SCHOOLBOYS' DINNER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 98, 16 December 1931, Page 6

SCHOOLBOYS' DINNER

successful evening CHAMPIONS IN SPORT AND LEARNING ENTERTAINED BY HEADMASTER POSTPRANDIAL SPEECHES That the pupils of the Rotorua High School have a capacity for making neat speeches as well as studying or applying themselves to games w;as exemplified on Saturday evening on the occasion of the headmaster's complimentary dinner to the school's 1930 shooting team which won the 0Weekly Press challenge shield, and the school's representatives, champions and scholars. Mr. and Mrs. Reeve, of the Mansions, had evidently been to extra trouble in order to provide a repast of particular appeai to the sehoolboy appetite, and when this was disposed of a very enjoyable evening was spent. A long toast list was honoured, most of these being entrusted to the boys themselves. The quality of the speeches was fully equal to adult efforts at similar functions. During the evening more than one speaker took advantage of the occasion to make feeling reference to the impending departure of the headmaster, Mr. A. R. Ryder, and at the conclusion three hearty cheers were given in his honour. The first toast, the School, was proposed by J. A. Alexander, who, in a neat short speech touched upon the various activities of the school and traced its progress from its inception in 1927. In reply, Mr. Ryder referred to his association with the school and stated that though he was naturally proud of the progress the school had made, he felt that he had accomplished no more than any other headmaster would have done in similar circumstances. He was deeply grateful for the assistance he had recqived from the Board, and stated that though on all occasions they had not seen eye to eye with him in his methods, -he always felt that he had their loyal support in working :or the good of "the school and the ■icholars. . Tribute to Scholars No headmaster, Mr. Ryder continued, could have been favoured with i more loyal or enthusiastic staff, and :o them, too, he owed a debt of chanks for the fine way in which they lad co-operated. He paid a tribute ^o the type of scholar attending the ichool, and said that they compared nore than favourably with any other icholars in New Zealand. He congratulated the shooting team on its success, which had unloubtedly brought honour to the ichool, and he also congratulated the ■931 team in repeating the success. Vlr. Ryder referred also to the imircvement manifested by the schools' athletic teams and said he felt that lealthy sport and education weF rand in hand with moulding the :raditions into their lives as citi.hat those of the scholars who were eaving this year would carry their .raditions into their lives as citi:ens. Mr. Ryder also paid a tribute to the rork of Mr. McDowall, the caretaker nd groundsman, and recalled, as an nstance of what had been done, that vhen he had first been appointed in 1927, and had visited the school in ompany with Mr. Nesbit, he had had o force his way through the ti-tree. >n what were now splendid and reditable grounds. The toast of the 1930 shooting eam was proposed by G. R. Hampson, and was responded to by Mr. R. G. Webb and F. Raethel and R. Devin. The toast of the School Champions and Scholars was proposed by A. M. [sdale, and was replied to by N. Hin;on, K. Park and C. Davis. The School Fifteen and Eleven ' vvere proposed by A. Graham and replied to by D. R. Dyder, and N. Hinton. The headmaster proposed the toast. :he Board of Governors, and made •articular reference to the co-opera-;ion he had received from Mr. R. B. Nesbit, the chairman. In reply, Mr. Nesbit stated that :he board's work had been much simolified by the efficiency and enthusasm of the headmaster, and though ihe school had been well endowed ihe board was often restraind by rules and regulations over which they nad no control in giving as much lelp in the various activities as they vvould have liked. He stated that the Board regretted exceedingly the loss ff Mr. Ryder, and wished him every success and prosperity in his new ' osition. Sister Schools The toast of Sister Schools, pro>osed by C. W. Randerson, drew a vvide response geographically speakng. Dr. Hay and Mr. J. Buchan replied for the Otago High School; Mr. E. vj. Guy for the Greymouth High School; Mr. J. E. Learning, Mr. W. II. Evans, and Mr. H. A. Goodwin for the Auckland Grammar School; Mr. C. Noble and Mr. R. G. /v'ebb for the New Plymouth High School; Mr. L. Clark for the Wanganui Collegiate School; and Mr. A. R. Ryder for the Christchurch Boys' High School. W. Vercoe proposed the toast of ihe Old Boys, and in reply Mr. P. Gainsford appealed to all members. vhen they left school, to join the Old Pupils' Association, and make it a itrong and virile representative of he past scholars of the school. The toast of the Masters was prooosed by J. Hampson and replied to by Mr. J. E. Learning. J. Alexandei iemonstrated that he was no mean "mpromptu speaker when, called upon at short notice, he proposed the toast if the ladies. Mr. Ryder proposed the toast Our Host and Hostess, and in responding Mr. Reeves stated that Mrs. Reeves ;nd himself always felt that anything ihey could do to assist the High School was regarded not as a courtjsy. but as a duty. The toast of the Eotary Club was .•esponded to by the prasident of the Rotary Club, Mr. J. H. Buddle. During the evening the present pupils of the school provided an ex•ellent programme of musical items, ihose taking part being" Andrew Brown, violin solo; a trio by H. 3teele, W. Yercoe and A. Graham; songs by A. Graham and W. Vercoe; coinet solo by Mr. D. Lacey.