HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19065, 2 October 1933, Page 8

HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL

OLD BOYS’ REUNION.

THE ANNUAL DINNER. PRINCIPAL’S UNIQUE POSITION. One of the most successful reunions yet staged by the Old Boys of the Hamilton High School was held on Saturday, when there was a record attendance at every function. The annual meeting at mid-day, the Past v. Present boys’ football match, the re-union dinner, and the reunion dance followed one another with a swing, there being no hitches between the proceedings. There w'as a very large attendance at the dinner in the Hamilton Hotel, including many Old Boys from other districts. Mr C. A. Speight presided, and after the Royal toast had been honoured he proposed the toast “The School.” “This toast has been proposed at so many of our functions that it would be idle for me to elaborate 0:1 it too much,” said Mr Speight. ‘‘We all know the splendid work the school has done, and is still doing, and we wish it every success in the future. “No Old Boy can think of the school without affectionate recollections of the principal, Mr Eben Wilson’” he added. (Applause.) “The many outstanding suocesses of the school and old pupils of the school are mainly attributable to him.”

Headmaster’s Address. Mr Wilson, who rose amidst loud applause, said it was pleasing to see so many Old Boys renewing school acquaintances. “My position is a unique one, being the llrst and only headmaster the school has known,” added Mr Wilson. “Last February I completed my thirty-first year in connection with the Hamilton High School. (Applause.) “Few headmasters have a chance to fashion a school and build it as they desire, but I had a fresh field, and was able to supervise the entire construction of the school. The beautiful surroundings that the school now enjoys were only made possible by the ungrudging work of the older Old Boys,” he added. “Most of the major works around the school have been completed, but although it will not be in my time I hope that one day a fine residential block will stand on the grounds for boarders. (Applause.) The time will also come, I hope, when woodwork, engineering and other manual training blocks will be attached to the school. The intellectual side of the school work has not been neglected, and, thanks to a very capable staff, we have done exceptionally well again,” the principal continued.

The Problem To-day. “I think the problem to-day is not so much economic as social. There is no more vital thing for a boy than to know how to live and enjoy the fuliness of life. This can only be done by the advanced education secured at large secondary schools. The. boy’s intellect is not only much improved, but he gains the true traditional spirit, and I think that any policy that does not assist the boys and girls to attend secondary schools is a wrong one. I am of the opinion that had we not had so many well-turned-out young men from secondary schools in times such as these we would have had a revolution. Boys from secondary schools leave with the power to think sanely, and with the splendid traditions behind them make ideal citizens,” Mr Wilson concluded amidst loud applause. Mr A. G. Ward proposed the toast, “Kindred Associations," Air W. Tanner replying. The school song, “Forty Years On,” was sung again, and the singing of "Auld Lang Syne” brought the dinner to a close.