THE HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1924, Page 6

THE HIGH SCHOOL.

VISIT BY THE GOVERNOR. DOMINION SHOOTING TROPHY. PRESENTATION CEREMONY. For the second time in its history the New Plymouth Boys’ High School was honoured yesterday by a visit from His Excellency the Governor General, Viscount Jellieoe, who visited the school for the purpose of presenting the handsome silver bowl he donated three years ago for the most efficient shooting unit amongst the iboys of New Zealand. The bowl, which is awarded under conditions similar to those in force an the Imperial Challenge Shield competition, was won in 1921 fry Ndw Plymouth High School, in 1922 by Nelson College, and in 1*9&3 by New Plymouth High School. The vice-regal party, including the Governor .General, Lady Jellieoe and the Hon. Lucy Jellieoe, as well as His Excellency’s aide-de-camp and several officers of the N-Z.S.C., arrived at the school shortly before two o’clock, accompanied .by the chairman of the High Schoo] Board (Mr. H. Billing) and several other representatives of the board. They were presented in turn to the headmaster (Mr. W. H. Moyes) and members of the staff, assembling subsequently on the stage in the assembly hall, in which the boys were drawn up in order. There were few townspeople present o’wing to the change in the programme rendered necessary by the pouring rain. INTEREST IN . SCHOOLS. It was with mingled feelings of joy and regret., said Mr. Moyes, in introducing tin* Governor General to the boys, that he welcomed Viscount Jellieoe to the school, joy at the honour of being visited by so distinguished a man, and regret that it was the last occasion on which His Excellency would visit the school in his official capacity. Not only the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, continued Mr. Moyes, but every other secondary school in New Zealand felt nothing but the keenest appreciation of the interest which His Excellency had taken in its welfare, and on his departure for Home, lie and hi. 4 family would carry with them the best wishes that loyalty and affection could provoke. New Zealand was indeed fortunate that during the post-war period its destinies had been guided by England’s foremost admiral, who had earned nothing but esteem and respect from all sections of the Oommanity.

Turning *to the object of the Governor General’s visit to the school, Mr. Moyes emphasised the fact that no other victory had been hailed by the boys with greater delight than the gaining of the shooting trophy in front of them. They were prouder of this achievement than of any other in the history of the school (applause). In bidding farewell to His Excellency, concluded Mr. Moyes, the boys did so with sincere regard, and with the best wishes for his future happiness and prosperity. Everyone hoped to see their Excellencies again within these shores, an<l the school hoped to have the honour of welcoming them in New Plymouth once again.

Before presenting the handsome trophy which was his donation in the cause of rifle shooting amongst boys, the Governor General referred to the great pleasure it gave him to visit the school for the second time. He recalled how on the first occasion, when the trophy had already been lost to Nelson College, he had expressed the opinion that New Plymouth High School would soon win it back. His presence there that day was proof of how correctly his rash phrophecy had been fulfilled. He accordingly wished to congratulate the school warmly on its success. TRUE SPORTSMANSHIP. He had just been, he continued, on a tour of inspection to the Technical School. He wished to say how he admired the true sport-sinanship of the Technical School boys in accepting the conditions of allocation of the shield without murmer. They had believed on their scoring that they had beaten the High School for the trophy, and when they found out subsequently that they were not successful, owing to the conditions of the competition, they were not backward in congratulating the High School. He admired their spirit very much in congratulating the winners as heartily as they did, and he was quite sure that if the Technical School had won the trophy this year the High .School boys would congratulate them in like manner. At any rate it was highly satisfactory that the trophy should remain in the same town.

In speaking of the wonderful revival o: interest in rifle shooting for boys in New Zealand daring the past year. His Excellency quoted the observations made by the National Rifle Association which controlled the Imperia) Challenge Shield competition. In reference to New Zealand the association had said: “In no part of the. Empire has greater effort, been made than in New Zealand to get the full strength of each unit to compete, and to obtain real mass efficiency. Nowhere, also, has the enthusiasm in conqietinig for the trophy of the Governor General been greater. Ir view of the. enormous increase in numbers, the disproportionate showing in the prize list is in itself explanatory, and quite inadequately indicates the sterling work which has a done, and which should ensure greater success in the near future.”

He was well aware, resumed His Excellency, of the arduous duties to be fulfilled in secondary school life. The strenuous attempt to obtain massed efficiency in shooting reflected the greatest credit, not only on the boys themselves but also on the masters who coached them. With the necessity of exercising 100 per cent, of the boys of shooting age. nothing but extreme keenness and great interest by the teachers could possibly obtain the results desired. If the boys entered into their other sports and departments of life with the same spirit as they had their shooting, the school would no doubt be a model educational establishment. DUTY OF YOUTH. Eagerness, keenness and sportsmanship. he concluded, would make the Dominion a jewel in the crown of the Empire; indeed it already was a jewel in the crown of the Empire. It remained with the boys and girls to carry out the destiny of the Dominion. If the High School boys lost the trophy this year they must keep at it and attempt to regain it. The headmaster had re- . fenred to his impending departure from

these shores. He would say that he was going to regret many things, but nothing so much as parting from the boys and girls. It had been his privilege to ibe in close contact with the boys and girls, and he hoped they would continue to be- straight, true, honest and pure, not forgetting the greater .power to which they owed their loyalty. As head boy and representative of the school, S. Fookes then eame forward and received the Jellacoe Bowl, being congratulated by the donor and Lady Jellieoe. Medals were next presented to the members of the teams, who were present as follows:--'Sergeant-Major .1. D. Mackay. Sergeant-Major W. E. Alexander, Sergeant M. Bree, Sergeant M. Lysons, Corporal D. O’Halloran, Cadet R* Buick, Cadet R. Fletcher, Cadet N. Mac Diarmid. A number of other boys who were in the winning teams have since left the school and were not present yesterday to receive their medals. After an inspection of the boys by the vice-regal party and a cheery “Good-bye, boys; kia ora,” from His Excellency, and three hearty cheers from the boys, the visitors departed for the unveiling ’ceremony nt the cenotaph, escorted by I the mounted guard.