SCHOOL OLD BOYS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20361, 19 July 1934, Page 7

SCHOOL OLD BOYS.

Big Gathering at Annual Dinner.

Oyer ono hundred old boys of the Cnristchurch Boys’ High School gathered at the United Service- Hotel last evening when the annual dinner of their association was held. Excellently arranged. the dinner proved most succes'sful, the toast list being limited, and tno programme given colour bv two after-dinner speeches, a talk on cricketers by Mr A. T. Donnelly and “ Ten Minutes in California ” by Mr J R Cuningham.

x\n apology for absence was received from the Prime Minister (Mr Forbes), an old boy of the school. In proposing the toast of “The bebool ’ the chairman (Mr R. C. Abernethy) said that 800 old boys had served m the Great War and 150 had not returned. Under the era of Mr O. J. Lancaster. the headmaster, the school had’ thrived, though labouring under certain He appealed to old boys ,to assist in this respect. A school depended on Government support but a great school depended on the affection and support of Its old hoys. „ Mr Lancaster was still in the middle of his task, maintaining the old tradition, and still building. He mentioned the names of many famous old boys of the later era. The school vas on a firm foundation and it would progress. He appealed to old boys of me school to give their support to the proposal to build a new assembly hall for the school at Riccarton. The efforts to raise funds would culminate in a . S_f e ,t e to be held at the school grounds in February next.

The head master, replying, referred to the co-operation that existed between the masters and boys. A Beautifying t.ommittee of bo >’ s had done much, and the Library Committee also was doir.fe splendid work. Masters were working both in and out of school hours, and the spirit of service was being inoculated with lasting effect. The present school would turn out old boys of whom it would be proud in days to come. Dr F. V. Bevan-Brown proposed the toast of “Kindred Associations." Mr D. S. Murchison (Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association) said that the old spirit between the two schools would never die out. , Council’s Appreciation. Air C. T. Aschman. chairman of the Canterbury University College Council, spoke in appreciation of the association in its endeavours to assist the school, particularly in the proposed provision of an assembly hall. Items wore given as follows: Songs. Messrs T. M. Charters, W. Toomey and D. M’Gill, Dr F. V. Bevan-Brown; recitations, Air A. E. Romeril.