POPULAR TEACHER

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3299, 11 August 1943, Page 5

POPULAR TEACHER

FAREWELL AT HIKUTAIA MR & MRS BELL HONOURED PRESENTATION MADE AT DANCE A number of Hikutaia residents gathered at the Hikutaia Hall on Monday evening last when Mr and Mrs J. Bell were tendered a farewell. Mr J. Bell was for nine years headmaster of the Hikutaia School as well as being O.C. for the Hikutaia Home Guard from its inception. Mr Bell also represented Hikutaia at football for several seasons and was a vice-, president of the Hikutaia Polo Club. Mr and Mrs Bell now reside at Puriri where Mr Bell is headmaster. The farewell took the form of a dance and euchre. Euchre prizes were won by Mrs A. Duncan and Mrs R. Lowry. Music was provided by the Paeroa Melody Makers’ Orchestra and Mr G. Flavell was M.C. After supper had been served Messrs G. Avery and R. W. Lowry both spoke in high term's of the part Mr and Mrs Bell had played in the affairs of Hikutaia, while residing there. O.C. of Home Guard Mr Avery spoke on behalf of the general public and Mr Lowry as a past chairman of the Hikutaia School Committee.

The presentation of a silver cake dish to Mrs Bell and a leather writing satchel to Mr Bell was made by Mr B. Clarry, a member of the Hikutaia Home Guard.

In doing this- Mr Clarry said that the splendid work done by the 'Hikutaia Home Guard had all been due to the keenness and enthusiasm of their ■commander, who had always proved himself conscientious and enterprising and he knew he was speaking for the Home Guard as a whole when he said that to a man the men under Mr Bell’s command would have followed him anywhere had they been called upon to do so. All the speakers extended cordial good wishes for the future to both Mr and Mrs Bell. In replying’ on behalf of Mrs Bell and himself, Mr Bell thanked everyone for their beautiful gifts and said how much they had both liked Hikutaia and the people who lived there. They had made many friends while living in the district. Pleasant Memories In connection x with the school, all Mr Bell could say was- that he Had always tried to make all his pupils happy in their school life and that both he and his two small daughters would carry away many pleasant memories of the Hikutaia school and children. Among' those present were Mesdames J. Bell, A. W. Alley, R. W. Lowry, G. Avery, C. Avery, R. Clark, J. Miller, V. Brown, C. Alley, A. Alley, D. Healey, O’Hara, A. Duncan, H. Spinks, B. Duncan, M. Morrison, V. Allfey, A. Morrison, Armstrong, E. Morrison, A. McCollum, N. Harper, G. Flavell, R. Angus, W. Morrison, R. Alp, C. Wright, D. Courtney, J. Tompkins. Misses Stubbs, A. Wagener, H. Percy, J. Healey, S. McNeil, iP. Hopping, Fredricks, W. Corbett, O’Hara, C. Winder, district.