MR. DEMPSEY HONOURED

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 141, 23 September 1910, Page 8

MR. DEMPSEY HONOURED

TWENTY-FINE YE AIDS' SERVICE LUCALLY. Hie iheatre Hoyal was packed last night, when tlm public gathered to du honour lo Jir. ii. jjempsey, upon bis completion of twenty-live yeaxs' service as head teacher ol the Central School. His \\ orship tuc .Mayor presided, and assembled on the pmtform with the guest were the niLinuers 01 the Central School committee, past, chairmen of the committee, representatives of the old pupiis, representative citizens and a member ot the legislature. llis \\ orsliip the -Mayor, who presided, said he was aeng'hted to have the privilege of being present, and he waa delighted to see such a large audience tc do honour to Mr. Dempsey upon hit completion of twenty-live years' service as head .teacher of the Central School, lie questioned if any other man in the Dominion had had charge of one schooJ for* such a lengthy term. But it was not only that—(Air. Dempsey still held the fort, and they all hoped he would have health and strength to hold it foi niauy years. It was very fitting indeed that the citizens and Mr. Dempsey's old pupils should gather t'hus and express then appreciation of the services rendered by ivir. Dempsey as teacher for the last twenty-five years. Pupils trained by Mr. Deinpsey at the Central School he remarked, were now occupying high and '.honourable positions in all parts ol .the Dominion. Mr. Tisch said thai whilst he did not share the honour oi having been one of Mr. Dempsey's scholars, he was able to fully appreciate the valuable educational work done bj hiin. It was impossible, he said, for anj man to be in Mr. Dempsey's compam without being influenced for good. H< had a wonderful record, and he com mended his'good example to the youm men of the town for them to follow The Mayor's remarks were punctuatet with frequent applause. The Hon. 0. Samuel, M.L.C., was thei called upon. He said he looked on ii as a privilege to be allowed to join witl his fellow-townspeoi„. in this tribute t< Mr. Dempsey. Some people were apt he thought, to look at secondary educa tion as of greater importance than pri mary education, but he was not one o: these, for it was to the teachers in th< primary schools that they had to 100 l to form the .minds of the children o: this young nation. He did not under value the advantage of higher education but with the majority of the children ii this Dominion it was of the utmost im portance that the teachers in thei: younger days should be men and womei of the highest character, men and womei with sympathy and with a love of theii work, and who would endeavour tc bring those committed to their care t< be good men and women in the future Mr. 'Samuel dwelt on the erroneous opin ion that some people entertained witt regard to education. They were inclined to regard education as ti;° teaching oi certain lessons in order that ■■ ' a subjects taught might be implanted in t/ minds and memories of the pupils and . lii there. That was but a means to end, however. The true meaning ol education was the bringing forth in men 1 and women of all that was best in them, and it was not done by mere training in respect of memory, but also in respect of the morals and the formation ol character in such a manner that the best was brought forth, and that which was evil was made subject to that which was good. He remembered the day, 2o years ago, when Mr. Dempsey had entered on the duties which he had filled so well. He had kftown their guest all through those years, and he was proud to be numbered amongst his friends. 1-Ie had never known a man of higher character, more truthful, more upright, or more desirious than Mr. Dempsey was of making those with whom he came into contact upright and truthful also. The speaker referred to the tendency oi elected members of public bodies to pose as experts, and the friction that frequently arose between them and the qualified men who were, so to speak, working under them. Mr. Dempsey had passed through many changes ot school committees and education boards, and it was a testimony to his singulai ability, to his honesty and sincerity, that of all those members with whom he had had to do there was not one but who was actuated by the one sentiment of respect, and trust, and confidence in Mr. Dempsey, who was still here, and who he hoped would be there for many years still, so that the people would continue to enjoy the great privilege which had been theirs for q, quarter ot a century—that having their children growing up to be a useful manhood and womanhood. This must be a proud moment for Mr. Dempsey, for he had that consciousness, rare amongst us all, that he had won our respect and affectionate regard. There was something still better which Mr. Dempsey would carry away with him, and which he would feel as long as he drew breathhe would feel when he retired the (greatest gratification that a man could have, the knowledge that Ihe had done good work. Mr. A. L. Humphries, on behalf of the old pupils of the school', uttered a few words of congratulation to Mr. Dempsey, and thanked him for his many kindnesses in the past, and particularly for having asserted his authority when theyj showed a tendency, as he put it, to have opinions of their own. That authority was ever asserted kindly, which made their teacher loved and respected the

more. Mr. Humphries said the old pupils had decided to bold a function in I about a month's time to celebrate this 1

occasion; and concluded by wishing Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey many years' lifetime in which to enjoy the respect of all those with whom they were acquainted. Mr. F. P. Corkill, chairman of the Central School committee, was entrusted with the presentation of an illuminated address to Mr. Dempsey, on behalf ot the old pupils and of the citizens of New Plymouth. He considered it a privilege to occupy the position of chairman of the committee that night, and to be able to take part in this memorable gathering. It happened that he was one ofi the committee which selected Mr. Demp-' sey as head teacher of the school 25 years ago. Four of his colleagues had since passed over the border, but he was glad to see with them that night the remaining two members of that committee, Colonel Ellis and Mr. Harris

