A MEMORIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1929, Page 2

A MEMORIAL

V TO LATE HEADMASTER OF CLYDE QUAY SCHOOL. . WELLINGTON, October 10. An iriter.eiffjihg • ceremony, took' place ; a.t;. the-,CJj;(3e Quay 'School- yesterday morning, vihenj- dn., the presence' of the', scholar^,, . WBembled' in the main corridors,' the "' Jiiinistef .of; Education ■ (the'.Don, ,;H. /Atmbrt)' ;,,‘tinveilted . a thei; late j School) (an.dt ifqnllei*,fy : headmaster of Hokitika DiStriii.; - School), who elie&eiri. '.his, hteqe Tm sfay' ; 8 lait. . (■ ■jljap •' :•. .&»s“:irißiri'ibbd:: ‘lEirecL. ecj by .the i'scholars to-the memory of Thomas Irvine, M. A., F.RJB.S,, Headmaster from 1-4-1925 to 3-5-1929. He died at his post,” The tablet, about. 18 inches by 12 inches, on a Rimu base, is erected in the main oorridoi', and an excellent , portrait of the late, Mr Irvine hangs- above it. I The Minister, in Unveiling the llieni- [ orial said that Mr Irvine -had had slightly over 43 years of educational '•service to his credit. Though a man of few words he had been highly esteemed for his rectitude and the zeal he brought to bear up the’ conscientious discharge of his duties, both as •a teacher, and headmaster. Those characterijstics had a hvays secured harmony of relation among the members of his staffs he had controlled, and he had also secured that which a teacher most desired, the undying affection of the effildren in his charge. It had been said that no man died who lived in the hearts of those he left behind, and he hoped that Mr Irvine had earned the respect and affection of all who had known him, and that would be a consolation to Mrs Irv»ine and the members of the family. ' The Minister said he . hoped the tablet would serve as an inspiration to the children of-the school to reawleir the greatest to those about ' them when the time came for them to take up their life’s work, Mr Keith ' Irvine, on behalf of 1-is mother, and the family, returned 'brief thanks for "the kind references which had been made to his father, and for the fine tribute paid him in the erection of the tablet.

Messrs Grundy arid Foster addressed a few well-chosen words to the scholars. The hymn, “For All the Saints,’’ , was sung, and the Benediction was pronounced by the Rev. ,J Baird. The gathering dispersed after the singing of the National Anthem.

Among those .present were Mrs Irvine, Miss Irvine, Messrs C. H. Nioholls and A. C. Blake (members of the [Education Board), :Mr G. L. Stewart (secretary of the board), and Mr M. .T. iQ’lConnor (the present headmaster) .