BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1922, Page 3

BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

CLOSE OF THE YEAR’S WORK. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. The big assembly hall at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School was filled to its utmost capacity last night, when the breaking-up ceremony and distribution of prizes took place. The balconies and other points of vantage had to be requisitioned to accommodate the large gathering of parents, friends, old boys and pupils present, and the whole proceedings were marked by great enthusiasm. When the prizes, trophies, cups, etc., were presented each recipient was heartily applauded. Mr. J. S. Fox (chairman of the board of governors) presided. Others on the stage were His Honor Mr. Justice Chapman, Mesdames Wilson (Mayoress) and Fox, the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), and Messrs. E. P. Webster, A. E. Washer, L. C. Sladden, F. W. Atkinson, L. A. Nolan and Dr. E. F. Fookes (members of the board), Mr. E. Lash (secretary), Mr. W. H. Moyes (principal), members of the school staff, and prominent citizens. After the singing of the National Anthem. led by the school orchestra under Mr. J. Dobson, another selection was played by the orchestra under the baton of Erie Lomas, one of the pupils, and their playing showed that the players have received excellent tuiton. Other pleasing items were given at intervals during the evening, and earned encores. PROGRESS OF THE SCHOOL. “I am glad to see so many present tonight,” said the chairman in his opening remarks.” “It shows the interest being taken in the school, which is continuing to go ahead.” A contract for two additional classrooms and a laundry block had heen let recently and the building of these would assist the progress of the school. The old boys were deserving of thanks for erecting the memorial gates, which it was hoped to have officially unveiled shortly. The school hospital erected in November, 1921, had also proved most useful. Fortunately the amount of illness was very low this year, a fact which reflected great credit upon the management of the matron (Mrs. Law). • The spiritual needs of the school had been attended to by the Rev. E. H. Strong, who had conducted a service for the boys every Sunday morning. The speaker was sure Mr. Strong’s work was greatly appreciated by the parents and his name would go down in the history of the school for the interest he had taken (applause). It was gratifying to know that Mr. Moyes was keeping fit and well; he had many things to attend to and was managing the school most creditably. The school would f.tand as a lasting memorial to his great labor, and the speaker thanked the principal and staff for their excellent work. (Applause.) Mrs. Moyes, who had 160 boarders to look after, was also deserving of praise, and the speaker took the opportunity of thanking her also. (Applause.) PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. The principal (Mr. W. H. Moyes) presented his annual report as follows: It is with pleasure that I have to report that 1922 has heen a most, successful year for the school. In all branches of activity marked success has been achieved, and the past year stands out as perhaps the most successful in the history of the school. The roll number for the year is approximately the same as that for 1921. There has. however. Mnen a falling off in the number attending the preparatory school, with a corresponding increase in the upper school. Boys in residence during the year totalled 160. The personnel of the staff has undergone some change. Mr. A. R. Ryder, M.A., left at the end of 1921 to take un a position a* the Auckland Grammar School, and Miss J. McLeod. M.A., who had for some years been responsible for a portion of the language work with the upner forms, resigned during the first term in order to accent a position on the staff of the Dunedin Training College. The vacancies thus caused were fulfilled lw the appointment of Mr. A. G. Johnson. M.Sc., of Dunedin, and of Mr. R. O. C. Marks, M.A., of Hamilton. The results of the 1921 December examinations were particularly satisfactory, and afford ample proof of the fact that the work done in the classrooms is in no way interfered with by over-indulgence in sport. In the Junior University Scholarship Examination. W. Aldis gained sth place for New Zealand. While M. Barak annexed a National Scholarship. Twenty-four hoys passed the matriculation and allied examinations, and seventeen gained partial passes. Tn this connection I would again emphasise the necessity for the average pupil to take four years—the time considered necessary by the University Senate —over his matriculation course. Of the seventeen boys who gained partial