WELCOME HOME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12785, 31 October 1919, Page 3

WELCOME HOME.

ASHBURTON HIGH SCHOOL, A highly successful function took place ai the Ashburton High School yesterday after noon, when the annual reunion and a. wet comp, home to returned soldiers took place under the auspices of the High School Ok Pupils’ Association. There was a vers’ larg< gathering of the past and present pupils o the school, parents and -friends, and mem' hors of the High School Board of Governors •At the previous annual meeting of the Ok Pupils’ Association the president (Mr W Anderson) made a suggestion Dial, as' soot as all the old pupils who had taken par in the lato war had returned a hearty wel come should lie extended to them—the wel come to take the form of an afternoon'i sport, to be followed by a dinner, and i conversazione; also, that an effort shoulc be made to raise £IOOO towards a suitabk memorial to all tho past pupils who hat taken part in the war. The suggestion va. unanimously adopted, and tho Sector (M: \v. F. Watters) stated that he had lone ,n^? n( J e d t° Bivo the old pupils a dinner and that it would give him great pleasure i< do so on the occasion of the reunion ant welcome home—a generous offer, which wai accepted amidst hearty applause. The proceedings yesterday afternoon tool the form of an At Home, with tennis, cro quet, fives and a programme of athletic sports. The running events resulted as under: 7oyda Junior—W. Oakley (tor) 1, M. Kni"h‘ (2yds) 2. 4%ds Senior—G. Morrison (scr) 1, S Hodgson (syds) 2. 200 yds Junior—L. Boag (scr) 1, R. Bar (7yds) 2. 100 yds Senior—E. Beanmont (Iyd) L y Boag (2yds) 2. 20 ° yds Scnior-A. Cameron 1, H. Struther: •140 yds Junior—G. Bennington (3yds) 1, J Drummond (3yds) 2. 7oyds Senior—H. Hurcot (3yds) I, E. Clarl (2yds) 2. 100 yds Junior—L. Eeigor (Syds) 1, H. Nes: and M. Edbilliarcl (equal) 2. ■l4oyds Preparatory—L. Hcwton 1, A Hunter 2. Past versus Present Pupils, 100yds—Pro sent pupils 1, past pupils 2. A long line of eighty of the present schoo pupils competed in a 100 yds event, whici was won by A. Cameron, with. E. Beau mont close up second. 'The teaching staff - then entertained tin large gathering at afternoon tea in the cla-sn rooms and in the big assembly hall, wiiicl had been furnished as a drawing-room, aw was most tastefully decorated. A programme of swimming events followed the results being as under: 25yds Junior—A. A. Dickie 1, G. Bonniug ton 2. 25yds Junior—B. 0. Sowell 1. L. Turne: 2. / 50yds Senior—A. Stills 1, L. Penny 2. 75yds Senior — A. Dunlop I, S. Hodgson 2 Neal Dive—A. Dunlop and S. Hardy equal. 2dyds Senior—A. L. Penny 1, E. George 2 oOycis Junior—A. Orr 1, J. Eobiliiard 2. 1 Past aiid Present Pupils Hoiay Hace—i’asi pupils 1, present pupils 2. Later the Hector, Mr W. 1 F. Watters, eu tertained at dinner a large gathering of ok pupils, members of the riigh bchool Boan of Governors, and other guests. A couver sazione and dance were subsequently held ii the. assembly hall. .Many pleasant functions havo been belt at . the Ashburton. High School, but thai held yesterday alternoon a’nd last night wa: unique in its success, and will long be remembered with feelings of intense pleasuxt and gratitude by those lads who had helpec to win the war. There were some 200 pasi pupils of the. school who wont to the war and 40 of these have ■" gone west.” FUNCTION AT ROTHERHAM, One of Iho largest gatherings held in th( Rotherham Hall for some years took place or the occasion of a final reception to all thi returned soldiers of tho Eotherham district awl the unvoiling of the roll of honour. 0: thirty-one men who have gone from Kother chain, three have laid down their lives namely, Private G. Piper, Private M/Pipci and Private J. Gray. All the other men hav, now returned, with the exception of onowht has taken service with Die Imperial Army The roll of honour was unveiled by tho Kct Canon, Smith, and this was followed by fin singing of the Rational Anthem. The name! on the roll of honour are;— Private G.Piper, Private M. Piper! Trooper James Clark, Trooper D. Clark, Sergeant-Major G. Williams, Trooper T. Widddwson, Gunner W, Widdowson, Gunner H. : Dampier-Crossley, Gunner -H. Kyle, Private : J.' Gray, LanceCorporal C. Danielson; Private G. Witte, Private A. Witte, Trooper L. Dalzell, Rifleman N. Dalzell, Trooper L, Moore, Quarter-master-Sergeant- G. Wetherali, Private R, Milne, Private F. Eea„ Private C. M’Murray, Trooper Ri M’lnnis, Trooper- T. Chapman, Rifleman J. Jelia, Sergeant J. BeatUe, Rifleman A. Craighead, Rifleman -E. Edwards, Private C. Thomson. Private D. Jones, Private John Clark, Private William Vvfddowaon and Private G. Holmes. Mr B, Hampton, chairman of the.. Rotherham Soldiers' Entertainment Committee; presented cact soldier with a gold, medal as a token of esteem from the residents, of The district. Af each -man ~walked forward to : receive hit -medal bo was greeted with rousing cheers The medals- of those who had be&i killed ( f ( r „ ( l.

