TRAFALGAR DAY ESSAYS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16166, 21 March 1918, Page 2

TRAFALGAR DAY ESSAYS.

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS

The presentation of awards given by the Navy and Victoria Leagues in the recent Trafalgar Day essay competition amongst tho secondary and primary schools of the Canterbury Education District took place at- the Liberty Theatre yesterday afternoon. The theatre was well filled with children from the various schools, who wore entertained with a picture programme, consisting of comedy illnis. and a very fine iilni° showing Britain's naval and miiitarv strength, entitled "Britain Prepared.'' Tho various pictures were evidently largely enjoyed by the children, and the natiiro of the films appealed very strongly to their enthusiastic patriotism. , During an interval the prizes and certificates were awarded. Books constituted tho x>rizes for tho secondary school pupils, and certificates were presented to tho writers of the two bestessays in each of Standards V. and \J. of each primary school. There wore a great number of awards to primary school pupils, details of which have previously been published, and the secondary school winners were as follows: — Mr J. J. Dougall's Challenge Cup to the school winning tbc first prize in Class A - Kaugiora. High Srbool. Class A—.l. Goldio .Brown, Ranpiora High School, 1: Ida Cos, Girls' Hisrh School, and Dorothy Penlington, Girls' Hieh School. '2; G. H. Wattcrs, Ashburton High School, li c. Class B—Stanley Dallfv, jiimeiora Hirh School, and Annie Joyce, Sacred Heart Girls' College, 1; P. F. Saxby, Boys' High School, Christchurch, 2; Kbba King-don, "i'angimru School, h c.

Mr A. Boyle, president of the local branch of tho Navy League; briefly addressed the children. Last year, he said, when saying a few words to them, lio had expressed the hope that the next essays would' be on tho subject of "Peace," but he was afraid it would bo many days yet before peace was declared. They were all no doubt aware that the object of the essays was to inculcate not only a study of naval history, but also a greater interest amongst the rising generation in all Empire matters, and the subjects chosen were for this purpose. He had been wondering for a long time whether it had been better to live during the last fifty jcars, or during the next fifty years to come. He had first of all come to the conclusion it would have been better to have lived the last fifty years, but, on thinking matters ovor, he was not at all sure that he was right. He believed all the rising generation was going to benefit very greatly by this great and terrible war. In tho last fifty years we had doubtless heard of many eminent men who had been regarded as heroes by their fellow-countrymen, but the children of the present were going to be allowed to mix with thousands of heroes; men who have gone out to fight, not as heroes of the past had gone—for their country alone—but for the good of the whole world. It was impossiblo to believe that these men, after what they had gone through, would not have a better and higher view of life; would have ideals, and would be able to convey theso_ ideals to those who would have the privilege of living amongst them. They must never forget what these men had done for them. We were living here to-day in anxiety, "but in comfort and plenty, and they must recognise that this great benefit had been brought about by the willingness of all those rnllini' themselves men, to sacrifice their lives for a great and just cause. The awards wero then presented to the successful children by Mrs Elworthy. president of the Victoria League.