ADMIRAL SIR L. HALSEY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1920, Page 4

ADMIRAL SIR L. HALSEY

PRESENTATION FROM WAITAKI BOYS. LONDON, Nov. 4. While Admiral Sir L. Halsey was in New Zealand as Chief of Staff to the Prince of Wales, he took the opportunity of visiting the Waitaki Boys’ High School, every boy of which is a member of tho school’s branch of . the Navy League. When he was in New Zealand in 1913 on the first world-tour of H.M.S. New Zealand, (as Captain) lie also visited Waitaki, and spoke to the boys at the school. In recognition of the interest Admiral Halsey has shown in their branch of the Navy Ja?agtie, the. boys recently forwarded to the High Commissioner a handsome presentation gift to be handed to the Admiral. The accompanying letter expressed the desire that the presentation should be made quite informally.

Yesterday afternoon, Sir Lionel Halsey was the guest of Sir James Allen at the Government offices, and others present were Lady Halsey, Lady Allen, Mrs Montgomery, Miss Allen, Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, the Hon Arthur M. Myers and Mrs Myers, and Capt. T. E. Donne. The presentation consisted of an inkstand with a base of rewa-rewa, a layer of kauri, and a toppiece of totara. Set on this were silver fittings, and two cut-glass ink-wells and in addition a jade-handled pen. and a jade paper-knife. A silver plate set .in the woodwork bore the inscription. Sir James Allen made the presenta-' tion, and read the letter from the boys of the school, and both Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Myers said a few complimentary words concerning tho recipient. In reply, the Admiral spoke very highly of the Waitaki B.H.€>., and said that it was a model of what a public school should be, and that it held its own with many similar institutions in England. He had always been interested in the school since lie first visited it, and he would continue to take an interest in it in the future. A very pleasant little ceremony was then concluded with afternoon tea. j