EX-PUPILS' RE-UNION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 165, 21 October 1910, Page 8

EX-PUPILS' RE-UNION

PRESENTATIONS TO MR. DEMPSEY. About 200 present ana past pupils of the Central School met in the Brougham Street ilall last evening for the purpose of honoring, the headmaster, Mr. Dempsey, on the occasion of his completion 01 twenty-live years' service. The hall was tastefully decorated, and all the arrangements made by the committee, ot whom Mr. Hammond was the secretary, were very satisfactory, so that the evening proved a very pleasant one indeed. Dancing and instrumental and vocal items were sandwiched in between the addresses delivered at the gathering, which broke up about 1 a.m.

The chairman (.Mr. Percy White), in openin'g the proceedings, said that although the citizens of New Plymouth had taken the opportunity of honoring Mr. Dempsey recently by a big gathering in the Theatre Royal, the old"pupils considered tliuy should make a special feature of their old master's silver jubilee in the school. Mr. White expressed' his pleasure at seeing so many present to offer their congratulations and to wish Mr. Dempsey continued success. He mentioned that over 100 letters and I telegrams had been received from expupils all over the colony, expressing wishes for their, old master's welfaru and for the success of the function. Apologies were also tendered for the absence of Mr.. Wade (chairman of the Education Board), His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Tisch), Messrs. Ballantyne and Whetter (the Board's inspectors), Mr. W. Murray (inspector 25 years-ago), and Mr. Tyrer (headmaster Stratford High School). The chairman, speaking to Mr. Dempsey, said they were all pleased to meet him, and trusted lie would be long, spared to live and labor amongst them. An album had been procured for the signatures of those present, and when complete would be handed to Mr. Dempsey. The chairman's remarks were greeted with loud applause. Mr. CorkiU,. referring to the gathering in the Theatre Royal, said he had taken part in many meetings, but did not remember one so splendidly successful as that one. Now they were having a repetition of that success. He did not "know any teacher in New Zealand who was so honored by his pupils as Mr. Dempsey was. (Applause.) For a quarter of a century Mr. Dempsey had presided over the Central School, and during all that time had been an instrument for good. No one who had passed i through the school could but admit his or her association with Mr. Dempsey had been for their welfare. "I look upon him," said Mr. Corkill, "as a greater power for good in this town than all the parsons put together." (Laughter and applause.) He said that in all seriousness. It had been a pleasure to have made acquaintance with him, and theyj had been intimate friends, apart alto-' gether ..from school committee affairs. | He had been touched to see the interest Mr. Dempsey had taken in the boys and girls, and his efforts to turn them on to the right track. When the ledger was made up and the totals read out it would be seen that there was a big balance to the credit of Mr. Dempsey. Mr. Stanley Smith spoke on behalf of the ex-pupils. He would say—and he was hot the best at school—that Mr. Dempsey was the best master that the parents have had, and, indeed, likely to have. (Applause.) Mr. Dempsey's influence for good had been greater than it was possible to express. All his pupils trusted that that power for good would continue and that he and his family would enjoy good health and be spared many years to look back on the two special evenings on which he had been honored, and of which he could be justly proud . ( Applause.) Mr. P. Hopkins, Mr. Oscar Johnson and Mr. Fred Aslier also added a few words of congratulation to their old master.

Mrs. Dowling (headmistress West End School) spoke of the pleasure it must afford Mr. Dempsey to know that his pupils thought so highly of him. Mrs Harvey, in a short speech, presented Mr. Dempsey with a silver spirit kettle, travelling bag and walking-stick, all suitably engraved. Mr. Collis (as a chairman during IS years of Mr. Dempsey's service) and Mr. Dockrill (also an ex-chairman) delivered brief speeches of an eulogistic nature. The latter, in the course of his remarks, said he considered that teachers were the most useful class of people in the country, and he was glad to see the Government was recognising that. If he had his way he would put the profession in the highest grade of the Civil Service. The conduct of the youth of the country was largely due to what the teachers made it. On rising to reply, Mr. Dempsey was loudly applauded. He grew reminiscent over the early days of the school, his remarks being very interesting to the gathering. He thanked his fellow teachers for being present to do him honor. As to what he had done, he considered no teacher who did not do to the best of his ability what he had done was not worth his salt. He thanked the speakers for the many nice things said about him. and could assure them he was try-f ing to live up to them. They could not expict tint after 25 years' service he could do very much more, but he felt fit to continue. At the same time, it they grumbled, he would step aside. Mr. Dempsey compared himself to a gardener who nart made a beautiful gar-1 den and then went away from it. He | would wonder how it was getting on, and when he came back after a long time, having lost sight of the flowers, he would wonder how his "Daisies," his "\iolets," his "Blanches"—and even his "Sweet Williams"—(laughter) were getting on. (Applause.) Many of them were now ornaments in society, and occupied responsible positions. At the same tiipe, he was sorry to say, there were some "weeds"—some of whom had spent most of their time in prison. He tlanked them all for their presents and for the honor done him. He hoped to re|jay them, in a way, by continuing to take an interest in the children—some of them their children who came to the school. He thanked them in a linmorons vein for the present of the stick—he could call it his own!

The hearty singing of "llo's a jolly good follow" by the company followed Mr. LVmpsey's remarks. ilte following were the items of the programme during the evening:—Pianoforte solo, Miss Frieda Perry; vocal trio, Mrs. Harvey, Miss Crawford and Mr. W. P. Crawford; instrumental duet,' piano and violin, Miss Perry and Mr. R. Cottier; song, Mr. Hammond; vocal quartette, "Old Dominie," to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne," Misses Roberts and S. Thomson and Messrs. E. Clarke! and F. Asher (followed by hearty] cheers); recitation, Mr. Hopkins. The, pianists for the dancing and vocal items were Misses Perry, Pearce, Brewster, Mrs. Moverley and others. An excellent supper was supplied bv Mr. Buchanan.