THE HIGH SCHOOL.
As announced by us last night. Mr G. K Turton’g prizes to the High Slbo'ol bns for swimming, boxing, and cricket respectively, were this morning, at the High School, delivered to the several successful competitors. The Rector (Mr Nome), having shortly addressed the boys, introduced Mr Turton, who, speaking to the schoolboys as “lads” (explaining that ns “lads’’and not “young gentlemen” he desired to speak to them) said that in August last he had consulted their late worthy rector (Mr Hawthorne) as to the distribution of Lis (Mr Turton’s) annual donation ; that lie had not before presented the prizes .because, in the first instance, _ the cricketers had not played their competitive matches (owing to wet weather), and secondly on account of Mr Hawthorne’s illness, Mr Turton said the prizes were presented in money, and, after consultation , with Mr Brent (who concurred with him), he had no hesitation in giving the prizes in coin.
Mr Turton dwelt at length on the necessity of boys learning to swim, pointing out the advantage to be derived by the swimmer individually, and also the benefit a swimmer might render to a fellow creature in case of drowning by saving his life, &c. On the subject of boxing Mr Turton spoke strongly, and after pointing out the ad vantages to be derived from learnihg “the manly art,” said, “Boys, never strike anybody first, unless a lady is insulted, in which case wire in and fight until you cannot stand. If a person calls you a liar answer him that he is a gentleman ; do not strike him. I know I am singular in this respect. I do not think a man should strike another, except in defence. Nine times have I been struck first, and nine times have my opponents failed to appear before me again in a similar attitude. As between man and man, keep your hands for defensive and aggressive purposes. The narrow-minded opinion of a community like ours is (as stated to mo by two worthy Scots, both friends of mine) that boxing is degrading!’ Nothing of the sort. The gentlemen boxer is a man, a protector of the weak, and one who seldom gets into trouble : and who, if he should bo unfortunately placed in difficulty, knows how to get out of the fix.” On cricket, Mr Turton addressed the High School boys with considerable force as to the necessity of their engaging in out-door sports, mentioning, in addition to cricket, football, boating, _ golf, bowls, shinty, &c , &c., and concluded his address by saying that it was for them, amongst others the coming boys, to make a nationality for this our Colony.— (Prolonged cheers.) Mr Turton urged upon the school boys not to forget their studies—“ books first and play afterwards,” but remember that “without play Jack is a dull boy.’” Mr Nobbie, after order had been restored, thanked Mr Turton for his prizes, and hoped they would be continued. Though (as he much regretted) he was not a cricketer or a boxer, and only an indifferent swimmer, he could testify that, as a rule, the best boy at sports was the best boy in the school. He strongly advocated manly sports, and suggested that, during the mid-winter holidays, the boys should organise a cricket club. The prize-takers were ; Swimming—lst, Bakewell ; 2nd, M'Lean. Boxing Hardy ; 2nd, Cook. Cricket—Crawshaw. Three cheers having been givenforMrTiirton, the school broke up for the holidays.
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Evening Star, Issue 3855, 2 July 1875, Page 3
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572THE HIGH SCHOOL. Evening Star, Issue 3855, 2 July 1875, Page 3
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