SCHOOL BARRACKS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 148, 15 February 1932, Page 4

SCHOOL BARRACKS

WEEKLY SHIELD PRESENTED AND CADET COMPANY INSPECTED CO'L. DUIGAN'S CONGRATULATIONS A large numher of parents and friends of the Rotorua High School, took the opportunity of inspecting the school barracks yesterday afternooi and witnessing the presentation oi the "Weekly Press" Challenge Shield by Colonel J. Duigan, D.S.O, N.Z.S.C., O.C. Northern Gommand, The weather was" threatening, but'I inconvenience was caused hy the intermittent showers of rain. The visitors were greatly impressed hy the tidiness and general neatness of the tent lines. The house system has been used in the barracks as in the school itself, And eaeh house has its own row of tents. Keen inter-house rivalry exists as to which club will win the most points for tent and houses inspection each day. The real business ' of the afternoon commenced with the arrival oi Colonel Duigan and Major Bell, N.Z.S.C. The cad'et company vas drawn up in line on the parade ground' and Colonel Duigan carrieJ out an inspection of the ranks. Presentation of • Shield Proceeded by the march past and the taking of the salute, cadets formed a hollow square round the saluting base for the presentation oi the shield and individual medals. In the official party were Colonel Duigan Major Bell, Lieutenant V. 1 Innes, N.Z.S.C., Major C. L. Knight, M.C., representing the Hauraki Eegiment, Mr. R. B. Nesbit, chairman oi the Board of Governors, Mr. J. E Learning, acting-headmaster, ai Messrs. H. A. Goudie, H. M. Martis and W. Steele, members of the board Colonel Duigan, addressing thi gathering, said the he was verj pleased to be thore, and to he able ic present the shield, although it wai Sunday. However, it was a case o; "the hetter the day, the better thi deed." (Laughter.) The school had a wonderful record, and it was left to the new headmaster to carry oi where the old headmaster, Mr. A, h Ryder, had left off. The Defence Dopartment was not aiming to mai! martyrs of boys, but to instil disci pline into the youth of the countij The headmaster of the Auckla® Grammar School, Mr. Mahon, had o: one occasion remarked to him upe: the value of military training. $ was glad that the local board heh the same view, and had kept up tb training at the Rotorua High School Discipline, Not Perfection The speaker said that discipli® was the main thing looked for, nc military perfection. The first thinl he had noticed on coming on to ti parade ground was the steadiness Oj the boys. For shooting, self-diso pline was a necessity, and the boj had to get down to hard work to % successful. He hoped' to be able t present the shield again next y$! and warned the boys that if they I' him down, he would not come nflj them. The success of the team was in1 great measure due to its coach, $ R. G. !Wehb, said Colonel Dufeai who then called for three cheers fc Mr. Webb and the team. The membeo of the team were then decorated wit the medals accompaning- the sLieW Lines Inspected Mr. R. B. Nesbit, chairman of # Board of Governors, thanked ColoU Duigan for presenting the shiw Mr. Nesbit said he was sure the boj would do their best to win the shij again, and called for three cheers Colonel Duigan. Colonel Duigan tW inspected the tent lines, and an ® vitation was extended the visitors1 see for themselves how the boys treated. • Afternoon tea was served to f® visitors in the different mess tew While afternoon tea was in Pr° gress, the boys carried ouft the ^ mony of changing the" guard." ^ movement, which calls for ahsok drill precision and smartness on P, ade, showed evidence of the bene, which the camp training had alrea(f given the cadets/' . A nu'mber of visitors watched v ceremony, but for the benefit of thos who had not seen the guard cha^ over on the first occasion, the uof ment was later repeated and expW ed in its various sections hy Bates.