MASTER'S JUBILEE

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1937, Page 9

MASTER'S JUBILEE

NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL. HONOUR FOR MR. W. H. MOYES. Mr. W. H, Moyes, headmaster of the New Plymouth Boys' High School and friend of thousands of pupils who have passed through his hands in the past 25 years, will be the guest of hundreds of his old boys at a reunion dinner at New Plymouth to-night. As a mark of their esteem of the great service given the school in those years— one of the finest records of 'ariy New Zealand headmaster —the old boys have set aside this Easter as a Dominion-wide reunion. Yesterday large numbers of old boys from outside New Plymouth, including many from the metropolitan centres, augmented the New Plymouth old boys preparing to honour' Mr. Moyes. There will be an official -vvelcoming ceremony in the school assenibly hall this morning and after the sports this afternoon, the reunion dinner to-night at Which a presentation will be made Mr. Moyes. Mr. Moyes joined the school as principal at the end of 1911, following Mr. E. P. Pridham, who had retired after 30 years' association with the institution. Before joining the staff Mr. Moyes had made a name for himself in New Zealand both in scholastic and in athletic circles. He entered Nelson College as a scholarship winner in 1895, having been placed first in the district. Two years later he won a college scholarship and from 1898-1901 was a prefect, being head boy in 1901. Continuing his studies at Canterbury University College Mr. Moyes took his B.A. degree in 1902 and in the following year was appointed demonstrator in physics at the college. In 1904 he took his M.A. degree and in 1905 the B.Sc. degree. Mr. Moyes in 1906 returned as assistant master to Nelson College, whence he went to Timaru High School as science master. The next year he returned to Nelson as first assistant and in 1910 was appointed mathematics master at King's College, Auckland, where he had charge of junior university scholarship and matriculation classes. No less able was Mr. Moyes' record on the athletic field. Apart from his keen interest in school magazines and debating clubs, he was a club captain at cricket, was captain, manager and coach of Rugby football teams and held the rank of captain in school cadets. As a runner he represented Canterbury College in the New Zealand university championships, where he set a record for the 440 yards. In addition to this record he represented the Dominion in the New Zealand and Australian championships. From the cbmmencement of the school in 1892 hard work had been found necessary to place it on a sound basis. It was not, however, until Mr. Moyes was appointed 30 years later that the school entered upon a pericd of progress which

has placed it among the finest secondary schools in the Dominion. The school has overcome the difficulties of two serious fires, but steadily, under the spirited and personal leadership of its headmaster, it has gone forward from strength to strength. The prowess of its Rugby teams has become a byword in the New Zealand history of the sport, and several of its old boys have worn the All Black jersey. This year a growing cricket ' tradition has been coloured by the selection of a young player while still in the first eleven as a Dominion representative. The depression years naturally affected the boarding attendance at the school but proof of its recovery this year was given at this week's meeting of the New Plymouth High Schools' Board when it was stated that 162 boarders had., now taken all available accommodation. Many of the new boarders this-year are sons of old boys. The number appears likely to increase, and unless accommodation for about 200 is provided it is possible that boys will have to be refused at the beginning of next year.