WAVERLEY.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 438, 25 June 1879, Page 2

WAVERLEY.

(Frbra our own Correspondent.) On Friday afternoon several of the inhabitants, among whom were'three of the School Committee (Messrs Mason, Thurston, and McDonald), visited the school, to bid farewell to Mr Hansard and present him with a purse of sovereigns on his leaving the district. Owing to the inclemency of the weather, many who desired to be present were prevented. Capt. Walkinton, in presenting the purse, said “ Mr Hansard, I have been called upon by some -members of the School Committee and a

number of settlors, to perform What is t u me a jnost pleasant task, namely, to request you to accept this purse. I iiope that yoU will not consider it as a gnage of the estimation fn which y.ou are held by the community, but simply as a small token of their friendship for yon, and of their wish that you may retain d. kindly recollection of them, as they will of you.”-—Mr Hnnstird,* in accepting the purse, expressed his great; gratification in finding that the people of Waverley had so kindly A feeling towards him. He had>been four years in the disdistrictj .and liOpe'd’tliat he had inade some friends. Although he .considered -it his duty to accept tiie offer of the school tot which he was going, he none the less regretted leaving Waverley, and should al-f ways look back Upon the time he had sojourned there with pleasuie. -To thechildren ho would say that he bad known* them.Jong enough to love them,- and tolook upon them as in a wtiy belonging to\ him. He had tried to do his duty towards them, and he hoped that when they grew up and Went ihto the world, they would remember him with kindly feelings'. He should not|forget thoin, and he only wished ha could take them’ all with him. Mr Mason, as Clminriaii of the Committee, then informed the children that the school had bruited dp for a fortnight’s holiday, which he hoped they would enjoy thoroughly, and afterwards return to CTNar tasks with renewed vigour. The scholars, at their own request, then*, sang “ Home, sWect home” and some other songs Very creditably, and concluded with- “ God Save the Queen!.” —Mr Hansard then 1 shook hands with them as they filed out of the door. . ' . Mr Hansard left by coach on Monday mortiing. The Rifle Volunteers paraded oh Saturday, to receive their arms. Forty-five fell' in. After parade, the following noncommissioned officers were elected ;— - Color-Sergeant,- W. Swihbonrn Sergeants,E. C. Meredith-and G. S. Bridge \ Corporals,<J. Thurston,- P. T. Fortescue, and J, Dickie,jun. . .. The CaVklry and Rifle Volunteers paraded' oh Monday for inspection, but Major Noake' was traable to’ attend.. The Companies’ were put through therr chill by the captains. After parade, the Rifles held a' meeting,- when a blue serge - Garibaldi,trcrWsers of same material, arid a cloth cap,> ware decided upon as a ; uniform.