THEIR ALMA MATER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1821, 6 August 1913, Page 3

THEIR ALMA MATER.

GREAT REUNION.

OTAGO HIGH SCHOOL JUB 1 ' EE. (By Telcjrapli—l'rc6s Association.) Dunedin, August 5. The celebrations in connection with the jubilee of the Otago Boys' High School are now practically concluded. The lons programmo has been marked with the greatest good-fellowship, and the success of the celebration has surprised everyone. The president of tho Jubilee Association was tho Hon. H. D. 8011, K.C., Minister, for Internal Affairs, who was a pupil at tho school in its opening year half a century ago, ami subsequently dux of the school for five' years. In proposing the toast of the seh'ool at the jubilee dinner, Mr. Bell stated that, speaking in all sincerity, lie held it the greatest honour which had ever been accorded him that ho should liavo fen tho ona chosen from so many to preside 011 suoli an occasion. A very noticeable feature of tho proceeding was the spirit of earner,iderie existing between the greybeards of ]BG3 and tho little knickerbockered lads of 1913. As one of the senior masters (himself a distinguished pupil of tho school) put it last night, "the present pupils will be 50 per cent, better boys for . their meeting with their predecessors." Undoubtedly tho most impressive function was the great gathering of present and past pupils on Sunday afternoon. Mustering about GOO, the Old Boys assembled on tho site of the first school building (demolished two years to mako way for tho new Girls' Hi<jh School). The "boys of the old brigade"—thlo pupils of ISG3-IS72—were drawn up at one end of tho ground, and tho others marched past them, hea'l ed by the school cadet battalion, bearing tho colours presented to .them by iJord Kitchener. Then came the Old Boys, paraded accorded to the decade in which they were at school. Each' decado was preceded by a banner inscribed with tho (late. Marching in procession a. riiilo long, the boys and tho Old Boys passed through the city streets to the fine new school in Arthur Street—tho finest scholastic building in the Dominion, and an enduring monument to the foresight of this Otagb pioneers, and their wholehearted devotion to tho cause of education. Tho seats were thronged with thousands of spectators, testifying to the interest taken bv the people of New Zealand in the school which has done so much to mould tho characters of its young men, and to spread tho fame of "the Edinburgh of, tho south." IMPRESSIONS. HISTORIC AND MEMORABLE, [Br "Oid Bor."] The singing of the old familiar hymns by over IUUU male voices can be described only as magnificent. The whole lunction was marked by a spirit of reverence and loyalty to tho traditions of the school, which was quite remarkable. Uu Monday morning tli Old Boys gathered at the school at tlie usual nour of assembly, and, as the big bell rang out its old lamiliar summons, they filed into their places in the hall, to prayers and roll-call, as in tlie old days. The four school songs were sung with a spirit which went to every heart, the melody of the'young lads mingling with the tenors and <le6p-tliroated bass of The Old Boys, and it gave a volumo of sound which seemed uo make tho old grey towers ring. Then the present boys cheered the Old Boys, the Old' Bays Cheered the new boys, ana finally, voicing it all together, they cheered tho masters, past and present. - ' The history of the school was told by two prominent Old Boys, "and Mr. (j. M. Thomson, M.l'„ who was lor thirty years science master. at the school, and at once one of the most able and popular members of its staff.- But history was not only "recalled" at" that assembly—it wiis made. Tho gathering was historic in every sense. it was truly said that .the Oid Boys had come to the school once again' to- "renew 'their youtli," and that tuey' had succeeded. Monday afternoon was spent in a close examination of the old school. Hundreds of Old.Boys wandered through tho familiar classrooms, pointing out to wives and daughters tlio placo where they had oarved their names, and been >oundly caned for it afterwards. The last -evening was devoted to. a convivial smoke concert—one of tho happiest functions in the memories of everyone present. The chair was occupied by Mr. \Y. Downio Stewart (Mayor of Dunedin, and an Old Boy). A suggestion that the Old Boys should raiso a fund to provide prizes at the school as. a permanent jubilee memorial was received with tremendous enthusiasm, and a sum of =E-i)3 was subscribed in tho room. Amongst those who responded to tho toast of "Visiting Old Boys" (given by Mr. C. E. Statham, M.P.) wcro Messrs. John Mackay and James Mackenzie, both of whom aro now residents of Wellington,' and who were at the school on the day it opened. Throughout the proceedings the Wellington Old Boys have Irorne a prominent part, and the feeling of loyalty to the old school which exists in the Capital City has never before been so clearly evidenced. The Old Boys of Dunedin have been so much impressed with the hearty spirit of goodwill amongst their Wellington brothers that they have decided to send a big delegation north to take part in tlie Wellington celebrations at tho end of this week. To-night the visiting Old Boys are being entertained at a ball by tlie Mayor of Dunedin, and, to-morrow morning, they will leave for their homes, their hearts full of a freshly-inspired love for tlie grand old institution, and a feeling _ of thankfulness that they have been privileged to be present at one of the most impressive scholastic. celebrations in the history of the Dominion.