Christmas Treat for Auckland Orphans

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 529, 5 December 1928, Page 6

Christmas Treat for Auckland Orphans

TRAINING COLLEGE BREAK-UP FAREWELL PRESENTATIONS Hefty college footballers were hanging dainty mauve and pink streamers, and pretty school mistresses, their cheeks extended, were blowing up balloons at the Training College this morning. A great Christmas tree, hung with all kinds of glittering things, was taking form in the hall, and a spread of all the sweet things loved by children was filling up the tables. This afternoon, the tree and the feast were greeted with a long “O-oooooo” of delight and astonishment by the children of Auckland orphanages, who were the guests of the Training College. It is a pleasant custom of the collegians to entertain the children on one of the last days of the year, when many of the students are saying good-bye to their alma mater to take up tlio serious business of teaching. On the green sward before the college entrance, girl students and children from the Normal School, danced in graceful floral measures for the entertainment of the orphans and then the giving of presents and the “high tett” began. PRINCIPAL SPEAKS In the morning, about 200 of the students assembled on the lawn to take a formal farewell of their principal and the staff. There were several presentations and prize-givings. The principal, Mr. H_ G. Cousins, congratulated the students on good records in sport and in school work. He especially commended the men’s president. Mr. R. T. Henderson, and the women's president, Miss N. Ashton, for their service and presented them with books of verse. He also referred to tho excellent record of .Miss Marjorie Adams, a first-year student, who, in addition to being one of the finest sportswomen in the college, was also an, M.A. and a B.Sc. He presented her with a book of verse, in memory of a former principal of the college, the late Mr. H. x\. E. Milnes, who was killed in the Great War. The ideals of the college and the high traditions of the teaching profession were pointed out by Mr. Cousins in a brief address. Following custom. Mr. Henderson then replied and called on Miss Ashton to unveil two pictures presented by the outgoing students to the college. One was a print of Titian’s “Portrait of a Man” and the other a photograph of the staff and officers. A large Bible was also presented to the college memorial library, to be used for the reading of the Anzac Day services. PRESENTATIONS A presentation to Mr. F. G. Jones, science lecturer, who is about to be married, was made on behalf of the students by Mr. Henderson. The gift was a chiming clock. Miss Ashton presented Miss A. Kennedy, who is in charge of the women’s department and who has recently recovered from a serious operation, with a hand-bag. Miss E. Kitchener, the college secretary, was J2 resen ted with a cheque by the students’ treasurer, Mr. J. Yolland, for her valued help. Yet another presentation, a pair of slippers, was made to the college caretaker, Mr. Phillips, by Mr. C. Morton, men’s vice-president. Mr. D. M. Rae, vice-principal, then presented the sports trophies won during the year, including the “Old Days” tennis cup, won by first year students, the Memorial Football Cup, Avon by first year students, the Milnes Bowl for aggregate points, retained by Auckland in the inter-collegiate tourney, the Women’s Cricket 'Cup, won by Miss Edner Steel’s team, and the Kohn Cup for sports. The secretary of the Auckland Education Board, Mr. Dunlop, addressed students, giving them some advice on how to become good teachers. The orphanage children were collected in motor-cars this afternoon and taken to the college grounds. To-morrow, first and second year student smeet at the Domain in their annual cricket match, the first years being captained by G. L. Weir, Auckland representative, and the second years by E. Pilkington. In the evening the annual farewell dance will be held in the Scots Hall. On Friday the break-up celebrations will conclude with a picnic to Waiheke.