Waitahi School.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5279, 18 December 1885, Page 2

Waitahi School.

A large nucaber of parents and friends assembled at the above school at 2; o'clock this afternoon, on the occasion of the breaking-up of tbe school for the Christmas holidays. The school was very prettily decorated with flower*, nikaui, <tc., while the word " Welcome," tastefully worked in flowers, attracted the eye of the visitor on entering the building. A number of maps, specimens of Writing, Sic were hung around the room, sod reflected tbf highest credit upon both

the scholars and the teachers. After the singing of a song by the scholars, the Chairman (Dr Kilgonr) made the presentation of the prizes to the senior scholars, the Rev. F. G. Evans performing a similar pleasing dnty to the younger pupils. The prizes having been distributed, Mr James McGowan, Chairman of the School Committee, said he had a very pleasing, though a somewhat sorrowful, duty to perform; as he had been requested, on behalf of the children, to present Miss Hamilton with a handsome clock, on the occasion 'of her severing lier connect tion with the School, as a slight memento of the many hours they had spent together. He said she was one of the oldest teachers of the school, having been engaged teaching there for the past 11 years, and the Committee, as well as her fellowteachers and the scholars, regretted losing her valuable services. He said he had; no doubt that every time she looked at the valuable timepiece she would think of the many happy hours she had spent in the Waiotahi School, and he was only expressing the wish of the pupils when he said that he hoped that her future life would be one of happiness and pleasure. Mr Heriot briefly returned thanks on behalf of Miss Hamilton for the valuable present, saying that she would always remember with pleasure the hours she had spent among them. He said he had also been desired by Mr Grigg to thank Miss Hamilton for the manner in which she had always seconded his efforts ai singing teacher to the school. In con* eluding a neat and pithy speech, Mr Heriot said he felt sure that so long as there was a pupil in the school, there would always be one loyal heart who desired its welfare.

Three hearty cheers were then given for Miss Hamilton, and after an enjoyable programme of songs and speeches had been gone through, the proceedings were brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem.