A HAPPY PRECEDENT,

Manawatu Herald, 8 January 1889, Page 2

A HAPPY PRECEDENT,

The scholars of the Gordon School in the township of Grore have set a very happy precedent to the scholars of dtb/:r State Schottfs. It appears from tho report ai the proceedings in the Malaura Ensign that cm the" dosing of the school for the Christmas holidays there was quite an interchange of kindness between the teachers and the scholars. The children hod been for some little time beforehand collecting subscriptions for the purpose of giving a surprise 1 to their teachers, while the teachers all unconscious of the children's plot, had been getting up a little entertainment on their own. account to please the mothers and friends of the children, and to make the children even more delighted with themselves, the holidays, and everything eise.

Proceedings began about half past 1 1 o'clock, when all the children assembled in the large room to the number of about 130 or 140.

Mr A. Aitken, in the absence of the chairman of committee, took the chair on the occasion. He addressed a few words of congratulation to teachers and children, and then piloted a programme including no less than 16 items to a successful close.

The programme over, the chairman then intimated 1 that they had only as yet got through the preliminaries ; the best part of the proceedings was to come. He was always of opinion that the children of New Zealand got too much for nothing, but he was glad to see that the children of the Gordon school had ap* preciated the kindness of the past year, and that they had not forgotten their teachers. He had there something that showed this in a substantial manner. He then in the name of the children presented Mr Porsyth with a handsome meerschaum pipe and a packet of tobacco, and Miss Morgan with a sealskin muif-hand bag. The hand bag, he remarked, although a muff one, was not presnted to a muff, as the gift itself clearly showed. There was great cheering as the gifts were received. Mr Porsyth then, on his own and Miss Morgan's behalf, thanked the parents and scholars for the presents. They were altogether unprepared for such a surprise, and he was pleased that there were' such kindly feelings existing between them. The hand bag would be just what Miss Morgan required for the holidays, while he felt very grateful for his pipe and tobacco. It was very thoughtful of them. He would prize the pipe very much, while the tobacco would last him most of the holidays. He hoped the kind feelings there shown would continue as long as they were to gether*

Three hearty cheers were given by the children for their teachers, and again- three others were given for the committee.

Most of otir readers will remember that Mr Forsyth was head master of the Foxton State School but was dismissed because he gave every satisfaction to the Committee and he d higher degrees than the Education Board desired masters in their service to possess. Thus the Gordon School is the gainer.