BOSS NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1919, Page 4

BOSS NEWS.

MR WINCHESTER HONOURED. (Our own correspondent.) The social tendered to Mr W. Winchester last Friday evening proved to he one of the most successful functions of its kind held in Ross for many years. A very large number including visitors from Greymouth, Kumara and Hokitika were present to do honour to Mr Winchester on liis retirement from tlie teaching profession after such a lengthy term of service. During the evening at an interval in the dancing, the Mayor, (S. P. Evans, Esq.) on behalf of the citizens took the opportunity of acknowledging Mr Winchester’s long service, and in an appropriate address eulogised his past work and congratulated him on his long and successful career as a teacher. He referred to the splendid school records for many years past, for which Mr Winchester was mainly responsible. Mr Evans said that he himself was one of Mr Winchester’s oldest pupils, and he was pleased indeed to be Mayor of Ross at the present .time, thus enabling him to preside at this function-, to honour his school master. He hoped that after his thirty eight years teaching in Ross, he would enjoy a well-earned rest.

The following address was then read and presented together, with a wellfilled purse of sovereigns. To William Winchester, Esq., Dear Sir, —On your retirement as •headmaster of the Ross State School we, your old pupils, and the residents of this district, desire to convey to you

our hearty appreciation of tile faithful services rendered by you, during the thirty eight years you have been m charge of the school. We congratulate you on the long period of active service, you have now completed, (some 63 years) which is probably a record for school teaching. During your long term of office in the school, you have by your conscientious work and kindly manner won the esteem and respect of all the pupils and residents of Ross. We especially congratulate you on the important positions, held by many of your former pupils in the Pubic Service of this Dominion, their success being due -to a great extent to the tuition imparted by you, during the earlier stages of their education.

We now ask your acceptance of the

accompanying gift as a slight momento of appreciation, and we trust you will yet enjoy many years of health, Happiness and prosperity which you are justly entitled to.—(Signed by Mayor and a large number of citizens).” -Messrs T. W. Bruce, (ex-Mayor and for many years Chairman of School Connpittce); W. B. Browning, (present Chairman of Committee), and Mr Gills each endorsed the words of the Mayor ancl added further congratulatory remarks. Numerous telegrams and letters, (including one from the Hon. J. Grimmond, Wellington), and a number from ex-pupils conveying best wishes were read by Mr 11. H. Osmers. Mr Winchester, on rising to reply, was enthusiastically received. He sincerely thanked the speakers for their kind remarks, the citizens and ex-pu-pilss, for their expressions of goodwill and their handsome present. Ho had been teaching for sixty-three years altogether, thirty-eight of which had been spent in Ross. During that time he had always received every consideration from the residents and parents, and it was now very gratifying to receive so many kindly messages from’ his former pupils. He hoped the same consideration would he extended to Mr Boyle, (his successor), as had been shown to him. The Mayor 'took the opportunity of extending a hearty welcome to Mr Boyle, who suitably replied thanking the Mayor for his kind remarks.

During the evening songs were contributed by Miss P. Evans, Mrs Brice, Messrs D. Roberts and T. Rockford. Music for the evening was supplied by Mrs Goad, Mrs Wiclces, Misses C. and P. Evans, Byrne, Shadbolt and Mr. J. Phillips. Messrs Fellows and .Cherrie ably carried out the duties of M.C.