PRESENTATION AND BANQUET.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3754, 21 February 1907, Page 3

PRESENTATION AND BANQUET.

To Mr W. S. Stewart. When it was ascertained some months back, that Mr Stewart was to retire from the position of headmaster of the local State School—a position he had 1 filled for nearly a quarter of a century with honour to Himself and credit to the school —the;,old boys felt that they could not allow the occasion to pass withoqt in some way showing an appreciation of - his past', services. were held at which it was Mr Stewart with a puig&i pf sovereigns and tender him-jP .banquet, Mr B. Spelman wpp appointed ’ secretary, and associated.; with him were: Mayor ($. G, Gower, Esq.), Messrs O. Robinson, L. Wilson, Chisholm, F. the late H. Austin and others. -The function took place in Mr M. Perreau’s rooms last evening and ; was a brilliant affair, old boys from ; far and near, many of them: now occupying prominent positionsedn thk commercial life of the coionyv.-ahd leading townsmen, were present" to do hononr to the guest .of the evenings • The catering by Mr- Per-reau, left nothing to be desired. .> In the absence ot the mayor;-Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston) presided, and on his right ■ was seated the guest of the evening while near at. hand was the familiar figure of: Dr Rockstrow (Palmerston), an erstwhile Eoxton resident, and the. .chairman of the local school,: committee.' when Mr Stewarfetbok up i; his duties at the school,s;l4te--present chairman, Mr A. D.«? Cfemettr ; anl Mr J. Grant, one of -the, Wanganui Board’s Inspectors. ;, 4k.fter, the loyal toast of the King been honored, the Chairman the toast of the guest of the evening. He referred to the present occasion as being the proudest moment of his life. A schoolmaster had many ups and downs* school committees were not always sympathetic, but Mr Stewart must feel proud when he looked round and |aw so many of his old boys assembled to do him honour that night. Many had prospered—some had not. It was not the fault of Mr Stewart if they had not done well, as his best efforts were put forth on their behalf. He referred to Mr and Mrs Stewart’s activity, afeb in church work."' 'The’ ’ speaker then went back tb early' school boy ; reminiscences—spoke of the ‘ ‘ stick ’ ’—, not such a long stick as Mr Stewart’s‘predecessor (the late Mr Hulke) used,—of Mr Stewart’s marriage, of the baud’s serenading and someone .who played a trombone, of the nervouS peeps the bnys got of (he cake and wine, of old school mates including Jim, Archie and Adam Thompson, Qctie Robinson and ' ; others^ ■” Ajitjl ot Mr Stewart’s gobd wofk, JRe referred to the presence tnht 'evening of Dr Rockstrow, and his early, connection with Eoxton. He then referred to the presentation and hoped Mr Stewart would accept the purse of *59 soVereigriS in the spirit in which it was given—from the fulness oTtheir hearts. Old boys and townspeople were anxious to do somlething jo'mark the esteem in which Mr Ste Wart, was Ijeldj and they were ufiahimous of opinion that the purse ‘ivas the most' Suitable.