passes, no fewer than twelve were in their third year, and were, in our opinion, scarcely advanced enough to enter for the examination. Senior National Scholarships were won by I. McTvor and R. Dolhy, and H. G. Smith. R. Julian and D. Jillett passed the teachers’ D certificate examination in nearly all subjects. Following the custom of former years, two hoys have again sat for University towns and degree examinations. L. Dinniss was successful tn passing his first terms in English. Latin, jurisprudence, and constitutional history, and both sat for a sectinn of the degree, the results of which will not be known until next year. Tn the preparatory school the examination results achieved were very creditable indeed Eighteen boys gained proficiency, throe gained competency, and three failed. Mr. Pope, who has had charge of standard VT.. is to be congratulated on the progress he has made with what, at the beginning of the year, appeared to be rather a dull class. The BayU memorial scholarship, open to all successful Taranaki candidates in the proficiency examination. was this year won by P. Grover, H. Fookes gaining second place. SUCCESS OF OLD BOYS. While dealing with examination results, It is pleasing to he able tn refer in the successes of old hoys now attending the various Universitv Colleges. In nil centres New Plymouth High School old hoys are more than holding their own with students from other New Zealand secondary schools. Tn Dunedin, where the school is represented by quite a number of students, K. C. Roberts has been awarded the Smeaton Research Scholarship in science. D. Denny-Brown’s name, has been especially promineiA in the examination lists, 1 while every other old hoy attending this university is acquitting himself creditably. At Victoria College R. Syme, who in 1920 topped the University Scholarship list, continues to head the list of first-class passes In all the subjects he is taking. At Canterbury College, M. Barak has been awarded an exhibition In mathematics, and at Auckland, C. Noble has been recommended for a premium in chemistry. These successes, combined with the results attained in university terms and degree examinations by boys actually attending the school, afford, we venture to claim, irrefragable proof of the sound academic training received here. We feel that these results are no small achievement for an Institution which has only of recent years had the opportunity of undertaking advanced work. At outdoor activities the school particularly distinguished itself on the football field. , The first fifteen, for the first time in the tUtoty of the sehegl, were the .winner* e£ She

Taranaki Rugby Union second grade championship, while the third fifteen annexed the fourth grade competition. During the season matches were played against Wanganui College and Nelson College, resulting in a win for New Plymouth on both occasions. The senior seven-a-side tournament, played at Pukekura Park, was also won by the school. The standard of cricket, which, in this school, has always been somewhat below that reached in the larger secondary schools, has, T am glad to say, shown a marked improvement. The last eleven has been able to defeat, several of New Plymouth's senior teams, while in the annual match against Wanganui College the school was victorious by the substantial margin of 10 wickets. T regret to say that the existing cricket ground, although a great asset to the school, is totally inadequate when an atltmpt is made to organise the cricket. Many of the younger boys are compelled to nlay on the racecourse, with the result that many enthusiasts are disheartened at the outset. Tn the gully on the school gre-fnds the school possesses an asset which so far It has not been able Jo realise. In it too much to hope that, realising the rapid growth of New Plymouth, and the crying need for suitable recreation grounds, the board may rely on the assistance of the public to convert this waste ground into one of the most beautiful and convenient playing fields in the province. Tn shooting the school teams have again won success, and have once again shown the school is the premier shooting school in New Zealand. The Governor-General’s trophy, awarded for the best, all-round performance in the Imperial challenge competition, was won by the school for 1921, and in the same competition for this year teams representing the school gained fifth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and thirty-first places In the senior, and thirteenth, twentieth, twenty-eighth, and thirtyninth places in the junior. Altogether 1137 teams competed in the senior and 666 in the junior competition. Tn the group rifle meeting, recently held on the Rewa Rewa range, the school annexed both the senior and the junior cadet