WANGANUI COLLEGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2476, 15 April 1909, Page 5

WANGANUI COLLEGE.

CELEBRATIONS CONCLUDED

[Per Press Association.]

"WANGANUI, April 14. The celebrations in connection with Wanganui College were continued yesterday. In the afternoon Lord Plunket laid the foundation stone of the new College buildings, which' arc to cost £30.000.

In the course of liis speech the Governor said: “It is always a pleasure to lire to show by any means in my power my admiration for the educational system of New Zealand and my profound respect for its masters and its professors. 14 was therefore with peculiar pleasure that I found myself invited, as His Majesty’s representative. to take part in an important occasion in the life of a school which occupies so distinct a place in the education of the youth of this Dominion. It is unnecessary for me to dwell upon the advantages of new buildings., tlio foundation stone of one of which I have laid to-cluy. These are evident to anyone who has inspected the venerable and {interesting, Out somewhat tottering, relics of the old school. Jt is, however, impossible to tai'li so lightheartedly of the coming disappearance of another link with the history of this institution, Mr. Empson, who, as headmaster during the past twenty years, has raised this school greatly in numbers and raised it far higher still in reputation. He now leaves, if not rich in years, rich in honor and the affection of those who have served beneath hi.m AY hat he (and I may add Airs. Empson) have done for this school most of my audience know far more intimately than myself, but upon what he lias done indirectly for New Zealand and for the. Empire I would venture, a few words. No educational department, no system of routine instruction, can produce what has been created in tins school, that definite tone, that subtle atmosphere which distinguishes our public schools at Home. It is difficult to define it to those who have not lived in it themselves, but it has beeimone of the most important factors m England’s glorious past, and it is cue of the main bulwarks wo still have against deeadeue* in our race—-price in his school .and its old traditions, and jealousy for its honor, respect for religion, for authority, for womankind, scorn for low thoughts and mean actions, and contempt, for the. impure-minded, the slacker, the coward, the tuft-hunter, or the purse-proud. Add to that loyalty to his house, and a perfect worship for those who have won their way into the school cricket or football team,, and you obtain that class of boy the English public schools turn out in. thousands; not perfect, if you like, and wanting, I fear, too often in scholarship, but, after all, as Emerson ventured to write, ‘The world s great men have not commonly been great scholars not its great scholars great men ; hut bo vs who luwe been taught not to funk l’iot to squeal, and have learnt to plav the game.’ That is the spirit, which, thanks to Mr. Empson and Ins assistant masters, the Wanganui School has so fully imbibed, and as one who believes it has greatly assisted m making our- Empire, I pay him and h:s school my respectful tribute. In coilelusion, I would only point to the niunhe.r of old hoys who have flocked together here this week as an evidence ot that spirit to which I have referred. It is a fitting tribute to former heacmasters. a proper honor to Mi. .Limpson, and I am sure an encouragement •a his successor, Mr. Dove. The celebrations concluded last night, when the annual ball was held. The old boys’ subscription hst towards the erection of the new chapel has now reached over .-L2UUU.