A POPULAR TEACHER.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 December 1901, Page 2

A POPULAR TEACHER.

On Thursday afternoon a most interesting function took place in the Gymnasium of the Greymouth District High School where the members of the school s'aff, the Cadet Corps, and the pupils of the Fifth Standard assembled in ordsr to offer the second assistant, Mr Pegler their congratulations on his approaching marriage, and to give him some tangible proof of their appreciation of his many excellent qualities. On behalf of the staff, Mr Adams banded Mr Peglar a silver teapot and jam spoon, and in the course of his remarks, referred to the thoroughly conscientious and whole-hearted way in which that gentleman had performed his duties, devolving' upon him in the school. Mr Pegler had, he said won the entire confidence of his pupils whoso interest were his first consideration, andfthe solid and enduring work done in his class bore testimony to the excellence of his leaching. Ho wished him and his future wife —a young lady of much amiability and discernment —a long and happy life, and an abundant' supply of this world’s choicest blessings. Next came Miss Flossie Cave, who, after delivering a very neat little speech, in the name of the Fifth Standard, presented their teacher with a chaste toast rack, a butter dish, and set of serviette rings. This was followed by yet another beautiful gift from the Cadet Corps, whose spokesman, Lieutenant Barnett read an address couched in very laudatory terms of the interest their Captain took in the welfare of the Company. In reply, Mr Pegler heartily thanked his fellow-teachers with whom he had worked so harmoniously since his advent to Greymouth. Their thoughtful kindness he could never forget, and their beautiful present would always be treasured by him. To the pupils of his class with whom he bad been intimately connected Since he joined the staff of the school, and to whom he had become greatly attached, and also to the Cadets whose soldierly bearing and manly behaviour since the formation of the Corps, had been a subject for special gratification, he could not adequately express his feelings. Hearty cheers greeted Mr Pegler, on the conclusion of his speech.

Mr Pegler left yesterday morning for Kaiapoi, the whole of his class being at station to wish him good-bye. The ceremony in connection with Mr Pegler having ended, the Cadets sprung a genuine, but most agreeable surprise on Messrs Adams, Smith, and Jackson who accompanied them to Cristchurch on the occasion of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, Each of there gentlemen was presented with an address and a handsome present, the spokesmen being Lieutenant Ring, and Sergeants Mills an J Wilson. Mr Adams received a silver match box, Mr Smith a silver sovereign case, and Mr Jackson a tobacco pouch. Each of these gentlemen replied feelingly, and thanked the boys most heartily for their generous and spontaneous action. So well had the Cadets kept their counsel that not a hint concerning their intentions had been allowed to reach the ears of the recipients—a fad which further enhanced the value of their presentation. The action of the lads is fully appreciated by those whom they honored, —indeed it could not bo otherwise, and such kindly recognition of their services more than compensates them for any discomforts they iray have had to endure on that historic occasion.