MAIN SCHOOL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17774, 10 October 1927, Page 6

MAIN SCHOOL.

OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL RE-UNION,

Over 100 Old Boys attended the third

iinnual re-union of the Timani Main School Old Boys’ Association, which was held in the iStaltord Tea lloonis on Saturday night. The function was a most successful one, those present gaining genuine pleasure from a recital of incidents which characterised the earlier days of the school. Almost every period in the history of the school as far back as 1874, was represented, and there were some present who even attended a school which was in existence in Timaru prior to the establishment of the Main School. Mr A. Thoreau presided. Before proceedings commenced in earnest, the president extended a hearty welcome to old boys and visitors, and expressed the hope that all would have a very enjoyable time. “School lias assembled,” he said, “and we are here to enjoy ourselves, just as a great poet once remarked, ‘a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.’ ” Continuing, the president said that they had with them that evening some of the oldest schoolboys in South Canterbury, namely Mr it. Hammond (Fairview), Mr J. Bambridge (iomuka), and Mr 11. Fraser (Albury), who had been to school in 1860 and 1862. That was going back a long way ; a good deal further in fact than most of those present could go. The pleasure felt by members of the committee at secnm such a large gathering present was ably expressed by the president, who concluded by saying that he hoped all would go away well satislied with the evening’s entertainment. The gathering then honoured the memory of fallen comrades in silence. The toast of the Main School Committee and teachers was entrusted to Mr W. G. Irwin, who expressed pleasure at seeing so many comrades present. School Committees generally were doing excellent work in the respective committees, and it would be a sorry day for the Dominion if they were abolished. They were doing a lot of work for which they got little credit, and the best thanks of the community were due to them for the efficient way in which they were executing their duties. Their pay was very poor, but they did their work ungrudgingly. The teachers were also poorly paid, but in spite of this, they were doing a lot of fine work. They were upright in character, and were showing a good example by their own lives to the children whom they were training. I hey had a good deal to contend with, particularly with complaints lrom parents concerning backward children, but the fault was not always on the part of tho teacher, for a good many children were too lazy to learn —they were like some of those present that evening, who, when they went to school, preferred to sit and draw horses and so on, instead of paying attention to lessons. In conclusion, Mr Irwin said that some of the boys who had received their early training at the school had made names for themselvesi in after life, and he referred to Mr W. Kay, who had recently been made Mayor of one of the suburbs of Melbourne. (Applause). After the toast had been honoured, it was replied to by the chairman of the School Committee (Mr J. W. Preen), and by the headmaster (Mr B. 1-1. Low). . ' , . . Mr Preen said that he felt it an honour, as chairman of the committee, to be able to face such a large gathering of old boys. It had been said that committeemen were poorly paid; that was cpiite right, but they got a lot of fun and a good deal of education out of the work they were doing. The committee met monthly, and had to look after the £ s. d. (not a very serious matter), but what did exercise their minds, was how to find ways and means of increasing their funds. Up till last week there had not been a single meeting at which some complaint or other had not been received, and the last meeting, as no complaints had come forward, the Press had thought fit to make special mention of the occasion. Mr Preen said that the Old Bovs’ Association had, since it had been m existence, given valuable assistance to the committee, and he expressed appreciation of the suggestions which had been sent forward. lie also pointed out that the school committees oi tne district had formed themselves into an association, and had joined up with similar associations throughout the Dominion. The}’ had men in Wellington who were watching educational movements closely, and every effort was being madei to widen the scope l of local work. In his opinion the Education Department would be in ai sorry plight without the assistance of school committees. (Applause). Mr Low said that that evening was the third occasion on which lie had appeared before old boys as head ol the school, and he felt proud of the tact. Before proceeding lurther Mr Low made mention of the small representation of tho vounger old boys, boys, who had left the school within recent years. i-Nycliologieallv the boy did not "want to talk; his school days were too close to him, hut when lie got as old as some of those present, he would come along to the re-union, and would do as they were doing, remembering. Mr Low also mlorined the gathering that Ins appearance that evening was the last reunion at which he would appear as head of die school, for belove licxt veai s function, he would have retired from the service. He commenced teaching 4‘-' years ago, and lie wondered 11 uhe hoys who had passed through Ins hands could say, “Thank God tor the Ma n School 9 ” He hoped and trusted thatiney could. lief erring to the teacners lie said that they were an earnest Jot of people, although a good many people thoiigiit that all they did was to ho d out their hands for their sahnj . the object of teachers nowadays was not so much to make the children good at- addition and so on, although they liked to see results along tiiose hues, but to make them fit and proper people to take , tlieir places in the world, and to make them feel that they were morally responsible for keeping their end up. Included in the school syllabus was a Hag service, where the children were taught i to honour the memory of the men who had paid the supreme sacrifice, and to inculcate a- feeling of respect for the traditions of the past. Mr Lou alsi said that parents could leave the training of the children in the hands of tho teachers, with the utmost confidence. The staff were well aware ol their responsibilities, and were always looking to the interests of the children and o the school. In the last 2U yea i, , a chance had come over the spint ol education, and this had made truancy a thing of the past. In conclusion, Mr Low wished the Association a long and prosperous career. (Applause.) The toast of the “Main School Old Bovs” was proposed by the Depot yMavor (Mr A. L. Gee), who thanked the Association for having invited him to be present. He said that he understood ! tdiat the Main School was established in 1874, and that the gathering was tne third which had been held by the Association since the jubilee of the school. Vie also made reference to the fact that between hOO and 400 old boys of the ! school had fought in the Great M ar, I some 70 of them having given up thenlives, and that, he said, was a record of which the school and the Association mi "lit feel proud. The gathering that was a splendid one, and it was ample evidence that the Association was ,'a live body, and ho wished it every I success in the futude. Mr T. Baker (vice-president of the ' : ationj responded to the toast, and dealt with the objects of the Assoeia,He said Unit, so far no Old (,'irN’ -\ss' ••ii\tb>n had been formed, but

efforts wore being made Jo establish Association similar to the Association "as assisting the the* hope s tlmt”members would do their best tTinSease their present memberVisiting Old Boys” and “The School Social Committee” were otlmi' toasts fittimdv honoured, special refeicncs being”made to the work of the ladies in connection with the school. During the evening musical . items word contributed by the following. Air Lance Craig; song. Mr C. O. Bake’r-; recitation, 1 Mr R. Ivmg; song, ai.. av 1 Smith - bassoon solo, Mr b. I l ' Booti!; monologue, Mr It- M.tolgi s0 no" Air J. AV. Holdgate: song, Mr A. fs’ichol; flute solo, Mr A. Boyss son Air A. J. Jones. A feature of the evening » rendered in a spirited manner.