PRESENTATION TO MR EDGE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1418, 31 August 1878, Page 3

PRESENTATION TO MR EDGE.

Mr T V. L. Edge waa presented yesterday with j. a testimonial from the teachers and scholars of j the Lyttelton Borough school, on the occasion , of his resigning his office of head master, to take , an Inspectoraliip under the North Canterbury ° Board of Education. At the conclusion of 4 morning school, the teachers and scholars r assembled in one of the larger rooms, and Mr p H. K. Webb, the chairman of the committee v addressed them. He said they were all aware a Mr Edge had been appointed to an Inspectorship, and, in consequence, had been compelled s to resign the head-mastership of the Lyttelton g school, which he had held for nearly four years. « During the time Mr Edge had been head-master, i he had carried out his duties in such a manner 4 as not only to thoroughly satisfy the committee ” and the Board of Education, but also to 4 confer great benefit on the children t attending the school. Mr Edge had been most 1 assiduous in his duties, and had also shown the t greatest kindness to them all, as he knew they v would all gladly admit. Mr Edge had raised the j school to a very high standard, and through his efforts several scholarships had been gained by the pupils. The committee were very sorry to lose him, as not only had he during his term of , office given the school a high position as an edu- Jcational institute amongst the schools of Canter- [ bury, but also bad shown great tact in the C management. Not a single dispute or un- v pleasantness had arisen during his term of office I between the teachers and the committee, o and as far as the scholars were concerned, bo 0 might state that not a single complaint had been laid before them from any of the parents j. a fact that spoke volumes for Mr Edge’s management, ability and kindness. [Cheers.] He, as chairman of the committee, was much pleased to see they did not intend to let Mr Edge go c without testifying to their regard for him, by c Sisenting him with some token of their respect. a e gifts purchased with the teachers and n scholars’ subscriptions would remind Mr Edge p in the future of the many pleasant hours ho had spent in Lyttelton School. [Applause ] In 8 conclusion, Mr Webb said ho would call on Mr Eoss, the second master, to make the presentation on beluilf of the teachers Mr Boss said he was happy to bear testimony to the amicable relations that had always existed 1 between Mr Edge and the teaching staff of the school, and the harmony and pleasant feeling I that had always prevailed, not a single conten- li tion having ever risen during the four years Mr I Edge had held office. He begged his acceptance of an edition of “ Chambers’ Encyclopaedia” as a token of the appreciation in which he was held c by the teaching staff of the school, and hoped that in after times it would keep him in kindly re- t membrance of those who had been bis fallow workers in the past. [Loud cheers.] £ Master Charles Willcox, dux of the school, , then stepped forward. He said that his fellow pupils and himself, knowing Mr Edge was about to leave, had subscribed to give a small token of c their respect and affection to him before he left c Lyttelton. On behalf of the scholars of the Lyttelton Borough School, whom Mr Edge had i always treated with such great kindness, he wished him every success in the future, and T begged his acceptance of a silver inkstand. i] [Cheers.] c Mr Edge said he had spent many very happy S days amongst them, and should always look v back with pleasure to the time that he held the t head mastership of the Lyttelton Borough School, u The greatest good feeling had always existed c between the teaching staff, the scholars, and a himself, and ho took this opportunity of thanking the teachers and the children for their hearty co-opt) at ion, attention, perseverance, and kind- 4. ness. He was much pleased with the very hand- t some presents they had that day made him, aid s should i Jivaya look upon thorn with groat plea, n

sure, as tokens of his having gained the goodwill and affection of those with whom his labours had associated him for nearly four years. Ho sincerely hoped that in the future the Lyttelton School would continue to maintain the high position it at present occupied amongst the Canterbury schools. He should never forget their great kindness, and would always look back to the time he had spent in Lyttelton as a sunny portion of his life. [ Loud cheers.] The inkstand presented by the scholars bore the following inscription:—“Presented to Mr Wm. L. Edge, M.A., by the pupils of the Lyttelton borough school, as a token of respect for him as head-master.—Lyttelton, August 30th, 1578.” The Encyclopaedia was inscribed as follows “ Presented to Mr W. L. Edge, M.A., by the teachers of the Lyttelton borough school, as a souvenir of the kindly feeling which existed between them as fellow-teachers.” Mr H, E. Webb then proclaimed the afternoon a half-holiday. He remarked that holidays were usually tokens of rejoicings, but on this occasion ho was sure they would look upon it as an occasion of regret, as it marked their separation from their head-master. After giving three cheers for Mr Edge the school separated.