EDUCATION INSTITUTE

Southland Times, Issue 18823, 17 May 1920, Page 7

EDUCATION INSTITUTE

A TEACHER HONOURED.

There was a large and representative gathering of the Southland Education Institute in the Federal rooms on Saturday last to do honour to Mr Hugh McChesney, headmaster or Bluff School, who has recently received promotion to the inspectorate, and who proceeds immediately to Auckland to commence his new duties. After luncheon end the usual loyal toast, the president, Mr J. Henry, in proposing the health of Mr end a.rs McChesnej, voiced the gratification of members at the honour conferred indirectly on Southland teachers as well as directly on their guest by his promotion to a highly important position. He thought it a good sign that the Department was now appointing young, vigorous men, imbued with high ideals to such positions. Other members, in speaking to the toast, ■ remarked on the guests peculiar fitness for , hhi nt ‘ w work, hoping that his transference : to the north would restore him and his 1 family to good health, and bo as beneficiaJ : to himself as it must prove to those among ; whom his lot would be cast. ! Mr McChesney, in replying, paid a glowing tribute to the worth and work ot his former teacher and headmaster, Mr Duncan McNeil. Anything there was of good in him as a teacher was entirely attributable to the thorough grounding he received first as a jiup.il and afterwards as a junior teacher under Mr McNeils guidance. He felt inspired by their good wishes and good opinions to go forward ami do his best, and thus bring honour on the district in which he had been nurtured. If he had been of any help to the Institute, the help had been reciprocal, and he regretted severing his connection with his fellow workers. He thanked tile Institute members sincerely for the hon- i our conferred by them on Mrs McChesney cud himself that day. Several apologies for absence were re- ! coived among them being letters from Messrs Wylie, Inglis, A. McNeil (inspectors), Duncan McNeil, and Miss McLeod, all of whom were absent at the Education Conference in Wellington. Voval items were very pleasingly rendered by Misses Howie and Doogin. I