AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2592, 14 October 1915, Page 7

AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL

OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION. Tho inaugural reuuion of tho Auckland Grammar School Old Boys' Association was hold in Godber's Booms last evening, Mr. Barry Kecsing presiding. There wore about 40 boys present. Tho guest of houour was the Hon. A. Myers, M.P., wtoo, when introduced by tho chairman, explained that ho did not have the privilege of being an old ! boy of tho Grammar School, his alma mater having been Wellington College. His brother, Dr. Bernard Myers, now a major in t'ho 1t.A.M.0. in En eland, a.nd at present in charge of the Now Zealand Hospital at Walton-on-Thames, was, however, an old boy, and he, in common with all other Auckland citizens, was very proud of tho school. Some peoplo might doubt the propriety of holding such social gatherings at a' time like the present, but he held that gatherings helped everyono to realise their responsibilities to the Empire t for it was the sacred duty of every citizen to respond to tho call of Empire. Ho realised hon" well the old boys of the school had responded and how many of tbem had paid the price of Empire in the great struggle. That he had learn-1 ed a few months ago from tho worthy headmaster, Mr. Tibbs, and speaking of Mr. Tibbs he mentioned how fortunate Auckland and tho school was in having at its 'head, such a personality. They all knew of old boys who were rendering conspicuous service in various activities of life, whoso attainments and character had been largely due to the personality of Mr. Tibbs. In voicing bia gratitude at the results attained, Mr. Myers mentioned that tho new Grammar School at Mount Eden would I)_o oi>eued shortly. The affairs of tho Empire had reached a crisis -which demanded that every man must decide on the part he was to play. The National Register would soon be taken, and ho ventured to state that the result would bo a revelation, and that every man °f military ago would be prepared to offer his services to the State.' There must be no doubt as to tho necessity of the call. That had been explained by tho Minister of Defenco in 1 arliamcnt on Tuesday evening, when ho asked of Now Zealand not only to do its _ best, but. it's very best. As loyal citizens of the brightest gem in tho diadem of tho British Empire there could be only one answer, and that \vould bo to join the Empire brigade, [bei'o may be those who with physical disabilities or through other oWgations were not in a position to enlist, but it-i was the clear duty of all others, without faltering or hesitation, to put in their names as ready to follow the good lead of those thousands of our fcllowcoloiusts who had gone forward, and to show that the blood spilt had not been in vain. The war that was being fought was for t'ho emancipation of tho whole world, and it was inspiring to see how all the units of the Empire, W | l j ° r ' jroivn ' ,verc rallying round tlic old flag. We were really a small nation in ourselves, and this war was to protect the rights of small nations, and hero the speaker referred to the manner in which Serbia had thrown back across the Danubo somo of the enemy's forces. -The war bad now developed ll }to a far-reaching attempt on the part of Germany to menace tho power of England in Egypt and India, and they wore consequently very much interested, and must recognise the responsibility, lie felt sure that New Zealand would I'iso to a sense of its responsibilities, and would show the world' what it' could do. Some might say that it mattered little what we do, but in all earnestness lie could say that it mattered very much indeed. (Applause.) The toasts honoured were: "The King," "Tho Old School" (proposed by Mv. W. S. La Trobe), "Our Boys at the Front" (proposed by Mr. V. R. Meredith), "Tho Empire and Our Allies" proposed by Mr. M. F. Luckie). and "The Association." Songs, recitations, etc., were contributed by Messrs. F. Twiss, V. R Meredith, and A. W. Newton.