MASTERTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3153, 2 April 1909, Page 5

MASTERTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

DISTRIBUTION OF FRIZES. Yesterday was a red letter day in the lives of quite a large number of boys and girls attending the Masterton District High School. The trophies and prizes won in connection with the recent swimming carnival, the Masterton A. and P. prizes for gardening work, and the Horticultural Society's prizes for competition at the recent Horticultural Show, were all presented to the lucky winners yesterday afternoon. With the exception of the gold medals for the championship events, the silver medals for junior events, and the special trophies donated, the whole of the prizes were selected by the winners themselves. A marvellous variety of tastes was disclosed. The fancy of the girls went in the direction of silver belt buckles, leather bound prayer books, silver-mounted glassware, poets' and other books, and in one case a well-bound Bible. The boys fancied Waterbury watches, carving tools, hair brushes in.cases, and in a good many instances books. The total number of prizes distributed was eighty. The presentations were made by Mr R. Brown (chairman of the School Committee). The recipients were heartily applauded by their school mates, a special volley being given to a tiny little chap of six years, Jack Eton, who won the 15 yards race for small boys. At the conclusion of the presentations Mr W. H. Jackson, Headmaster, took occasion to thank the donors of trophies, the Borough Council for the facilities afforded the teachers, who had taken such keen interest in the swimming instruction, and also to Mrs J. W. Blackman, who had rendered very great assistance in connection with the girls' classes. Hearty cheers were given in each case by the scholars.

Mr J. D. Cruickshank, the promoter of the Masterton branch of the Navy League, then addressed the scholars on the aims of the Navy League. He expressed the hope that the Masterton School branch of the League would develop into a strong and enthusiastic institution. He urged both boys and girls to try to become byal and good subjects of the King, and to maintain the reputation which New Zealand has established. He asked the scholars to give three cheers for Sir Joseph Ward for his action in offering, in the name of New Zealand, & battleship to the Mother Country. Cheers were heartily given by the young Leaguers, and "God Save the King" was heartily dung. The Rev. H. Watson then addressed the scholars. He reminded them that though they may not all be able to carry off prizes and trophies as I their schoolmates had done, they could all try to do something quite as meritorious. To every body came, some time or other, opportunities of showing that they could be noble and good. In a small way, as well as in a large one, a boy could become a hero. If this ideal were lived up to by the boys and girls of the Dominion, New Zealand would never have to feel ashamed of her sons and daughters. At the conclusion of the addresses cheers were given by the scholars for the visitors present, among whom were officers of the Masterton branch of the Navy League, members of the School Committee, and parents. The gathering, which comprised all the High School pupils, and Standard 5 and 6, was held in the infants' room, on account of the rain. This necessitated a limit being placed on the juvenile audience. Over 250 of the biggest boys and girls had to be crowded into a room with accommodation for not more than 100. The assembly room, which the Committee and Headmaster have been endeavouring to obtain, would have been put to good use yesterday afternoon. On the conclusion of the proceedings an adjournment was made to the cookery room, where afternoon tea was served to the visitors by the lady teachers and the girls of the High School.