A DOMINIE FAREWELLED

Evening Star, Issue 21745, 13 June 1934, Page 10

A DOMINIE FAREWELLED

MR C. M. GILRAY HONOURED ‘ M'GLASHAN OLD BOYS TRIBUTE Apart from the friendships formed while at school, the most valuable purpose served by an old boys’ society is the establishment of a contact between master and ex-pupil. The investment of that spirit and the consequent favourable reaction has taken an important place in the ideals of the John M'Glashan Old Collegians’ Association. The extent to which that personal relationship lias been fostered and individually cherished found ample demonstration last night, when a large gathering of old boys met in. the Somerset Lounge of the Savoy to farewell as a united body Mr C. M. Gilray, the head master of the college, who leaves shortly for'Melbourne, where he will take-up a similar position at Scots College. Many graceful tributes to the high regard in which Mr Gilray is held by both former. students and masters and also in the commercial life of the city were made during the evening, and tangible recognition was forthcoming in the presentation by the president (Mr A. R. Harris) of a handsome chiming clock of greenstone base and with the old boys’ badge attached to a suitabb’- ■ worded inscription. < ’ THE TOAST LIST. “ It is very pleasing to see so many old boys present to-night to do honour to Mr Gilray, who has been called to a higher sphere and who will shortly be leaving to take up ,his new position,” said Mr T. C. Ross (chairman of the Board of Governors), in proposing the toast of “ The Old Collegians’ Association.” It was unnecessary for him to emphasise the importance and the value of ; such. an association as the college possessed; and as one who had attended many annual meetings since its inception lie had_ noted its rapid growth. The association was achieving something when it worked in harmony with the head;raaster and staff.. The O.C.Ashould always realise, that the school stood or fell on the efforts of the individuals of the association.

■ “ We must stand by Mr Gil ray’s successor as we have by Mm, and carry on the traditions of the school as we have done in the past,” said Mr C. Gray, who responded to the toast. He xvent on to say that those present that night were virtually the founders of the school, which was freely recognised as one of the leading educational institutions in the dominion. Its reputation was a proud one, and it was only by giving the school a due place in their own lives that that reputation could be strengthened. He further exhorted the old boys to support the school and its future head master.

The toast of “ The College,” coupled with the name of Mr Gilray, was proposed by Mr A. 11. Harris, the president. After remarking that the function that night might appear rather premature, but that it was considered an appropriate time to farewell Mr Gilray in conjunction with the annual meeting, Mr Harris said that the schools’ progress was not confined to the academic side. An advance had also been made in the sporting and spirituaLrealms. For the first time since 1920 the college fifteen had beaten St. Andrew’s College, Christchurch, last year at football. As two speakers had pointed out, the school had gone ahead since Mr Gilray’s advent eleven years ago. Although the speaker felt at a handicap, in that he himself had been at the college before Mr Gilray’s time, he was voicing the opinion of the old boys when he said that it was with, very genuine regret that they were'losing him from the association. He had shown at all times the keenest interest in the association—an interest that they all appreciated very much. It was opportune,to make reference to the interest which Mrs Gilray had taken in the association and the willing assistance she had given at functions. He hoped that she, too, would ienjoy her life on the other side of the Tasman. . ~ i Mr T, S. Holme, a house master, seconded the toast, and said that he thought it a great honour, as the eldest member of-the, staff, to be called on to support' the toast. It was just eleven and a-half years since he had relinquished the temporary control of the school and handed it over to Mr Gilray. He had been in constant touch with him, perhaps more so than any of the members present, and there were two points of his nature he would like to stress.. Firstly, Mr Gilray had a very kindly disposition, and his relations with the teaching staff had always been of the best, while he was willing at all times to help a lame dog over a stile. Secondly, he possessed a * wonderful sense, of humour. “If a school master does not possess a sense of humour his job is apt to get him down,’’ stated Mr Hollne, who remarked that a teacher had to act in many capacities; he himself had once stoked a boiler, in one of the school houses during a vacation. In conclusion, Mr Holme said that Mr Gilray’s head mastership had been characterised by very strenuous work. M'Glashan College was taking a place in the community that was remarkable considering its youth. MR GILRAY’S REPLY.

“ Wien the time comes to break associations • with a . school after eleven and a-half years I can hardly voice ' words to express my feelings,” said MiGilray, who was _ greeted with prolonged applause on rising to respond to the toast. “I did not apply, for the appointment—the first I heard of it was when I received a suggestion from Melbourne. It is not due to my efforts alone that the school owes its present position—the staff and the boys have made a contribution. TLe school has prospered during those years, even though it has had to go through two periods of' depression, and had it not been for that the college would be twice as large as it is to-day. I am glad you associated Mrs . Gilray with the toast. Before I left to-night for this function she asked that her love b© conveyed to the. members of the Old Collegians’ Association. (Applause.) “ A school has a certain attitude n nd direction towards life. . Education is connected with the proper direction of human beings, and is the foundation of a noble and good life. A school like M'Glashan is trying to give a sense of nobility which may be attained in human character. It is a joy to me to see so much promise in the lives of the boys who have gone out from the school in the last decade. There is nothing more splendid for me to hear than the reports of good conduct of the boys in outside life.” Mr Gilray went on to refer to the scholastic records of the school, and said that the highest honour attained so far by any old boy had been gained by 0. O. Hutton, who had .been awarded a senior scholarship in geology by the University of New Zealand. Prior to that he had won a Sir George l Grey scholarship, open to all students of Otago University. Several other notable successes had been established by nld boys. Referring to the military nuits. the speaker said that a. major of the Australian Imperial forces had told him on the occasion of a visit to the

school that there was nothing in Australia like the secondary school cadets in this country. He had been particularly impressed, as far as their own unit was concerned, with the instructions given by the non-commissioned officers. The M'Glashan Cadets continued to hold a high place in the units of this city, and he (Mr Gilray). thought that their contribution to the life of the school was a very valuable one indeed. In conclusion, he thanked the previous two speakers for the manner in which they had proposed the toast.. He hoped that the ideals of the college would be maintained, and that the old boys would see they were carlied out. He believed M'Glashan had turned out, on the whole, a good set of gentlemen, using the best sense of the word. He did not mean it ip any snobbish sense. In the words of Thackeray, he asked them to be men whose aims were generous, whose truth was constant, who could look the whole world honestly in the face, and have equal sympathy with the great and the small. He hoped these ideals would be maintained at the college. (Applause.) Several enjoyable musical items were rendered during the evening.