BIRTHDAY PARTY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 191, 9 May 1940, Page 4

BIRTHDAY PARTY

Gifts Presented To Queen Margaret College

Yesterday’s celebrations at Queen Margaret College. Wellington, concluded with the twenty-first birthday party, which was the occasion for presenting gifts to the college. The party was attended by the Prime Minister and Mrs. Fraser, and others in the oflieial party were Dr. C. E. Bee-by, Director of Education, and Mrs. Beeby, Mr. T. B. Heath, chairman of the board of governors, and Mrs. Heath, the Rev. A. B. Kilroy, representing the Wellington Presbytery, and Mrs. Kilroy, Miss I. Wilson, principal of the college. Mass Doreen Kersley, president of the old girls’ association, Mr. Leslie Wall, chairman of the Scots College Board of Governors, and Mrs. Wall,' and Mr. J. T. Martin, the firet chairman of the board, and Mrs. Martin.

Mr. Fraser gave an address, aud others who spoke were Mr. Heath, who was in tlie chair; Miss Wilson, who thanked the donors for their gifts to the college; Mr. Martin; the Rev. Mr. Kilroy, who also read a letter from the Moderator of the Assembly, who was unable to. be present; aud Mr. Leslie Wall, who spoke on behalf of tlie Scots College board. Gifts were presented by the parents’ association, who gave a piano, the old girls’ association, who gave a sound and movie projector; the staff, who gave a portable gramophone amplifier to incorporate with the old girls' gift; the school, which refurnished the hall; the head prefects of the past 21 years, who gave a beautifully-bound church hymnery and also bound copies of the school magazine; the board of governors, which presented a cheque; and Miss "Wilson, who presented a hymn board. Numerous cheques and personal gifts were received from former pupils and parents and all the gifts were on display. Present girls formed a guard of honour on the arrival of the oflieial party, and before the ceremony began marched through the hall singing, to take their place on the stairs. The hall, gallery and oilier rooms were tilled with the guests.

Birthday Cake Cut. One of the highlights of the afternoon was the cutting of the three-tiered birthday cake, which was the gift of the Old Girls’ Association and was made by the married members. Each of the 21 candies was lit in turn by head prefects of the past 21 years, all but five being present. Miss Wilson completed the ceremony by cutting tho cake. ‘ Miss A. Bennie sang “Bless This House,” and at the conclusion the present-day girls filed out through the guests, singing aS' they went. The official party was entertained to afternoon tea. Other official guests included were: Miss North, Mrs. Mnzengarb, Airs. J. S. Martin, Sir James and Lady Elliott, Mrs. Ulrich, Mr. W. McLay, Mr. Hope Gibbons, and Miss Mayhew. Flowers were presented to the official guests. ' Earlier in the day tho assembly and roll call took place. At 9.30 a.m. the old girls filled the halls, and the present girls the stairs and gallery, for the usual morning service. Each person present answered the roll, called by Miss Wilson, who read greetings from those not able to attend. She also read many cables and telegrams, and read the roll of remembrance. Everyone signed her name in the visitors’ book, and a movie film was taken of the assembly, which was arranged according to the years iu which those present had attended the school. Tlie parents’ association arranged the birthday party in the afternoon, and, with the Old Girls’ Association, will be responsible for the climax to the celebrations tomorrow, when a dance will be hold at which 29 former pupils will make their debut.