Mr Baker (old boy) first started his scholastic career with Mr Stewart. He referred to the guest’s kindly manner, pure life and lloble Character, which was worthy of his boy and manhood’s admiration* Mr B. Spelman also added his quota, and referred to the financial assistance rendered to the boys by Mr- Stewart to- buy football and cricket material. Mr Chisholm said it was about 24. years ago that the guest of the evening had endeavoured to pierce the speaker’s “ thick skull ” with knowledge at the Timaru High School, . if gave him as great a pleasure nqw to. meet Mr Stewart as it did in ;the old days to avoid him. (daughter.) ■ Dr Rockstraw referred to the early days pnd to Mr Stewart’s social qualities. It was nqt all plain sailing for Mr Stewart in the early days. He hoped Mr and Mrs Stewart Would be spared tnany years to the peddle of Foxton, and it must be, eheqting 'i'o the guest to see so mapy. old;s sc kolars around him that nights Mp Stewart in replping said he wa^quhe' everwhelmed, and said, in ther words' of the poet “You have clean broke me up.” He could hot find words to express his appreciation of the flattering words and handsome present. He had entered the service 25 years ago. He spent; or. three years as head High School .and -he was ptoud to say 'it was .then one of the foremostrschools in the Auckland province. Ah' educational official hadsaidiof him: “Heknows his work, does his work, and likes his work.” lie had refused at that time an Inspectorship. For the % greater part of 20 years he had re- (.. sided in Foxton, and they were the /. happiest and pleasantest years of his life. Here he was happily married and his work was congenial. He- ‘ had now come to the end ot his work through the inexorable law of late and the Superanuation Act. He was 65 years of age at the beginning of April- The Board had retired him with three months’ leave of five days before be would have been compulsorily retired under the Act. During his career he had only had one month’s leave of absence and, that by reason ofsickness, which fie considered a fair record. He had heaps of ’ friends and up to recently had • known nearly everyone in the dis- -. trict— now he only knew about half, ■’. had made very-few enemies and hadvoniotitwo . false friends.

What more could a man want He was pleased to see the old boy: and to accept the present given o their own tree will and accord. thought a good deal of public opi nion and he was gratified that hi! work had been so appreciated. H< thought the present should havf been given to Mrs Stewart insteac of himself—she was more earnesl and energetic. Anyhow that conic be got over b3 r asking her to take care of it. He again thanked them from the bottom ot his heartland resumed his seat amidst hearty applause. Mr Chisholm, in an appropriate speech, proposed the toast “Absent Schoolmates. ’ ’ Mr Lyall responded and in doing so made the remark that Mr Stewart’s only fault was that he had been too kind. Mr Clemett proposed the toast of the Board ot Education.’’ He referred to the great part education played in the life of an individual or nation. The character cf the child should be studied and the nich he was fitted to fill in life located, and his training given to that end. He opposed Bible Reading in Schools—it led to strife. Book-keeping and shorthand were necessary subjects, and should be taught in every school. The syllabus was over-crammed. He concluded by stating that he had served 25 year's as a school committee man and 36 years in thelPost and Telegraph Department, and was good tor another 30 years (laughter and applause). Mr J. Grant, one of the Board’s Inspectors, in responding to the above (oast, expressed pleasure at being present. Their pleasure was mixed with regret. The one who had served his country so well had to give place to a younger man. Those present were a splendid sample of the result of Mr Stewart’s training. Speaking of educational matters he said if Education Boards and teachers were slow it was because of a slow-going public. If the public woke up politicians responded and reforms were brought about. People must not blame the teachers for cramming because they sanctioned it. If the public rebelled a change was effected. He said our educational system was as enlightened as in any part of the world. He referred to technical and agricultural education and the good work being done in these departments by the Wanganui Board. Wanganui had 600 scholars attending the technical School in that town as compared with 1000 in a city like Dunedin. The Wangan ui Board was very progressive and there was great unanimity amongst its members, Mr Wilson proposed the toast of present Scholars and Mr Gordon responded. The latter referred to the ‘ 4 soft spot ’ ’ in the hearts of the children and the teaching staff for the guest of the evening, and he hoped the same good will would be expressed towards him, should it be God’s decree to spare him to the age of 65 . Other toasts were— “Outside Schools ” (Mr Stewart), responded to by Mr Lyall; “ The Ladies ’’ (Mr Morgan), responded to by Messrs J. Purrie and Murray ; “The Secretary ” (the Chairman) responded to by Mr Spellman ; “ School Committees ” (Mr Stewart), responded to by Messrs Dr Rockstraw, Clemett and Baker ; “ The Press.” (Mr Haggerty), and responded to by Mr Hornblow ; “Our Host” (Mr Spellman), and responded to by Mr Perreau,

During the evening songs were snng by Messrs Grace and Lyall, and recitations were given by Messrs Hornblow, Haggerty and Clemett. Mr Berthold presided at the piano. The gathering broke up after singing “Auld Lang Syne.”