championships, as well as most of the other prizes. LIFE-SAVING AND SWIMMING. Regular instruction in life-saving and in swimming has been given at the municipal baths. Two boys qualified for the honorary instructor’s certificate, one qualified for a teacher’s certificate, two were awarded hronze medallions, nine were awarded proficiency certificates, and fifteen were awarded elementary pcrtiflcates. Tn addition to the above forty boys qualified for the certificate for long-dis-tance swimming. All other school Institutions arc in a flourishing condition. The school orchestra,’ in nnrticular, deserves a special word of praise. Tim hovs enmnrising this have done particularly good work, and have, by their unselfishness and keenness, given mnTsy hours of Pleasure to the rest of the school. T wish tn take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to all those connected with this and with the concert club. T need only make brief mention of the athletic sports meeting. Suffice it to say that the many complimentary remarks nassed about it have been keenly appreciated by the sports committee find by tbn master responsible. The past year has been characterise'* by further advance and experiment in the educa•innal world. The New Zealand department has itself definitely stated that, rxneriment would be welcomed. Realising that to stand sGll is to fall hack, we have endeavored, a-s for as possible, to keep abreast of modern educational thought and practice. For some vears past the system of solf-eorpmment has been tn a certain extent adopted in the school, but this year has seen n further development in this direction. Much has recently been heard of the Dalton svstem. but it must not for one moment be supposed that the principles iinoerlving the svstem are new. or that they have not fully recognised bore, nor tn some extent put into practice. For example. punishment has heen reduced tn a minimum, and more reliance placed linnn the principles of honor we have endeavored tn inculcate. The nbnlitinn of *he detention svsfem. the Increased responsibility placed nnon the shoulders of the hoys themselves, and the extended nowers of the prefect* have, in our opinion, been in no way detrimental to the preservation of discipline and to the moral tone of the school. Consistently with the same principle of sdf-

'-nvernment and the development of the <ndt”’dual. the examination syllabuses nave been ’pfornreted in ns liberal a spirit ns possible. 'Tfi passing. I may say that in mv oninfon. although some improvement hns heen pffeetnd. nr p still ton much exam -ridden). Tn English. for exatmnle. the minimum requirements ’n trrammar and formal work have heen satisfied, the time and enerev thus saved being dented to the studv of literature, which is. nft«r all. the main thing. Literature has heen defined as the personal expression of the master minds of the world, and our business and pleasure is to hrtne- our nunils into as rinse a contact as possible with these master minds. As regards French, this venr has seen an nttemnt made in the sama direction as above. Tn all forms imore attention has bem nald tn oral work, and boys taking this subject in the nnner forms have boon given the opportunity of examining and reading some of the high-class French magazines. An earnest attempt has heen made to treat Latin as a humanitv; that is, to show its place as an essential factor in general cultutre and in history. Tt is to be deplored that, in our modern svllnhuses little place is found for the study of New Zealand history. In spite of this, and at some risk as regards examination results. considerable time has been devoted to the study of the history of our own country, with gratifying results. "MOVED FORWARD.” On the whole, we feel that, though we may not have attained on r ideals, we have eertainlv imoved forward. With additional accommodation and a full staff, ’t is our intention next year to make further experiments, both in school government and in reaching. Tn conclusion. T have once again to thank many friends and parents for donations anu prizes, and for the sympathetic interest they continue to take in the ischonl. Tn narticuJar, our thanks are due to Mr. J. G. Morey for a very valuable collection of lantern slides: to Mr. G. AV. falmer for numerous trophies for the first XV. and the first XT. : to Mr. J. S. Fox for a very beautiful challenge cun; to Mr. Osborne and to Wisden’s for cricket bats: to Mr. E. Chivers and Mr. Harman for challenge trophies; and to Miss Percy Smith and Mr. F. Kelly for donations nf hooks. For donations nf prizes wo have to thank Messrs. F. C. Sladden, H. Collier. H B. Gibson, F. W. Atkinson, and E. A. W-'sher. My thanks are also due to the Rev. E. n. Strong for the live interest ho has taken In the school. Through