were presented to their mothers, Mrs G. Gillespie. and Mrs Gray, and the chairman tendered them the sincere sympathy of all present. Trooper M'lnnis. on behalf of Ms comrades and Mmself, briefly returned thanks ~ for the pift of medals and the kind reception accorded the returned men." Later in the evening the opportunity was taken of presenting Mr B. Hampton, who is leaving the dhstrict, with a suit case. Mr G. Poppler_ well, in making the presentation, said that 1_ there was widespread regret that Mr Hamp- , ion was going away, as he had always been f j one of the foremost helpers in anything for rc the advancement of the district. Mr Popplewell spoke of Mr Hampton’s good work as j. chairman of the Rotherham Soldiers’ Enters tamment Committee, and also as councillor i<j for the Hothorsham Kiriing for a number of -• years. Canon Smith and Mr James Black ’ also spoke, and wished Mr Hampton every' r t happiness in his new sphere. Dancing waj l_ kept up until an early hour ‘.of the mornin* 7 music being supplied % Mr J. M’Bryde and - son. ’The evening terminated with the singing of “Soldiers of the King" and “Anld Lang Sync." le “ , u SOCIAL AT BELFAST. tr ; Iff r > On Tuesday night a pleasant little function -c took place in St David’s Schoolroom, the ocd caeiou being a complimentary social given is by the congregation to the boys of the church who had seen, service in the war. The k soldiers present were Corporal W. G. Brown 0- Privates AV. Halligan, E. C. Harris. F. Milic ler and J. S. Waites and Sapper A. M. Wilsis den. 1 The prizes for a progressive euchre match which was played were won by Priit vate W, Halligan and Mrs. AV. A. Kicholls, and the '‘booby” prizes by the Rev T M 3. Curnow and Mrs W. Waites. A duet was sung by Mesdamcs Curnow and J, Johns, ct and during signer a handsome cake, made by Mrs Waites and presented bv the Ladies’ r. Committee of St David’s, was'cut on behalf of the soldiers 'hy Private Halligan. The rs Kev Mr Curnow called upon ihosc present Pfr, a silent tribute to those who had L fallen in the war, after which he addressed a, few words of welcome to the soldiers, on "k JJS* 1 ■ °| whom Sapner Wilsden responded. The social concluded, with the singing of ;s Anld J-iang Syne." ® v cning the unveiling of the roU Of honour in the Madras Street' North e- Methodist Church will take place. ol -