. Every Wednesday the Union Jack would be hoisted and saluted by the boys when on parade. The flag reminded them of the war and the old pupils of the school who were fighting in South Africa. It was to be hoped the time would never come when we would be called upon to defend ourselves, but the best way to prevent that was to be ready for such an emergency. "God Save the Queen" was then sung lustily by all present, the band leading, and, with three cheers, the proceedings terminated.