SOUTH SCHOOL

Southland Times, Issue 18850, 16 June 1920, Page 5

SOUTH SCHOOL

PRESENTATIONS TG EX-COMMITTEE-MEN. RECOGNITION OF LONG SERVICE. The members of the South School Committee hfdd a very pleasant social gathering in the Floral Tea Rooms last evening for the purpose of making a presentation to the Mayor, Mr John Stead, who after 43 years’ service has relirod from the committee. The opportunity was also taken of making presentations to Mr A. McCulloch and Mr W. Stead, who for many years were also prominent members of the Committee., The chairman, Mr A. Jones, in explaining the object of the gathering, stated that all their tmesis had done effective work during their long terms of office. Mr John Stead had devoted 43 years of faithful service In the School Committee and had always had a happy way of promoting good fellowship. It said a great deal for a man that year after year he had been re-elected to office and was held in such high esteem. If Mr Stead had devoted his time purely to business he might have been a wealthy man, hut he had gone in for the right kind of wealth and had earned the esteem and goodwill of hi.s fellow men. The presentation they were making him was only a small acknowledgment of (he great services which he had rendered to the South Si hool. In presenting Mr Stead with a framed picture, suitably inscribed and a testimonial, Mr C. S. Longuet said that it gave him much pleasure to do so. These little tokens of esteem, he said, were really from the residents of (hr South School district, and at the las! meeting of householders a resolution was unanimously passed expressing appreciation of the excellent services Mr Stead had rendered during his long term of office. During the la-t few years, Mr Stead at! Mayor, had fulfilled very special duties, and had done so in a way which had not only gratified (he public but had given pleasure to the distineui.-hed visitors who had enma to Invercargill. lie hoped that Mr Stead would he able to carry out his public duties for manv years vet.

Mr Stead in reply stated that frequently ho had heard men in a similar position say that words could not adequately express their feelings, and it was only now that he realised how true it was. His work on the School Committee had given him a great deal of pleasure, and in all things he had tried to he sincere. He felt proud that he had not used his position on the committee as a stepping stone to gel on the Education Board and had always thought that he could do more as a member of the Committee, He wotdii treasure their gifts and would never forget itis asociation with them as members of the Committee.

Appreciative references were also made to the work accomplished by Mr McCulloch and Mr TV. Stead. Mr I'. D. Lonnie, in proposing the toast of Mr McCulloch, stated that since he had been connected with the school, he had been greatly impressed by the feeling of loyalty among the householders. Thi-a no doubt, was to a large extent due to the chairman, a position which Mr McCulloch had occupied for right or nine years. Mr McCulloch’s association wi th the committee extended over eighteen or nineteen years and during that time lie had always taken a keen interest in school matters and in the South School Fife and Drum Band. Mr C. Patton eulogised the services of Mr W. Stead, who during his twenty years as it member'of the committee had done a great amount to further the interest of the school and the children til tending it. Mr McCulloch was presented with a Loewe pine and Mr W. Stead with a walking stick, gift? which the recipients suitably acknowledged.