Ford. If ever there had been a doubt of the wisdom of the choice of that ola Town School committee, that doubt had long since been dispelled, as was shown by this gathering. Mr, Corkill grew reminiscent, and referred to the position of education in Xew Plymouth a quarter of a century ago, contrasting it with the conditions of to-day, when Mx. Dempsey had in his school more children than were taught in those days in all the schools of New Plymouth and its! environs, And at the present time, too, there was a large school at Mtzroy,' and a very fine school of 400 pupils at West End." He referred to the fact that the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister of Education, who was now on his way to South Africa, had, prior to his departure,

written a letter expressing his pleasure | in the knowledge that ftew P.ymouth people wore honouring Air. Dcuipaey ia i Uiis way. Tlioir guest, too, had received very many congratulations from his old pupils, and this one, from "an old girl,** was typical: "Love and good wishM iroxn your p-lil pupil." Mention wu made of the tact that Mr. Dempsey was not one of those teachers who were always on the look-out lor a change. During his 26 years here he had applied only twice for other positions—ouce for the I inspectorship of schools hero when Mr, ;Jk array left, and Jor the headmaster's position in the Napier district qchool at a time when the linances of the Tarsnaki liducauon Board were such that chances of promotion here were «i»*n In reference to Air. Dempsey's influence oa his pupils, he could not do better than quote the words of the iate Mr.R. L. Stanford, then Stipendiary Magistrate here, who had remarked to th* sergeant of the police at the conclusion of Some court proceedings; "Ihiß town is wonderfully free from crime, but it is no thanks to the fear or the police or the I court exercises. It is almost wholly due to the inlluence which that tinn (Mr. Dempsey) exercises upon the youna people m iiie town." xhe ocnooi had for a great many years been liandicuppeu Oy reason oi me numerous memoei«» oi me staji' wl»o were trained or partly trauieu under Mr. Dewpsey, bemit fiomoiea to positions else wnwe. one of tUese had written; "I tave a higher opinion of him than of any otner ""i 1 ever met." Mr. Coiuii then releired to the great interest wnicu their • guest had taken m the inception and devcuj/iutnt oi tue cade una jjoy &cout , movements in Taranaw, and to tiw valuable work he had done from timt to ume in raising aunurwU of pound* lor tne school lunus. Xhe speaker theu icaa and presented to Air. JJempaey Uie address, the text of which has already been puo 4)a .. ta . a "surprise packet," the Mayoress ' lfcn i presented to aim. Dempsey a very handsome silyer tea and coaee servici bearing the following inscription; "Preseated to Mrs. Dempsey by the citizen* 01 Aew Plymouth, pn the occasion of ner husband's completion of 26 yean* valuable service as headmaster of the Central School. September, 1010." Mrs. iisch expressed the hope that Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey would Jive long to enjoy the use ot the gift, and that it woula be handed down as an aeinoom to luture generations. Mr. Dempsey, who was evidently deeply moved, returned uiancs, liist oi ail iox the presentation .o Jirs. which had come, as a ..ouu surpriod, and had proved that .the pcopie eo-t-iged in anuiiguig it, Knew how to keep a secret. Of course, he had known oi the intention to present him with an address, but the gathering end the presentation was, he felt, an honour mat he had never previously expected. He had been surpi.sea to learn worn the 1 Press that he nad been 25 years in hib appointment. When he came 25 year* ago to the "garden of New Zealand," he thought theu that he'had seen no part of New Zealand that he liked so well, and he thought so still. The people, too, must have been influenced by thear beautiful surroundings, ft* they, had treated him well,' and he had never had the slightest friction with parents, tee, or board. The parents had been most liberal when asked to raise iuntlt, and it was the willingness and readioees of the parents to help that had had * great deal to do with the harmonious and uneyentful working for which the school had long been noted The children were cheerful, too—a fact frequently commented on by visitors and by teachers. ■ They had no idea .how happy he had been, and was still, in the Central School, and it would be a big drag when he had to retire. As yet, however, like the No. 2 petroleum Well, hd was still "going strong." He paid a warm tribute to the loyalty of the ohildren to the school, japd thanked old pupils for their inlluence on the younger generation. He felt still fit to carry on the work, but he would never allow the pupils to suffer. "If I feel tdiat T am going/ off, off I go," he said. In again thanking the citizens for their compliment, Mr. Dempsey said that he had had a loyal staff, a committee doing all it could, parents who were most sympathetic, and children "helping all they could—what more could a man hope for? Mr. Corkill briefly thanked all who had assisted to make the function a succeed, including "our entertainers;" Mrs. Woods, the accompanist; Mr. Hoff mannj for the piano; the fire brigade, the Garrison Band, and the Press. A hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor, moved by Rev. S. S. Osborne, preceded the singing of the Nation Anthem, which concluded the proceedings. The musical programme included a pianoforte solo by Mr. R. N. Renaud; vocal quartettes, "The Minnesingers," and "Stars of the Summer Night," Me&srs. .Ambury, Clarke, Crawford, and Hoofer; song, "Love's Coronation," Miss Fentoii; sorig, "The Dear HomeInn 1," Miss Blake; song, "Monardw of f he Mr. F. Asher; chorus, "Soldiers: in the Park," senior girls, with a squad bf cadets and bugler; and a set of lancere damced # by the senior girls with masks reversed. Apologies for absence were received from the Hon. T. Kelly, M.L.C., Mr. James Wade, chairman, and Mr. P. S. Whitcombe, secretary, of the Education Board, on account of illness; Mr. 0. Johnston, headmaster of the Fitzroy School, on account of illness; and Mr. W. J. Penn, from a similar cause.