SCHOOL YEAR ENDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 848, 17 December 1929, Page 7

SCHOOL YEAR ENDS

PRIZE-GIVING AT AUCKLAND GRAMMAR NOTED SUCCESSES The impressive annual prize-giving ceremony of the Auckland Grammar i School, favoured with a large attend- j ance of pupils, parents and old boys. | was held in the school hall last even- j ing. On the platform were the vice- , chairman of the Board of Governors. Dr. E. Roberton, who presided, menbers of the board, the headmaster, Mr. H. J. D. Mahon, and members of the teaching staff. In appealing to parents and old boys to take a greater interest in the affairs of the school and the board, particularly regarding endowments. Dr. Roberton said it was felt that the interest of the public may help to remove many of the difficulties with which the board wa3 faced. The school had its endowments, but they were ' practically pooled with similar schools in the Dominion, as all were supported by the Government, and the amount of the endowment was deducted before the school’s share of educational expenditure was paid. Then the increasing number of pupils and the lack of accommodation for them was another problem. The school had been designed for 600 pupils, but on more occasions than one it had been necessary to accommodate more than 1,000. The pressure still existed, in spite of the establishment of another school at Takapuna. While the board had no money to carry out any project the Government claimed that it had no funds. The board had spent a great deal of time endeavouring to find a suitable site for a new school, but finally, the Education Department had set aside the site which had been chosen in favour of a site which the board had condemned as useless. “Thus, if parents would take a further interest in both the school and the board, it would do much to help the general interests of education in Auckland,” concluded Dr. Roberton. A NOTABLE YEAR “This year will stand out as one of the most notable in the history of the school,” said the headmaster, Mr. Mahon, in opening his address and report of the school year. “On May 17 the school celebrated the 60th year of its existence, and on August 22 more than 2,000 old boys were present at the celebration. This was an indication of the loyal spirit shown by the old boys.” At the opening of the year the school roll stood at 978, continued Mr. Mahon, and of this number 642 had been pupils in 1928. The number of new pupils had been less than in the previous year, but a decrease was to be expected owing to the abnormal ( drop in the birth-rate due to the war. It had been predicted that this decrease would continue for the next three years. By the end of the year the roll had fallen to 862, and with the exception of 16 boys who, owing to change of residence, had transferred to other schools, all the boys who had left had been placed in positions. It had been difficult to find details of the 240 who had left at the end of last year, but on inquiry it was found that the great majority had been absorbed in the professions, the public service, the banks, insurance offices and the commercial houses of the City. SUCCESSFUL PUPILS On the scholastic side the school had enjoyed a very successful year. Two pupils had won junior university scholarships, four had gained university national scholarships, and 12 had passed with credit. Sixty had been awarded higher-leaving certificates, while 140 had passed the matriculation examination. In addition 45 boys had been successful in the public service examination and 11 were awarded senior and two junior national scholarships. A large number of old boys had attained to scholastic distinction in New Zealand and in other parts of the world. Mr. R. W. Firth had graduated Ph.D. at London University and Mrr-R. P. Anschutz at Edinburgh, while Mr. F. AV. W. Rhodes had obtained his B.A. with first-class honours in English. Drs. M. Axford, D. N. Eppstein and F. E. Webster had secured the F.R.C.S. in England. Six old boys obtained senior university scholarships, Messrs. J. A. Stall worthy, A. H. McDonald, F. H/ Segar, J. Williams, R. G. McElroy and P. C. Minns. The school woLild indeed congratulate Mr. Minns on being chosen as Rhodes Scholar for 1929. He was the ninth old boy to win the distinction. It was a record of which the school had every reason to be proud. It showed that old boys were playing their part worthily, not only in New Zealand bLit in all parts of the Empire.