FORTY YEARS' SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 62, 13 March 1919, Page 7

FORTY YEARS' SERVICE.

BY MR. S. j>. METGE. NEWTON EAST HEADMASTER. A COMMEMORATIVE SOCIAL. A complimentary reception to entertain Mr. Daniel Dickinson Metge, headi master of the Newton East Public ■school was tendered by the staff of the school yesterday afternoon, and attended by many long-service teachers, represents- , tives of the Auckland Education Board, j the Auckland Teachers' Institute, and i many prominent educationists. Mr. I Metge is of Irish birth, and came out to New Zealand in 1879, at 18 years of age, after having spent four years as a student in Dublin Wesley College. He entered the service of the Au kland Education Board, which gave him his first appointment as probationary teacher at the Choral Hall School. Then he was appointed teacher at the Mangapai Nos. 1 and 2 half-time schools, at a salary of £100 a year, which was later increased to £120* and then went down to £80. After three and a-half years there he went up to Helensville, where he remained for nearly eighteen years, and became headmaster of the Newton East School nineteen years ago. Mr. A. Bell, senior assistant at the Bchool, was chairman of the patherinfr. which was a very pleasant social one, in the rooms of the school that bad been

I tastefully decorated with greenery for ! the occasion. ! The chairman gave honour to the guest of the gathering, and among the i speakers were lion. G. -T. Garland, mem Iber of the Education Board, Mr. K. K. Mulgan, senior inspector to the Board. Mr. F. Brinsden, chairman of the School Committee, and Mr. C. R. Munro, on behalf of tho N.Z. Institute and the Auckland Headmaster's Association. All I these speakers made reference to the 'great work that Mr. Metge had done during his long service, and spoke of tho bonhomie that existed between the head I teachers and the Board. i Mr. Metge made a happy speech, filled to overflowing with interesting reminiscenses of his forty years' service. He I said he loved the work, and hoped to ! continue for many years. The staff served afternoon ten, and a pleasant musical programme was contributed. Mrs. Kraser, Miss Piiiliipps and /Mrs. Firth cave instrumental music, Miss Evelyn Lee and Mr. Wilfred Manning were vocalists, and a dramatic recital was offered by Mrs. C. C. Forsyth. j The gathering terminated after the singing of " Forty Years On," by Miss Lee. accompanied by a chorus of , teachers.