"THE BOSS"

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 57, 1 December 1920, Page 8

"THE BOSS"

MR. J. P. FIRTH'S FAREWELL

GREAT SCENE AT THE TOWN HALL INTERESTING SPEECHES. Wellington Collegians, past and present, united last evening in paying an impressive tributo lo Mr, J. P. .firth, tho greatly respected headmaster who is voluntarily retiring from a position ho has adorned for the past' twenty-nine years. The big Town Hall was well filled, and tho proceedings were permeated by « spirit of immense enthusiasm.

Seldom has anyone been given Mich a 6torm of applause as greeted the <tppearanco on the. platform of Mr. Firth, who was accompanied by Mrs. Fiith, the Mayor (who presided) and Mrs. lukc, tho Hon. C. J. Purr (Minister of Education), Mr. AV. F. Ward (chairman o: the college governors), Sir Francis Poll, Mr. W. R Bethuiie (president of the Old Boys' Association), and the mcrobeu of tho executive concerned in tho gathering. After tho boys ha<l sung two of their songs, tho youngest bov of the college presented a bouquet to Mrs. Firth as a gift from the Old Boys' Association. During Hint simple presentation a single voico rang out from the college boys—"Three cheers for Mr. Firth," and rarely have such "Hip-hip-hurrahs" been heard in tho Town Hall.

The first speaker of the evening, Mr. W. E. Bethune, said they were gathered together to honour their dear old friends. Mr. and Mrs. Firth, who were severing their connection with the college, the "Boss," nftet 33 years with hii old eohool, four years 'as assistant master and twenty-nine years ns headmaster. As the president of tho Old Boys' Association ever since it existed, ho felt 'he was confident he was able to speak of Mr. Firth. He was one of the greatest schoolmasters of the Empire, and he (the speaker) felt that Mr. Firflh's name would go down in history as did Arnold's, of .Bug-by. They also had to warmly thank Mrs. Firth for the great w/>rk she had always done for the boys, and he wan sure that the parents of the boys .who had passed through the school would be ever grateful for the way she had tended them. As to Mr. Firth he was a man who had inculcated in the boys all that was noblest and best in life. He had taught them how to win, and, w.'haj; was better still, he had taught them how to lose. From Mr. Firth had always come tho greatest sympathy and support for tho Old Boys' Association, and on this occasion they had expressed a desire to moke a fitting presentation to Mr. Firth, hut he 'had resolutely set his face against anything of the kind. Mr. Firth T « ono idea for some years was that his titsk would not be complete until the school hml nn iiss-embly hall (which would, cost about .£5000). where the jwmes of tho old boys who had been, on active service would be recorded, whore brakes would be erected for those who had fallen fighting for their King and country, and where tho present boys would assemble for prayers each morning, lie wbb pleased to tell Mr. Firth that his dour project was assured, (Applause.) They had, however, still felt that there ought to bo sonio record of Mr. and Mrs. Firth's long connection with the school, and at length Mr. Firth had consented to sit for Mr. W. A. Bowring. That artist had succeeded admirably in catching a good likeness (here the oil painting was unveiled), and ho had very much pleasure in presenting it to Mrs. Firth, as one they had esteemed, ono whom they had all looked up to with admiration and with love, with the sincere wish that they would long be spared to enjoy the rest they had so faithfully earned. ! (Applause.) "I thank you very much," said Mrs. Firth. "I liko it so much that I want to give it back to the old school. You boys—you old boys-*re very dear to us, and when we get our house, I hopo you will all come and see us. You will always be welcome, and wo shall feel honoured." The Voice of the City.

