NEWS AND NOTES. OTAGO HIGH SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1819, 4 August 1913, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

OTAGO HIGH SCHOOL.

THE. BUDGET. TO BE PRESENTED THIS WEEK. Af'ter the all night sitting a meeting of Cabinet, arranged as usual for Saturday morning, was held on Saturday night, and it lasted until after, midnight. Tlio business was the revision of the Financial Statement. Probably this would havo occupied the attention of Ministors the previous week-end, but for the indisposition of tlio Minister for Finance, tlio Han'. James, Allien. Several questions, which are at present big on the political horizon, will bo mentioned in tlio Budget. Tlio proposals of the Government with regard to amendments in tlio Electoral Act will bo ineitfjioned. A statement will also bo made as to t'he Government's intentions with regard to tho salaries of teachers in primary schools. The Financial Statement will certainly bo presented this weok, but the Primo Minister was unable to say last night on what day.

THE END OF THE SESSION? Country members are not contemplating the prospcct of a long session with equanimity tliis year, especially in view of the already half-realised early spring. Tha Primo Minister said something on Friday about "six months' work" ahead, but it is not expected that tho Hanso.. will really sit so long. It was thought by the Government at the beginning of the session that Parliament might disprse about 'tho beginning of November, but the prospects of such an early dosing arc not nearly so bright now. The most optimistic suggestion is-that the session may finish about the end of November.

LAND AGGREGATION. The Lands Committee have three very interesting inquiries on hand at present, all of them interesting because party capital lias been mado of the allegations which the 'Committee has bsen asked to investigate., The inquiries concern the New Lynn leases, tho allegations of the Opposition press, and the Departmental report thereon, about land aggregation in certain districts; and tho statements made in tho House in regard to the disposal by sale of the freehold of a small piece of land in the Cheviot district. Nona of tho inquiries are 'open to the press. .

THE ARBITRATION BILL. There is probably no single Bill in the Government's .programme this year in which more people are keenly interested than that by which the Government havo promised to amend tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Nothing can bo learned yet of what changes I!he 'Government propose to mako in tlio law. The Bill is ready for submission to Cabinet, but Cabinet 'has been ongaged at all of its recent sittings in consideration of the draft of tho Financial Statement.

HOW. IT HAPPENS. "Pure obstinacy, it is nothing ofse," said Mr. W. A. Veitch, the Labour member for Wanganui, in protesting against the proceedings in tlio House during Saturday morning. "Some," lie said, /'impute unworthy motives to the Opposition, but I believo it is a matter of pure obstinacy. One member hits another awl then the latter hits back. As members of Parliament, wo should try to rise superior to these weaknesses."

ITS JUBILEE. CELEBRATIONS IN DUNEDIN. Fifty years ago, on August 3,. 1863, tliero' took place an important event in the scholastic history of the Dominion. It whs on this day that tho Otngo Boys' High School, tho oldest of our great secondary schools, was opened for tho first timo 'for tho reception of pupils. Sinco that day tho alumni of the school huve carried her fame almost everywhere. A largo company of old boys of tho school is now assembled in Dunedin to tako part in the jubilee celebrations, which commenced on Saturday. About thirty old boys went from Wellington to represent the capital city at tho celebrations. They include a fair proportion of men who have made their mark in tho public life of tho Dominion. Tho Wellington delegation comprises the Hon. 11. D. Bell, Hon. A. L. Ilerdman (Attorney-General), Messrs. T. K. Sidey, M.P., C. E. Stathom, M.P., G. 11. Thornton, lI.P, (for many years science master at tlia school), G. C. Tache (Commissioner of Pensions), C. E. Adams (Government Astronomer), John Mae&ay (Government Printer), P. G. Morgan (Chief of Geological Survey), J. Mackenzie (Surveyor-Gen-oral), F. S. Pope (Secretary for Agriculturo), J. O'Siiea (City Solicitor), Noel L. Buchanan (the first dux of the school in 5863). 'W. W. Bird (Inspector of Native Schools), P. Levi (of Wilford and LevO, R. 11. Webb (of Webb and Ilolmden), J. Mallard (manager of the National Insurance Co.), Graham A. Turton (manager of R. W. Cameron and Co.)_. W. C. Young (manager of G. and T. Young), A. A. Marryatt (Government Life Insurance), G. Woir, H. S. >Tily. H. Robertson, G. F. 'Hendry, J. Smyth, T. O'Siiea, C. Gair, H. Behnvrthv, H. Chapman, J. Martin, and 11. Walton. Dunedin, August 3. Celebrations of the jubileo opened with a sports mepting on th« Caledonian Grounds yesterday afternoon beforo 2000 spectators.. Chief interest centred in the Old Boys' football match! in which many well-known gentlemen of advanced years donned the jerseys, and sought to renew their youth. The jubilee dinner in the evening was attended by over 420 old bovs from all over the Dominion. The Hon. H. D. Bell presided, and the Hon. C. A. C. Hardy and Messrs. G. M. Thomson, C. E. Statliam, and T. K. Sidey, M.P.'s, were among those present. Speeches were given by the chairman,, Messrs. W. J. Morrell (present rector), S. Solomon, K.C., Colin Mac Andrew, Mungo Watson, G. M: Thomson, M.P., A. Y. Smith, .T. White, T. K. Sidey, M.P., Hon. C. A. C. Hardy, and Dr. Lindsay. The speeches were mostly of a reminiscent nature, and references to the old masters and distinguished ex-pupils were received with unrestrained enthusiasm. This afternoon a procession of old and present boys to the number of about GSO was held HiTough the streets. Tho Fourth Regiment. Band'marched in advance, and tiioso in the procession were in decades, headed by banners containing dates from 18G3 to tho present time. The spectacle was a most interesting one, and the route was lined by several thousand spectators. The procession marched direct to the school, where a commemoration sprvico was held in the lecture-room. An address was delivered by the Rev. A. Bruce Todd, senior dux of the _ school, who chosa as a basis of an inspiring s?r--7Uon tho words from Matthew's gospel, "What Think Ye of Christ?" The Revs. ,T. Neale, H. A. Barton. W. A. R. Fitchett, and P. B. Haggitt also took part in tho sorvice. Opportunity was taken to unveil two memorial tablets to Conrad Seaward Cantrell and.Major Gilbert Montgomerie Hutton, D.5.0.. two old boys of the school. This function was performed by the Mayor (Mr. W. Downie Stewart). '