his efforts the special school service, which is conducted every Sunday morning nt St. Marv’s, will, T think, hear favorable comparison with any school service Irld in Now Zealand. Where everv imemhor of my staff has worked Mirte-hMTtediy to entry not snwessfnllv the duties entrusted to him. it would he invidious to mention any particular name. 1 wi=h to sav publicly how much T appreciate H’o loval support that has been given me. To the chairman of the hoard, and tn all members of the governing body. T wish to express my sincere thanks for unfailing wurtesy and assistance. To the members of the Old Boys Association I have nealn to convoy the thanks of the school. Their efforts to help the school along have been an incentive to all of us. and we feel that we cannot express in words ‘all that we owe to them for their loyalty and assistance. Tills report would he incomplete did I neglect. to intention the head boy (T. Foden». end the prefects who have assisted him during the year. The successes gained, the absence of any serious trouble and the good moral tone that has prevailed, must he attributed in no small measure to the influence exerted hy these boys. On behalf of all those connected with the school I take this opportunity of conveying to them our sincere thanks and appreciation. ' The chorus of the school song. “Forty Years On” was then lustily rendered hy the hoys, led hy the orchestra, the solo part being hy S. Peyton. Later ' the same singar contributed another song, the boys taking up the rousing refrain. An appropriak speech was then deliwed by Mr. 3»stice Chapman, and

he was accorded a very attentive hearing. It is referred to elsewhere. PRESENTATION GF PRIZES. The distribution of the prizes followed, Mrs. Fox distributing the scholastic awards, whilst the sports prizes were presented by the Mayoress. Details of awards: SPORTS PRIZES SHOOTING CUPS, ETC. Searle Cup and pewter (Miniature range, .22, senior) : T. L. Penn. Hamblyn Cup and silver medal (.22, under 16 championship) : V. Tait. Loveday Cup and silver medal (.22, under 15 championship) : R. Fletcher. McLeod and Slade Cup and silver medal (.22, under 14 championship) : A. E. Reed. Kelly Cup and silver medal (highest score in Devenish Shield competition) : T. L. Penn and W. H. Mason (equal). Lady Godley Cup and silver imedal (.303, 25 yards, senior) : H. W. Rickard. Lady Godley Cup and silver medal (.303, 25 yards, junior) : W. A. Foote. McDiarmld Belt and pewter (long range, 500 yards, 200 yards, twenty rounds, two practices) : A. D. Guy. N.C.O. Cup for best N.C.0.: H. W. Brown. Gold medal (highest aggregate, group rifle meeting at. Rewa Rewa) : W. Blair. ATHLETIC SPORTS CUPS. Senior championship (Old Boys’ Trophy) S H. W. Bmwn. Junior championship: C. Gilmour. Under 14 championship (Mr. Bennett’s Cup) : P. Grover. Under 12 championship (Carter Cup) f A. Washer. Under 10 championship: H. T. Thompson. 120 yards senior hurdles (Mr. Noakes’ Cup): H. W. Brown. 880 yards senior (Mason Memorial Cup)! H. W. Brown. 440 yards senior (Old Boys’ Shield) : H, AV. Brown. 100 yards junior (Beckbessinger Cup) i C. Gilmour. 440 yards junior (Mrs. Bothamiey’s Cup): C. Gilmour. 440 yards handicap (Mr. Harman’s Cup) ’■ A. C. Woodham. Mile senior (Dr. Fookes’ Cup) : E. G. Smith. Fastest time senior steeplechase (Bryce Cup) : E. G. Smith. Senior steeplechase eUn: D. Robertson. Junior steeplechase (Mr. Noakes’ Cup) : A. Field. Old boys’ race (Mr. Pridham’s Cup) : L. B. Webster. First boy to win three grade championships (Mr. B. Allan’s medal) : C. Gilmour, whose record is: 1919, under 12 championship; 1920, under. 14; 1922, under 16. ATHLETIC MEDALS. H. A. Insull (long jump senior, 150 yards open). A. Petty (long jump junior). L. Richardson (880 yards junior, mile junior). P. Grover (100 yards and 220 yards under 14, 100 yards under 15, fastest time junior steeplechase). P. Kidsnn (high jump junior). H. Thompson (50 yards under 11, 50 yards, 75 yards and 100 yards under 10. H.. W. Brown (440 yards, 880 yards, and 120 yards hurdles senior). C. Gilmour(44o yards junior). C. D. Collins (high jump senior). J. Perry (100 yards and 150 yards under 12). T. Fookes (100 yards junior). A. Washer (50 yards under 12). J. Medley (75 yards under 14). J. McMahon (100 yards senior). D. McLean (120 yards hurdles junior). E. G. Smith (mile senior, fastest time senior steeplechase). D. Robertson (senior steeplechase). A. Field (junior steeplechase). E. McGinty (75 yards under 13). D. Wilson (440 yards senior handicap). A. C. Woodham (440 yards junior handicap). F. Read (three-legged race). H. S. Knuckey (three-legged race). J. D. Revell (220 yards open). K. Mauri (potato race over 15). C. Strombon (potato race under 15). T. C. Bellringer (sack race). I. W. Palmer (throwing cricket