FITZROY FETE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 146002, 7 December 1917, Page 5

FITZROY FETE.

BIG EFFORT IN SCHOOL GROUNDS

The playground of the Fitzroy School presented a bright and busy appearance on Thursday afternoon, on tne occasion of the rote winch had been organised to raise funds for the Y.M.C.A. and the school. The event had been well advertised and as a result tho attendance was large. All the children were there, of course, and so all the parents, and all the friends and many others came to sec, the sights; and they all spent a very pleasant afternoon. A few remarks were made at the opening of the gathering by Mr. W. G. Reid (chairman of the School Committee). Judging, he said, by the attendance and the good feeling which animated all ho felt sure that the Fitzroy Foto for Funds would exceed all expectations. To, Mr. Johnson, the headmaster, and his worthy staff of lady workers the School Committee extended their hearty congratulations and appreciation of the way in which the fete had been organised and was being conducted. 'The harmonious working of all in connection with the function had been the secret of success and when the time came to close down for the day he was certain that tho Fitzroy day would bo remembered by them ail, not only for the splendid entertainment given by the scholars, but also for the enjoyment those present had got out of it by being ablo to contribute to the necessary’ funds to which the balance of the proceeds would lie allocated. After paying expenses it Lad been decided to give half to the Y.M.C.A. and the other half to the school 'funds. There was a debt remaining ou the flooring of the gymnasium of something over £3O. M ith reference to the Y.M.C.A.. they had all hoard of this splendid organisation. Max Pemberton, in tho course ot a stinging article, wrote: "Yvc must save the soldiers from themselves; wo must save the next generation. Tho Y.M.C.A. was tackling the social problem in Loudon with the same tiicJoss energy that had made its efforts so successful in other spheres of action. Not the least energetic _ section of the association was that in New Zealand, which specialises on the care of the men from ‘‘God’s Own Country,” and they were worth caring for, comparing as they did with the best. The YALC.A. plan of action. Mr. Re id continued, is to get into touch with the men as they roach'the city—New Zealand troop trains arc always met —and so fill up the four days of their leave that they have neither the time nor the inclination to fall in with undesirable companions. Tho great majority of the men readily’ accept invitations to join parties for sight-seeing, visiting the homes of worthy people or passing away odd hours at places of healthy amusement. Thus they .are guided past tho death-traps of tho streets and on through those more wholesome parts of London so rich in historic interest and in tho inspiring examples of creat lives. Tho British and Overseas Guide to London department of tho Y’.M.G.A. is directed by a committee of four, representing the British, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Associations. “Each for all, and all for each” is the motto. In concluding the speaker mentioned the presence of Corporal Oldham, M.M. (who later delivered an address), and extended a cordial welcome to all. Mr. Reid apologised for tho absence of tho Mayor and Mayoress and tho chairman and members of tho Education Board. DISPLAYS BY THE CHILDREN. Great interest was taken in various displays of drill and marching given by the scholars. The children, did their work with smartness and precision and the little tots wore especially quaint and' charming in the evolutions which they carried out. The items were as followslnfants’ drill, instructor Miss Andrews; physical drill (Standards I, and 11. boys), Miss Leech; wand drill (Standards 1., H. and 111. girls). Miss Lawn; club drill (senior girls), Miss Tolmo; flag march (junior), Miss Andrews; physical drill (senior), Mr. Johnson ; poi dance. Miss Andrews. An exhibition of rescue and release drill was given under the instruction of Mr. W. J. Walker. A tug-of-war, in which teams from the Central and Fitzroy schools competed, was won by’ the former after a hard pull. The pets’ race was worry A. Crapper with a well-trained dog and a Jersey calf in charge of To Rata Day made a good second. (This calf yvon at the Girls’ High School sports “with a different rider up.”) The other entrants, a. dog. two ducks and a cat, did not pay sufficient attention I to the business in hand. Late in tho 1 afternoon a number of . races for the children yvere run off. AN INTERESTING ADDRESS. Corporal W. Oldham was given close attention during a chatty address ou his experiences during the yvar, the children especially clustering around the speaker in open-mouthed wonder. The corporal has an interesting array jf souy’cnirs, nearly all German, and K»Mch more extensive than our men usually gather together. Some of the most interesting exhibits were a helmet of the famous Prussian Guards, which bears the inscription “Mit Gott fur Koenig und Vaterland” ; a Bavarian helmet; tho dish-shaped steel helmet yvhich Corporal Oldham was wearing when yvounded and which noyv has a jagged hole in tho side; a cigar case engraved with tho iron cross; a German officor’.s automatic revolver; and numerous other interesting trophies. “Perhaps you wonder hoyv I got all these tilings,” said the corporal, and added that mast of them yvere got at the Somme twelve months ago. “When we get a man, if there is no officer of higher rank looking on, wc just go through his pockets. They do the. same to us—one German wo caught had a New Zealander’s , pay-book in his pocket.” The speaker then proceeded to tell of life as he saw it in Egypt, on the Gallipoli Peninsula and in France, garnishing his narrative with many . humorous anecdotes. “With regard to the Y.M.C.A., any of you people who have. anything to give for yvar purposes cannot do better than give it to the Y.M.C.A.,” said Corp. Oldham, and proceeded to toll of the work done for the men in the trenches. He told of an incident interesting to local people, which occurred in a hospital at Etaples. to which he was admitted after being wounded at Messines. A sister asked if he was an Australian and ho told her he was a New Zealander. “I’m a. New Zealander, too,” she replied, “though I don’t remember much of it. I was horn in Taranaki at a place called Marsland Hill; my grandfather was a soldier out there in the early days and Marsland Hill was called after him.” Tho speaker was Sister Marsland. The Military Medal which Corporal Oldham wears was awarded to him for conspicuous bravery in tho Somme advance. He enlisted soon after the commencement of the war, leaving with the 3rd Auckland Infantry Battalion, and after serving at Gallipoli was sent

back to New Zealand with the temporary rank of quartermaster-sergeant, in charge of wounded soldiers. Ho sailed

for the front again with the 9th Reinforcements.