VALEDICTORY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19157, 14 November 1927, Page 4

VALEDICTORY.

BR. CHILTON HONOURED.

A large gathering of students and friends of the W.E.A. met on Saturday evening in the W.E.A. Booms at the Trades Hall, to bid farewell to Dr. and Mrs Chilton, who are shortly to leave Christchureh. Mr C. B. N. Mackie presided. Professor J. Shelley, Director of the W.E.A. Tutorial Classes in Christchureh, considered that the loss sustained by Christchureh in the departure of the doctor would be a gain to Nelson, where Dr. and Mrs Chilton were to reside in future. The speaker referred to tbo tremendous amount of work that Dr. Chilton had done for the W.E.A. Ho had been chairman of the District Council ever since its inception in 1915, and had also been chairman of the Tutorial Class Committee. His removal from these positions would create a gap difficult to fill. On behalf of the tutors and students of the W.E.A. classes Professor Ihelley extended to Dr. and Mrs Chilton their sincere thanks for their interest and devoted work for the movement. Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., paid a tribute .to the way in which Dr. Chilton, and with him the future Eeetor of Canterbury College, Dr. Hight, had lent their aid when the W.E.A. movement was not enjoying the popularity it did" at present. Dr. Chilton might truly be termed a founder of the movementMr A. S. Shrubshall spoke on similar lines, expressing the hope that the W.E.A. movement in Nelson would benefit as much by the presence of Dr. Chilton as had, the Christchureh movement. Mr G. Manning, secretary of the W.E.A., referred to the manner in which Dr. Chilton, when many of their leaders and helpers were Berving abroad during the war, had given much of his time and attention to W.E.A. work. The manner in which the W.E.A. had since expanded gave direct evidence of the value of that work. The chairman then presented the guest of the evening with a brief-bag, and a pocket wallet inscribed "From tho 1915-27 students of the W.E.A." He assured the recipient that the gift carried with it the very best wishes not only of those present, but also of all who had been in any way connected with the W.E.A. since 1915. To Mrs Chilton a bouquet was presented by Miss Phyllis Carson. Dr. Chilton, in reply, thanked those present for their gift and expression of goodwill to Mrs Chilton and himself. The doctor then outlined the growth of the W.E.A.,movement, referring espcci ally to the value of the work done for it in its early stages by Mr Howard. The following contributed items, which added much to the enjoyable nature of the evening: Song, "The End of the Boad," Mrs C. Whitworth; songs, "Sea Gypsy," and "Trade Winds," Mr Hori Thomas; recitation, "The Story of a Penny," Mrs J. S. Temple; song, "Danny Boy," Mr F. T. Martin; selections from Verdi's "Aida," by the Misses Carter's Instrumental trio: song, selections from "The Mikado," Mr A. MacQuarrie.