ball, senior). D. Crawford (throwing cricket ball, junior). Invitation race: M. Gray (Hawera Technical School). Old boys’ race: L. B. Webster. SWIMMING CUPS. Sykes' Cup and pewter (senior championship) : T. N. Foden. .Tunlor championship and Silver medal: J. D. Revell. Fox Cup and silver tmedal (under 14 championship) : P. Sladden. O’Halloran Shield for relay race: Form 3c (H. Hawkins, P. Sladden, C. R. Murdoch, S. Peyton). Smith and Easton’s Life-saving Cup: T. N. Foden. SWIMMING MEDALS. J. J. Jackson (33 1-3 yards open handicap). T. Bayly (331-3 yards preparatory handicap). C. Tate (GG 2-3 yards open handicap). H. Marshall (new boys' race). D. McDougall (learners’ race). C. Robb (331-3 yards breaststroke, GG 2-3 preparatory handicap). G. Fookes (100 yards open handicap). M. Fletcher (33 1-3 yards backstroke). H. W. Brown (long plunge, ribbon dive). E. L. Brokenshirc (diving for plate). J. Penman (corfu dive). D. Ballantyne (greasy boom). T. N. Foden (220 yards open handicap). J. W. Palmer (awkward entry). A. Petty (open dive). Old Boys' race (33 1-3 yards) : C. Kyngdon and E. Coleman (dead heat). FOOTBALL. Mr. H. B. Gibson’s hook, "The Hill,” for boy scoring most points in the Kaponga. seven-a-side tournament: T. N. Foden (16 points out of 22). CRICKET. Mr. A. Osborne’s bat for most improved player In batting, bowling and fielding: K. Taylor. BOXING CUPS, ETC. Lepper Cup (senior championship) : H. W. Brown. Kidd Cup and silver medal (junior championship) : E. D. Gibson. Chivers Cup and silver medal (under lOst. championship) : L. Ennis. Kenny gold medal for most scientific boxer: A. Field. Under 7 stone championship: A. C. Walker. Under 6 stone championship: A. Field. Under 9 stone championship: S. H. Hutch en. Under 8 stone championship: H. Marshall and R. Fletcher (equal). Under 5 stone championship : T. Barlow. Gold medals won at the Taranaki Boxing Association’s tournament: R. Fletcher (under 8 stone) and E. Gibson (under 9 stone). TENNIS. Tennis cup: D. Ballantyne. GENERAL EXCELLENCE. General excellence cup: H. AV. Brown. PREPARATORY SCHOOL. Form lb.—T. AA'estern I, A. Field 2. I Form la.—H. Law 1, P. Moyes 2. Form I.—H. Thomson 1, C. Stronge 2. I Form Illi.—N. Brookman 1. D. Jackson 2. Form Ila.—T. Bayly 1, M. McLean 2. Form 11.—P. Grover 1, A. Wilson 2. Special prizes donated bs’ the Misses Cai/npbell:— Form la. —Oral work: P. Moyes. General excellence: J. Mackay. Form I.—Oral work: V. Okey. Diligence: J. Davies and D. Nolan. Form 11b.—Spelling: N. Brookman. Diligence : R. Mahraj. Form Ila.—Spelling: T. Bayly. Oral work: A. Washer. Diligence: A. Hutchen. Prizes donated by Mr. Atkinson and Mr. Washer for best kept agricultural plots.—A. Washer 1, M. Mir Lean 2. Music Certificate of the Associated Board _ , ieVyaeataiy OlviaiM)A. Wilson.

Music Certificates, Trinity College Junior ; Division Pass in Piano Playing.—W. Buchanan, J. Sutton. UPPER SCHOOL. Form Hid.—A. S. Richardson 1, R. Murdoch 2. Form 111 c.—S. McCann 1, A. K. Jackson 2. ! Languages And literature: S. McCann. Mathematics and science : A. K. Jackson. Form 111 b.—N. Lealand 1, F. Trueman 2. Languages and literature: F. Trueman. Mathematics and science: A. Sampson. Fonm Illa. —E. Wilson 1, R. Buick 2. Languages and literature: E. Wilson. Mathematics and science: E. Wilson. Third Form Agriculture: R. Buick. Third Form Book-keeping.—W. Buchanan. Drawing.—A. E. Read. Form 4b.—D. Lee 1, K. Fookes 2. Form 4a.—C. H. Strombom 1, H. A. Insull 2. Languages and literature: W. J. Mount- | joy. Mathematics and science: C. H. StromFourth Form Agriculture.—T. W. Hair. Fourth Form Book-keeping.—C. E. Baunton. [ Form sc.—S. G. Bellringer 1, D. P. McLean i 2. Mathematics and science: V. A. Tait and i J. H. Blair (equal). Form sb.—M. D. Bree 1. M. C. LysoM 2. I

’ Languages and literature: G. R. Webb. Mathematics and science: M. D. Bree. Form sa.—M. H. Heycock 1, E. L. Brokenshire 2 (Mr. Sladden’s prizes). Languages and literature: H. P. Mltcalfe. Mathematics and science: E. L. Brokenshire. Fifth Agriculture.—H. W. Brown. Form 6. —R. Bellringer 1, A. Brodie 2. ■' Languages and literature: R. Bellringer. Mathematics and science: R. Bellringer. Mr. Collier’s prize for progress in music.— D. Guy. White Memorial Prize.—R. Bellrlngef. Bendall Memorial Prize.—A. W. Griffin. General Excellence Cup.—H. W. Brown. Head Boy for the Year.—T. Foden. Dux for the Year.—R. Bellringer. THE MAYOR’S CONGRATULATIONS. “It is my pleasure and duty to congratulate all connected with the school i on the high standard reached this , year,” said the Mayor in reminding the | boys that the success achieved was due ; to both individual and collective effort,, j In concluding, Mr. Wilson wished the j boys a pleasant holiday. i The singing of the National Anthem I concluded a very enthusiastic gathering.