THE GARDEN PARTY SPOILED BY RAIN.

Colonist, Volume XLVIX, Issue 11827, 7 January 1907, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN PARTY SPOILED BY RAIN.

CEREMONY IN THE ASSEMBLY HALL. INSPECTION OF THE NEW ' BUILDINGS. "The Colonist," Dec 29, Owing to the heavy rain yesterday afternoon the garden party, which was to have been given by the College Governors in honor of the practical completion of the new Boys' College bnildings took the form of a function in the Assembly Hall at which speeches were made by Mr O. Y. Fell fChairnian of the Board oi Governors) who presided, Hon.- RMcNab (Minister of Lands), Mr G. Hogben (Inspector-General of Schools), Mr H. L. Fowler (Principal of the College), Mr J. H. Cock (a College Governor), and Dr S. A. Gibbs (President of the Old Boys' Association). Despite the unpropitious weather there was a large assemblage, which included many ladies. After the speeches had been delivered many of those present accepted tde invitation of the Governors to inspect the new buildings, which were much admired and which were fully described in yesterday's issue. Afternoon tea was served in the large dining hall, and at intervals the Nelson Garrieon Band played selections. In addition to those mentioned above there were al o present "His Lordship the Bishop of Nelson, Messrs P. Best, T H. Bann-hr, F. W. Hamilton,' W. N. Franklyn, H. Richmond, G. A. Harkness (College Governors), Mr J. M. Croucher (Mayor of Richmond), Mr Jas, Blair (Secretary to the Board of Governors), and many "Old Boys," The proceedings opened by his Lordship the Bishop offering prayer, after which I The Chairman said that while it would be hard to regard the rain as unfortunate after such a long drought, he regretted that the weather had to a certain extent spoiled the function and prevented many from inspecting their - new buildings. He read apologies for absence from His Excellency the Governor (Lord Plunket), Hons. McGowan (Minister of Mines), Hall (Minister of Public Works), Fowlds (Minister of Education), Sir Robert Stout (Chief Justice), Sir E. O. Gibb (Education Department), Hon. C. H. Mills, M.H.R., Messrs R. McKenzie, M.H.R., Messrs J. Colvin, M.H.R., F. W. Thorp (Mayor of Motueka), J. Penny (Mayor of Blenheim, Dr Findlay (Attorney General), Mr Turnbull (Architect of the building), Mr J. G. Littlejohn (County 'Engineer), whom, Mr Fell remarked, the Governor3jdesired to thank for assistance rendered in regard to certain por tions of the work. Speaking of secondary education, -<he considered it would" only be a matter of time before all school fees would be paid for by the country. In regard to the work" done by the Governors, their work so far as the new buildings were concerned was nearly at an end, and although it haH not been extra ordinarily difficult it had involved many questions which had to be decided day by day. He considered they had done the right thing to the coming generation by building such a fine school, and in this oonnection he thanked Mr Turnbull, the architect, for the handsome design and Mr Roberts, the Clerk "of Works, who had been unfaiing in his care and superintendence of.ihe erection of the building. (Applause. ) Hon. McNab (Minister of Lands), who followed, believed |the Nelson College Governors had done good work in erecting such a noble edifice. Secondary education in this country at the present time was in a transitory stage. and be believed free secondary education in this Colony had come to stay. It would be the duty of the Government to remedy the defects of the past and to equalise opportunities making up for lack of endowments. In their new building the Governors bad made ample provision for to-day, and had kept a watchful eye on the morrow. During his stay in Nelson be had taken care to make himself acquainted with the work of the College, and if it came within his power to help the institution his support and influence would be readily given. Mr McNab said as they all knew, he was connected with the Agricultural Department, and during his connection he found there was a tremendous want of what he might describe as original research. He pointed out bow the methods of other countries had been copied in regard to the dairy and frozen meat indus f ries, and said thare was a fine field for research in the method of dealing with flax fibre and the waste products of the forest. He said the world owed a debG of gratitude to a Nelson boy (Professor Rutherford) for bis research work, and there was no reason why the enormous undeveloped resources of this young Colony should not be exploited by ambitious young men. The Government intended to deal with this question by providing Research Scholarships, and he believed the results would prove of incalculable benefit to the Colony. He thanked them for the opportunity of being present and resumed his seat amidst applause. Mr Hogben congratulated the Governors on the ' practical comple tion of the new building, and said that he did not believe Nelson College would in the future become less important because of free secondary education. He believed the system of education in New Zea-. land was more democratic than the Canadian system, and said the safeguard of democracy was*" a thorough all round education. He hoped Nelson College would do as good work in the future as it had done under Mr Littlejohn's guidance, and he wished the institution all the success in the future it could possibly have. Dr Gibbs (President of the Old Boys' Association), who was received with loud applause, congratulated :he Governors on the excellent rejults they had achieved under very jreat difficulties. The calamity to ;he old College was felt very keenly 3y eld boys, and he assured th6m ;hat the enormous improvements >tfectel would banish any regrets at he destruction of the old building. 3e hoped the efforts of the Gorerno s in the future would be ;rowned with suseess. Mr Cock spoke of the splendid pork done by the founders of the nstitution. and expressed the hope hat succeeding Boards of Governors /ould oarry on the good work, and bat the future oi Nelson College

could be^everi iiiore glorious than he past. " He reminded them that kelson College not only consisted of i Boys' College, but also of a Girls' College which was equaljy well conlucted and had an equally large lumber of pupils. The Girls" College also bad an Old Girls' Association, which had done much or the welfare of the school. He irged them to "rally for the Coleges," and make them successful nstitutions, by sending their cbilIren and their friends' children to je educated so that the Colleges vould not only redound to their sredit but to the credit of the Colony. The architect of the old juildiog tiaid on its completion ;liat with three coats of paint and ■.he blessing of God he trusted the structure would last fifty years. His aope was that the present building }f brick would last ten times as long. Mr Fowler, the Principal.said the aew College in all material things was admirably equipped, but he reminded them that, "stone walls do not a College make, nor swimming baths a school." Something more was required. If they wished men Df character and ability as masters bhey would have to afford them reasonable and adequate salaries. He expressed his deep gratitude to the Governors and to the Secretary of the Board of Governors for their untiring energy in the business of the school since the fire, and detailed how the school work had been carried on without ' a break. The attendance had not been affected by the fire, in fact the average attendance during the past three years bad been 191 as against 161 for the preceding J;hree years. The boys had been successful in their studies and had done equally well in games. No fault; could be found with the boys, and that being the case, very little fault ceuld be found with the staff. (Applause.) The institution was a flourishing one* but to improve it required the loyal help of nil their friends. The College had been severely tiied and had come out of its trial with the utmost credit. (Applause. ) f Mr Fell then thanked those gentlemen who had spoken, and on behalf of the Governors thanked Mr J. H. i Cock for his presentation to the institution of a brass tablet, upon which is inscribed the words of the very beautiful prayer composed by hisLordsbip the Bishop of Nelson and delivered at the laying of the foundation stone of the present building. There was also on view yesterday a colored reprint of a famous picture or the battle of Trafalgar which has been presented to the College by Dr Charles Morice, of Greymouth.