WINTON SCHOOL

Southland Times, Issue 21088, 21 May 1930, Page 9

WINTON SCHOOL

HISTORIC EVENT DIAMOND JUBILEE GATES OPENED GIFT .OF EX-PUPILS (From Our Correspondent.) The diamond jubilee celebrations of the Winton School were continued yesterday, considerable enthusiasm being displayed by both old and young. The programme which had been drawn up by the officials for yesterday, was as follows: All ex-pupils meet at the Band Rotunda at 9 a.m; procession to school; presentation and opening of jubilee gates; thanksgiving service; signing and calling of the roll; photographs; concert by the expupils at 8 p.m. in the Theatre Royal. The president of the Ex-pupils’ Association, Mr. J. P. McWilliam, remarked at the Official Welcome on Monday evening: "On Tuesday if it is raining, we shall all meet at the Drill Hall at 9 a.m.; but I hope it will not be so.” The president’s hope was realized, for yesterday morning, the visitors to Winton were greeted by a bright sun. The day proved ideal for outdoor functions, which were concluded in good time. At 9 o’clock ex-pupils, ex committee-men and ex-teachers met at the Band Rotunda. The Winton Municipal Band was in attendance, and led the procession to the Winton School. Mr. C. Grimwood was in charge of the procession, and the banner for the first decade (1870-1879) was in the hands of Mr. W. Hagerty. The procession marched to the school in the following order, of decades: 1870-1879; 1880-1889; 1890-1909; 1910-1919; 1920-30; ex-teachers and excommitteemen.

The procession halted in front of the Jubilee Commemoration Gates, and the president of the Jubilee Committee, Mr. McWilliam, presented the gates to the Chairman of the Winton District High School Committee, Mr. H. S. Woodnorth. Mr. Woodnorth, in replying, said that it was a proud moment of his life as chairman of the Winton District High School Committee to accept the gates on their behalf. Mr. Woodnorth stated that the School Committee was very thankful to the members of the Ex-Pupils’ Association for the handsome gates, and it would be the duty of the School Committee to keep the gates in good order. By the erection of the gates the hedge in front of the school was put in the shade, and the schol committee would endeavour to raise funds for the purpose of erecting a suitable fence in front of the school. Mr. Woodnorth called on the chairman of the Southland Education Board, Mr. A. W. Jones to officially open the gates. Mr. Jones, in declaring the gates open, said that it would be appropriate in calling all those present girls and boys instead of ladies and gentlemen, as those present had the spirit of youth. He stated that the primary school was the nursery of education and character, and it prepared young people to take the responsible positions of the present citizens. The boys and girls would inherit a very rich legacy. Mr. Jones said that the ex-pupils of the W'inton School considered it the best schol of all, and the following poem of Newbolt’s could be quoted: “We’ll honour yet the school we knew, The best school of all: We’ll honour yet the rule we knew, Till the last bell call; For working days or holidays. And glad or melancholy days, They were great days and jolly days, At the best school of all.” The speaker then quoted another of Newbolt’s poems, which he thought suitable to the occasion: "This is the word that year by year, While in her place the school is set, Every one of her sons must hear, And none that hear it dare forget. This they all with a joyful mind, Bear through life like a torch in flame, And falling, fling to the host behind, Tlay up, play up, and play the game.’ ” ■Mr. Jones stated that he had much pleasure in declaring the gates open, and trusted that those who passed through them would maintain the honour of the school. He concluded by congratulating the Ex-Pupils’ Association on the number of ex-pupils present at- the function, and said that many old incidents would be recalled, and many happy hours spent with old acquaintances. The Education Board would see that the gates were kept in good order. The oldest pupil of the Winton School present, Isabel Gerrard (now Mrs. Barron) was called on to cut the ribbon, and the gates were then declared opened. A passage from the scriptures was then read by Mr. McWilliam, who asked those present to stand in silence as a tribute to the memory of fallen soldiers. The Rev. Ernest Andrews then read a text from Numbers, 13th Chapter, 32nd. verse: “And they brought up an evil report of the land,” and Numbers, 1-lth Chapters: “And the land was an exceeding good land.” He then delivered a very interesting address. To conclude the service a benediction was given. The ex-pupils then marched through the gates, the present day pupils giving them a rousing welcome. Photographs of all the expupils present were then taken. Signing and Calling of Roll.

A big item on yesterday’s programme was the signing and calling of the roll. A room was set aside for each decade to sign and together with ex-pupils, ex-com-mitteemen and ex-teachers 580 signed the roll. The numbers were made up as follows: 1870-1879, 47; 1880-1889, 109; 18901899, 100; 1900-1909, 77; 1910-1919, 142; 1920-1930, 71; teachers, 24; committeemen, 10. The headmasters from the commencement of the school who were present and signed their names in the teachers’ rojl book were, Messrs Wyllie, McKillop and Nelson. The roll was called and the ex-pupils present answered to their names. The following took part in the reading of the roll: Mr Wyllie (18701879), Mr D. S. McKillop (1880-1899), Dr. Baird (1890-1899), Mrs J. P. McWilliam (1900-1909), Mr C. Lindsay (1910-1919), Mr R. Watson (1920-30). In the evening a delightful concert was given in the Theatre Royal by the expupils. The theatre was packed to overflowing, and the large audience present showed its appreciation of Mr A. Clarke’s efforts in arranging the programme. At the commencement of the concert Mr McWilliam stated that the programme would be given in two parts, ancient and modern. He said that the first concert held in Winton was in the early '7o’s in the school. The president read out the programme given at the first concert, and it included a number of performers present at last evening’s concert. The programme was as follows: Overture, Mrs McArthur’s Orchestra; Glee, “The Old ’ Brigade,” party; song, “Recording,” Mr A. Clarke; ’cello solo, Mr A. L. Wyllie; trio, “Ye Shepherds Tell Me,” Mrs Liddle, Messrs R. Wilson and T. McWilliam; recitation, W. S. Andrews; glee, “Oh, Hush Thee My Baby,” party; song, Mr W. Wilson; dance, T. Cassell; humorous song, “Roderick McKenzie,” B. Jamieson; glee, “Old Virginny” party; ’cello’solo, Mr A. L. Wyllie; song, “Come Return to Winton,” Mrs J. B. Cowie; song, Mr H. Wilson; male quartette, “The Catastrophe,” Messrs Lindsay, Jamieson, Wilson and Tilley; glee, "Oh who will o’er the downs,” party; and quartette and solo, “Land of Hope and Glory,” (solo by Mrs B. Moore) ; cabaret party, Misses M. Cowie, N. Raines, McNaughton, Stewart, Wilson, Walker, Messrs Henderson and Perrelle. The remainder o£ the programme is as follows:

To-day: Morning free. Picnic and sports at racecourse at 1 p.m. Banquet in Drill Hall at 6.30 p.m. Thursday: Daytime free. Grand Jubilee Ball at 8 p.m.