HANDSOME GIFT

Southland Times, Issue 21850, 29 October 1932, Page 5

HANDSOME GIFT

MODEL OF SHIP. ADDITION TO BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL. A beautiful model of the s.s. Suffolk has been presented to the Southland Boys’ High School by Mr R. A. Anderson, C.M.G. Yesterday morning in the presence of the assembled school the gift was handed over. The model, which is fully twelve, feet long and which shows the interior of the vessel, is enclosed in a handsome mahogany case with a plate-glass front. It will stand in the corridor just inside the main entrance. In introducing Mr Anderson to the boys the chairman of the Board of Governors (Mr R. M. Strang) informed them that Mr Anderson had been a member of the board for many years and had been its chairman when the erection of the new school had been decided upon and carried out. Mr Anderson’s interest, in the school had not waned with his retirement from the board. On the contrary he had keenly followed its progress and had donated to the school a handsome kauri case containing specimens of kauri gum. His latest gift to the school was an extremely valuable one both intrinsically and from an educational point of view. He asked Mr Anderson to accept tbe sincere thanks of the board for his generosity and thoughtfulness. Mr Anderson greatly interested the boys in a brief talk on the part played in the development of the Empire by the mercantile marine. He traced the evolution of the merchant ship into the speedy economical vessel of to-day. Boys who were in a quandary regardin" a career might fare a lot worse than join the merchant service. Touching on the school, ,Mr Anderson assured the boys of his continued interest in its welfare. It was indeed a school to be proud of. The board, when deciding to build at Herbert street, had taken into consideration the importance of having ample playing area. In this respect the school compared very favourably with other institutions in New Zealand. The rector (Dr G. H. Uttley), in accepting the gift on behalf of the school; conveyed the deep appreciation of the boys and the staff to Mr Anderson. He said that Southland boys were indeed fortunate in the magnificent school building. Many institutions had to be content with less modern, less convenient and less hygienic buildings. The board had shown its foresight in providing spacious playing areas. Before Mr Anderson left the boys sang to him most pleasantly and gave a stirring haka and three cheers.