TWENTY=ONE YEARS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 836, 7 June 1910, Page 6

TWENTY=ONE YEARS.

HEADMASTER AND CHAIRMAN. PRESENTATIONS AT CLYDE QUAY. There was a crowded attendance at the New Century Hall last evening, when presentations were made to Messrs. W. T. Grundy and D. Robertson, who have been headmaster aud chairman of committee respectively of the Clyde Quay School for t the past twenty-one years. Tho Hon. J. E. Jenkinson, M.L.C., prosided. The chairman stated that the movement to mark tho long periods of service of Messrs. Grundy and Robertson had its inception at the annual meeting of householders. A committee was at once formed to carry out the design, and former pupils of tho school had assisted with enthusiasm. The position of a chairman of a school committee which found it an arduous task sometimes to get even ss. to spend from the board was not an easy one, and what the committees would do in the future, when their funds were to bo even more reduced, he did not know. Mr. Grundy, as headmaster of tho school, had done noble and arduous work for many years. Tho Masterton School Committee and householders had followed the example of Clyde Quay, and were about to snow their appreciation for their headmaster, who had taken Mr. Grundy's place when Mr. Grundy left Masterton.

Two little girls, Misses M. Forsyth and Lena Plimmer, then presented Mrs. Grundy with a beautiful bouquet. Tho chairman asked Mr. R. Lee, chairman of the Education Board, to present Mr % Grundy with a roll-top desk, a chair, and purse of sovereigns, Mrs. Grundy with a gold brooch, and Mr. Robertson with an illuminated address.

Mr. Lee, in making the presentations, said that he had known both Mr. Eobertson and Mr. Grundy for the whole period of twenty-one years during which lh?y had done good service to tho city and State. Day after day, week after week, during that time they had laboured honestly, faithfully, and well in tho cause of primary education. At least three generations of school life—probably three thousand scholars—had in that " period been taught by Mr. Grundy, who before coming to Clyde Quay had' done equally good work at Masterton. So long as thenmemories lasted he would be remembered, by old pupils in. Wellington and throughout tho Wairarapa. Mr. Grundy was an ideal primary school master, lie had an unbroken record of excellent reports from those who had surveyed his work, and his life had liccn an example, to all around him. Mr. Robertson was a straight-for-ward, honest, upright man, with no spirit of ostentation, who laboured in his sparo time for the'community oh the Technical School Board and on the School Committee, when his practical knowledge was invaluable. These two men had rowed in tho same boat, one pulling the other steering, and they had never run against a snag. In thorough concord one had led the management and the other the tuition of ono of tho most satisfactory schools in the Wellington district. The service rendered by the schoolmaster was becoming day by day move valued. He was not sure whether his influence was not more important that his teaching.. Mr. Lee referred to Mr. Grundy's work on educational associations and conferences, and to his promptness to take up any new thought that was worth espouiJ ing. He hoped that Mr. Grundy would be able to retire while he had still many happy years before him. (Applause.)

The address presented to Mr. Robertson, which was handsomely illuminated and framed, read as follows:—

"David Robertson, Esq., chairman of the Clydo Quay School Committee. Dear Sir,—On the completion of your 21 years' service ns chairman of tho Clyde Quay School Committee the householders of tho district desire to convey to yon their sincere- appreciation of the valuable services you have rendered to the school. Tho hearty interest you have always taken in tho institution has been annually demonstrated by tho confidence • reposed in you by tlie householders in returning you to office, and by the faith in your administrative capacity shown by tho successive- committees in electing you to tho chair. On behalf of the householders of the district wo desire to congratulate you on your unique record, and trust that you will long bo spared to perform tho important work you have so capably controlled in tho past."

Mr. Georgo Wilson expressed the deep debt of obligation owed by tho householders of tho district to Mr. Grundy and Mr. Robertson,'both of whom he had known before tho Clydo Quay School was built.

Dr. Elliott, .as an "old boy" who had been present on tho first day that tho school was opened, conveyed tho appreciation of past scholars for tho very valuable services of Mr. Grundy and Mr. Robertson. Mr. Grundy had been ono of tho pioneers of the movement for tho abolition of "home work." As regards Mr. Robertson, not only had he done noblo work for tho school, but the speaker was sure that none could havo done more. . Mr. Robertson, in returning thanks, declared that'the householders had only dono what was right to Mr. Grundy, but that his own share in the school's success was very small. The committees' of tho schools wero only scavengers. It was their business to keep tho houso clean, and let tho work go on. .They hod to see, also, that up-to-date facilities wero provided for tho work, and tho Clyde Quay committee had made that ono of its main objects. Other members of the committees—Messrs. W. Cable, D. M'Lcan, J. Russell, C. Stewart, and others—had dono quite as much as he. Ho did not think, that tho committees had had tho slightest friction with Mr. Grundy during all tho years. Ono of tho secrets of their good agreement was that 1 tho committee had never held any secret meetings; tho headmaster had always been invited to bo present.

Mr. Grundy, in the coui'so of his reply, said that lie had only dono .his duty, and that not so well as might havo been, lie had been very fortunate in his surroundings, both at Mastcrton and Clyde Quay. Every assistance had been given him by the committees and by parents. Tho proceedings wero most enthusiastic throughout, and Mr. Robertson and Mr. Grundy, on rising to speak, were given very hearty greetings by the audience. The following contributed to the entertainment programme: Overture, pianoforte, Mrs. Montague; songs, Messrsi E. J. Hill, G. Parsons, and 'Searle; recitations, Mrs. Sutcliffo and Mr. Porter; smoke pictures, Mr. Brown; 'cello solo, Mr. F. Johnstone. Refreshments were served at the conclusion of tho evening.