| Mr. M. A. Singarachariar, in offering
an endowment to the school, said: -
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,
In commemoration of the opening of the new buildings of the
Triplicane Hindu High School, with which I have been connected
for many years, I beg to offer a 3 1/2 per cent Government
Promissory Note for Rs. 1,000 as an endowment for a prize
to be given annually in my name, out of the interest accruing
there from, to the boy passing the Matriculation Examination
first from this school. I beg your Excellency will be pleased
to accept it and hand it over to the Director of Public Instruction
to be used for the above purpose.
In accepting this gift, His Excellency said : - I have much
pleasure in accepting this munificent gift from Mr. M. A.
Singarachariar, whose name is so deeply associated with the
history of this Institution. I hand it over to the Director
of Public Instruction for safe custody and administration.
The Hon'ble Dr. Duncan received the band from His Excellency
and invited His Excellency to open the building formally.
His Excellency the Governor in declaring the building open
said : - President and Members of the Committee of Management
of the Triplicane Hindu High School, I undertake, with sincere
plea-sure, the duty which has been assigned to me. The report
which has just been read is an interesting record of patience,
pertinacity and perseverance and I notice that, among some
of tile most salient features of this school, it began 29
years go with very small beginnings, and has now reached a
stage in which it teaches over 500 boys, and it has been enabled,
through the energy and enterprise of the Committee; to erect
this magnificent building. It is particularly interesting
as a monument of purely native enterprise (Cheers). I find
on referring to the Lawrence Asylum Almanac that all the members
of the Managing Committee, and the whole professorial staff,
are natives of India. This, to my mind, is one of the most
interesting features of the school. Now, ladies and gentlemen,
with very great pleasure and with hopes of a future advantage
accruing to the population of Madras, I declare this building
to be duly opened.
Raja T. Rama Rao requested His Excellency to declare a tablet
well and truly laid as a permanent record of that evening's
ceremonial.
His Excellency then unveiled a memorial tablet made of white
marble with the following inscription in letters of gold:
"Hindu High School of Triplicane opened by H.E. Sir Authur
Elibank Havelock; G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E., on 12th March 1898.
Work commenced in 1896; completed 1898; cost Rs. 57,000; H.
Irwin, Esq., C.I.E., Architect, T. Namberumal Chetti, Contractor.
School Committee--Raja T. Rama Rao, President; M. A. Singarachariar,
M. Viraragavachariar; M. 0. Parthasarathy Aiyangar, Secretary;
M. A. Tirunarayana Chari, Assistant Secretary."
Mr. M. A. Singarachariar, in proposing a vote of thanks to
His Excellency, said:-
I beg leave on behalf of the Committee to thank your Excellency
most cordially for the great kindness and condescension shown
by you in being present here on this occasion and declaring
this new building open. This act, on your Excellency's part,
affords an additional instance of the interest taken by your
Excellency in the welfare of the people and of their education
in particular. Any success which this institution may have
attained is due, in a very great measure, to the kindly and
sympathetic support given by successive Directors of Public
Instruction, from my revered master Mr. Powell downwards to
the distinguished and worthy gentleman who now holds this
responsible office, and who has laid the public of this locality
under a deep debt of gratitude by various acts of kindness
shown to this school. I must also take this opportunity to
thank your Excellency's Government for the very liberal grant
which they have given for this building. As for the personal
praise bestowed on me in the report (and again so kindly by
Your Excellency) I am afraid I must disclaim a great portion
of it; for the successful management is due to the cordial
co-operation of the Members of the Committee and to the capable
Headmasters and their staffs, who did their duty to our entire
satisfaction. I beg leave again to thank your Excellency for
gracing us with your presence on this day, which will be considered
a red-letter day in the annals of this institution. |
