NAPIER CENTRAL SCHOOL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 November 1939, Page 7

NAPIER CENTRAL SCHOOL

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS. I MANY EX-PUPILS RESIDE IN CARTERTON. ("Times-Arc” Special.) The following will be of interest to many old pupils of the Napier Central School who are now resident of the Carterton district: —All those ex-pupils who were able to attend, will have happy memories of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the Napier Maili (now Central) School, held in Napier recently. On Sunday. October 22. the Muni ci pal Theatre was crowded for the service at which a very fine address was delivered by the Rev J. A. Asher, who took for his text. "These former things of old." Hymns were led by the Gisborne Salvation Army Band. From the theatre, with banners held high marking their decades, a very long proces sion of ex pupils marched to the Ceno taph where one of the oldest ex-pupils. Mrs Steel laid a wreath. After the "Last Post" had been sounded by Mr H. J. Colbert, the service ended with the singing of the National Anthem. On Monday evening a civic welcome in the Municipal Theatre was extended to all taking part in the celebrations. Mr C. D. Wilson (chairman) presided and speeches were also made by Mr Bedford (deputy mayor). Mr Barnard, M.P.. Mr J. Hislop (former headmastei for 30 years), Mr MeGlashen (present headmaster). Mr A. E. Renottf (expupil). and Mr Sanders. When Mr J. Hislop rose to speak he was cheered to the echo and it was only by sound ing two blasts on his whistle that his ex-pupils were silent and once more heard themselves addressed as "boys and girls.” A happy evening was brought to a close with the screening of old school photos which caused much amusement.

Old friendships were renewed, school-day reminiscences recalled and hearts felt young once more at the jubilee banquet at the Foresters' Hall on the Tuesday evening when 600 for mor pupils attended. The toast list in ■ eluded "The King." "The School." "Old Pupils," "Teachers past and present" “School Committees," "The Ladies." "Press" and "Performers." Items were given by Mr W. Clothier. Mrs Greer. Mr J. A. Rosewarne, Mr and Mrs E. G. Stevenson, and Mr Eric Poynter. At a suitable interval the handsome Jubilee cake, at first a-blaze with 60 candles, was cut. every guest being presented with a piece. After the National Anthem, toast lists were hurriedly auto graphed and one autograph, that of the ex-head master, Mr Hislop, was sought by all. Thus ended a most memorable gathering. A Jubilee Ball on the Wednesday evening was followed on Thursday by a Garden Party in the Central School Grounds in the after. noon and a school concert in the Mun icipal Theatre that evening. Ex-pupils attended from all parts of New Zealand, some from as far north as the Bay of Islands and others from as far south as Invercargill. The old Napier Main School opened in 1879, was the first State school in Napier and at one time had a total of 1103 pupils, a remarkable attendance. With the opening of other State schools the attendance dropped, and now that the Intermediate School absorbs all S 5 and S 6 pupils in Napier, the present roll of Napier Central School is about 400.

Among the many outstanding pupils of the old Main School are: The late. Oscar Alpers, who became a Judge of the Supreme Court; Captain P. V. Storkey, V.C., now Judge of the Supreme Court in New South Wales; Mr John Caughley, who later became Director of Education; Mr Eric Arnold, now Commissioner of the Government Life Insurance Department; the Rev Charles Laws, now one of the outstanding clergy of the Methodist Church, and Mr John Williamson, for. many years headmaster of the Tara-; dale School. In conclusion, the words of Mr A. E. Renouf are worth quoting: "And when the festivities have died down, let us with cheerful hearts continue to wend our way along the Broad Highway which is Life, till the end of. the journey, when the bell rings for the final assembly and the Great Headmaster calls the Roll."