The Mayor'(Mr. J. P. Luke) said ho took the great gathering as u tribute, not altogether trom tho boys, old and present, but also from the ipeoplo of Wellington. Ho had during tho late war kept actively in touch with Mr. Firth, nnd qould say that nc| more public-spirited man had lived here since the foundation of the city to the piesent time. No maa had done more in a- quiet unostentatious way, by his zeal, tact, and energy, than had Mr. Firth. Ho had not only been a great teacher <of youth, but n leading citizen, for in his teaching he had over 6how.ii by example how to do good to others, no matter what station in life they belonged to. Timo nficr time, during the war ho had to protest about the large sums of money Mr. Firth had liandod him—all without avail. He hoped that Mr. and Mrs. Firth would be permittied to remain in Wellington, to "carry on," and do nioro good work in the furtherance of the city and the Dominion. (Applause.) Friend and Coadjutor. Mr. W. F. Ward, chairman of the Board of Governors, sakl ho was thero in several capacities. First, as chairman, ho wished to eipres3 a deep debt of gnuUudo to the board of 1891, which had chosen so wisely and well in appointing Mr. Firth headmaster. Ther" wero .no present members of the board who were members then, but there was one member of the 1801 board ho was glad to see on tho platform. That was the Rev. James l'aterson who bore his ninety years bravely. When Mr. Firth took charge there were fifty-five boys at the school,and four masters (the speaker being one). Now thero were some 650 boys and 20 odd of a staff. Boards of Governors were usually harried and worried by their masters, but with Mr. Firth in chargo tho task of the Board of Governors had' been an increasingly easy one. Then they were never too sure that salaries would be forthcoming, but under Mr. Firth tho college grew rapidly, and soon the board was spared such troubles. Mr. Firth solved nil their difficulties, and shouldered tiheir burdens. His only importunities wero his constant requests for tho increase of his assistants' salaries. Ae one who was for fifteen years on the staff of Wellington College, ho was perhaps the only one who could speak of Mr. Firth from that standpoint. They wero •f.uidents together at Canterbury (/allege I and later wero on the staff of Clirists College together. In a. recent, senior inspectors report there was a reference to the loyalty of the staff to Mr. Firth. '.Inhere wore occasions when differences arose and men had to be distniiml, hut he did not think there was a singlo in- j stances of anything of the sort occurring in Mr. Firth's time, tho relationships wero so perfectly harmonious. It would have been strange were it otherwise. Mi. Firth had the gift of all leaden-that of inspiring enthusiasm in others. Any master or boy could go to him with difficulties, and be euro of meeting with sympathy and kindness. For that rcafon Wellington. College stood unique in the interest tho .staff took in the work of tho school, indoor and outdoor. Mr. Ward also paid a tribute to Mrs. Firth, saying that Mr. Firth eould not have done his work so ablv had he not been supported by his wife. That they were now severing their connection with the school would cause regret from the North Capo to the Bluff. (Applause.} The Hon. C. J. Parr said ho could sympathise with them all in losing a fine headmaster. Tho most Important person in the. schoine of life was the headmaster of a. school. He wished Mr. up.! Mrs. Firth long life and happiness. Sir Francis Boll.spoko feelingly tor the parents. Ho claimed to have been, by courtesy at all events, a member of the Board of Governors, which decided Mr. Firth's appointment, nnd he could remember how tlicy wero baited for having selected a Saul, the Son of Kish, because he was head nnd shoulders above the rest of the people. He referred to that "strange and elusive quality which pieant immediate obedience nnd respect in boys, and an enduring reward of affectionate regard long after one had left school," which M.r. Firth possessed. Part of it camo by nature, the rest by patient and intelligent work and observation. After paying a tribute to Mrs. Firth, Sir Friuwi* Beit said tlusp were both •till

in tho full vigour of their manhood and womanhood, and ho hoped Unit for many yenrs they would enjoy memories of the good services thoy had rendered to thousands, and as the years took their 101 l they would still have troops of friends as thoy had that night. (Applause.) Air. 0. T. J. Alpers, of Christchuroh, a life-long friend of Mr. and Mrs. Firflh, said that twenty-nine years ago, on a Saturday afternoon in Christchurch, Mr. Firth sent for two of his friends. Mr. Ward and tho speaker, to tako counsel with him respecting a letter he had rcwiral from tho .Governors of jl'lie Wellington College, who offered him the moadmastorahlp, but really he did not want their advice. Ho only wanted them to confirm tho resolution ho and Mrs. Firth had already como to. Mr. Firth never regarded the letter as "the offer of a job," lie regarded it, to borrow n Presbyterian phrase, as "a call to a great career." Well, that career had been a success—it's historical culmination was tho great gathering that night. Mr. Firth in Reply. Mr. Firth, who was greeted with a "salvo, ot cheers," said he had tho toughest task before him that he hud ever had to do. Ho did not intend lo thank anyone for tho speeches which had been made, believing that lie had enough wisdom to realise that to uttompt to do so would bo to attempt . tho impossible. But ho did appreciate what had been said. "Some, of the old boys," he said smilingly, "have a foolish way of saying nice things." Somo though were tioo deep for words, some words too deep for expression. As to his wife, of any credit he may have gained for wisdom in the affairs of the school, much the larger share was due to her. For coolness, promptness, and soundness in an cmerlioucy lie had never seen her equal. (Applause.) They wore now doing what they were doing for tho same reason which had influenced them in coming to Wellington—for the good of the school. They behoved that tho school wanted a change. They had to do 60me (earing np of roots in life's garden, but there was one plant too deep to be rooted out—*he plant of memory. That plant would always live, The speakers had beggared his thanks—ho could only appreciate their appreciation. (Prolonged applause.) Tho musical programme opened with the college boys' song, Elgar's "Land of Hope and Glory," "Forty Years On" (an old Harrow School song), and "Tho Veteran's Song," with lusty vigour. The hoys' choir concluded the programme with "There's a Land" ami the old football song, "On tins Ball." Mr. H. C. Foster ran? "Mandnlav" (Willeby), Mr. E. ,T. Hill Tosti's "Parted." Colonel (Dr.) J". R. Purdy recited Kipling's "If," and the Melody Four sang "The Old Brigade" and "The Soldier's Farewell."