TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 30 May 1919, Page 3

TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

A very successful social and dance arranged by the New Plymouth Technical College Girls’ Hockey Club took placet • in the Good Templar Hall on Thursday evening and was largely attended by students, ex-students and instructors' of the college. ’TAie floor was in splendid order. The dance music was provided by Airs. Aloverley’s orchestra extras being played by Alrg. Skelton and Alisa George and Aiessrs. A. O. Sturrock andl Skelton, whilst Messrs. H. Aloverley and H. Jury carried out the duties of t M.C.’s to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. During the evening songs were contributed by Air. Al'Donald, andl banjo solos by Air. R. Gadd. The gathering had been arranged in: honour of Air. A. Gray, director, prior to his departurme to take up the position of-principal of the 11 awera, Technical School, and during an interval in'"* the dance programme advantage was . taken of the opportunity of making pre- ; sentations to Air. and Airs. Gray, this being done by Air. S. G. Smith, M.P., a' member of the Education Board and also a member of the Technical: College Advisory Board, on behalf of the donors, Air. Smith, after saying how keenly the students if the college past and present, appreciated all that had been done for them by Mr. Gray as director, said that he, as a member of the Educat tion Board, had had. opportunities of perusing reports from time to time on Air. Gray’s work, and could testify to his success and energy as a teacher,' whilst his organising ability was beyond question. Ho gave a brief outline .of Air.'Gray’s career, and went on to say that lie had rendered excellent service) •to the board whilst he had been on its staff, and had always had the full confidence *)f the members. The success of the Technical College to-day was‘largely. - , due to the enthusiasm Air. Gray had put intonis work as director. Mr. Gray also* held the respect of the students and ex* students of the college, who wished td express their feelings towards him in, a tangible form, and therefore ho had been asked to make a number of pre-i sentations on behalf of the old girls, . Air. Smith expressed pleasure in pre4 senting to Airs. Gray a beautiful *olicl silver vase, and to Mr. Gray a com! panion. From the present girls Mr* Gray received a case of pipes, and from' the prpsent boy,, 20 volumes of ScotC’d works. Air. Smith, continuing, said that despite disabilities under which the college was working the work that was being done would stand any teat that might be applied. \He knew young men and young women who were occn-> pying very important positions, not only in New Plymouth, but in other parts, who had to thank the college for a * good deal of the knowledge they had to-day. Air. Smith referred to the absence of playing-grouftds in connection with the college, and expressed t!ie hone t!u»f t on <l*-i:c*- i dAo +h e , question would he considered of having a- new school erected on a sufficiently largo area of land to enable outside activities of school life to he fostered as was the case with other schools. Ip conclusion he expressed the hope that Air. (yray would be as successful in hig new sphere of work as h© had been ini New Plymouth.

Mr. Gray,, who was enthusiastically received on rising to respond, said he had been quite overwhelmed hy thel great kindness shown to Mrs. Gray and! himself, and ,hy the very flattering things which had been said about his work by Mr. Smith. Ho expressed the hope that as the students grew np into manhood arid womanhood and began tol take a more active interest in local functions a-nef institutions, they would maintain a real live interest in the work , of their old college, and do all that they could to help it along. As he looked around ho realised that there were many ex-students, both hoys and girls,, who to-day were occupying im-i portent' positions, and they could imagine how pleasing this was to him. Hd impressed upon, them that with those positions there were responsibilities, and lie hoped that those responsibilities would he fully realised and that they would give the very best that was ini them in whatever position they happened to be, remembering that it was the! little extra.. ounce of service given) though not required, that made all thg difference between mediocrity and excel- • lone©. , Ho also reminded any who might become employers that it was just as much their duty to recognise that service. Proceeding, Mr. Gray said thaU technical education was still more, of j loss in its infancy, although great strides had been made during the last ten or twelve years. Attempts had been made to prove that technical education was a failure, but he was firmly convinced -that these statements were wrong, and added that ho did not know of a. secondary school in Now" Zealand at the present time that was not doing at any rate a little technical work. He expressed tho hope that the Old Boys’ and Old Girls’ Associations would he formed in connection with the college. Such institutions would, he of benefit . to the ex-students themselves, and to ' the school. Ho commended the students for their loyalty to him and to the college, and said this had made his position much easier than it would otherwise at times have been. He expressed the hope that something would 1)0 clone in'the near future so that the college would have suitable playing fields, and that all outside activities of school life could be fostered, and concluded hy appealing to his bearers to always vim straight in life. 'Hiore was a- groat need for men of strength of character, and ho looked forward with! confidence to the time when ex-students' would ho occupying prominent positions throughout the district. He would always watch the careers of his New Plymouth students with interest, and no one would he more pleased at their snol cess than lie himself would he.

Cheers were given for Mr. and 'Mrs. Gray and for Mr. Smith, and dancing tku* resumed-