TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 181, 2 July 1937, Page 8

TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

CORONATION TREE PLANTED. The pupils and staff of the Palmerston North Technical School gathered at the Grey Street grounds yesterday afternoon for the purpose of planting an English oak in commemoration of the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Due to the school being closed during Coronation Week, the ceremony had been postponed. Among those present were Messrs M. H. Oram (chairman of the Board of Governors), Colonel J. H. Whyte and Mr G. G. Hancox (director of the Technical School). Mr Hancox apologised for the absence of Mrs Oram and Messrs J. A. Nash and T. D. Lynch. The director introduced Mr Oram, wheo referred to the significance of the Coronation as a ceremony in which all units of the Empire participated. He said the King was the link uniting Great Britain and the Dominions in one great commonwealth of nations. As a result of the passing of the Statute of Westminster, the position of the King had become more important than ever before. The speaker also referred to tho beauties of Nature and of trees, in particular the oak tree-

The English oak was being planted, Mr Oram said, because it was symbolical of the national character and, traditionally, was connected with the history of the nation from the earliest times.' The ships of oak played an important part in the marine life of the nation and had permitted the sons of Britain to travel to the uttermost corners of the earth.

Mr Oram, assisted by W. Young and Mabel Harvey (the head prefects), then planted the oak. After having declared this well and truly done,, he called for three cheers for the King and Queen, which were given. The singing of the National Anthem brought the brief ceremony to a close.