PRESENTATION.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2491, 25 April 1871, Page 2

PRESENTATION.

A very interesting ceremony took place yesterday afternoon in the schoolroom of St. Luke's Church. Mrs Young, the mistress of the school, who has worthily filled that post for some nine years, is about leaving the colony for Australia, and the parishioners, unwilling that she should depart without taking with her some memento of their esteem and regard, resolved to present her with a purse of sovereigns and an illuminated address. For this purpose a canvass has been made in the parish, and the result has been that a most elaborately illuminated address, from the skilful pen of Mr McCardell, and a purse of twenty sovereigns was raised by subscription, and yesterday afternoon selected as the occasion for presentation. Shortly after 3 p.m. a numerous company of ladies and gentlemen, and all the children attending the school, assembled in the schoolroom to witness the ceremony. The Rev E. A. Lingard, Incumbent of the Parish, came forward, and said that he had, on behalf of himself and the parishioners, to express the deep regret they felt at the loss of Mrs imd Miss Young from the school. For nine years Mrs Young had labored assiduously in the duties of her office, and they felt more regret than they could express at losing her valuable services. They felt, however, that the assidity and att mtion to their duties which had characterised Mrs and Miss Yonng during the time they had been connected with St. Luke's school would lead them to succeed in whatever portion of the world they might go to. It now only remained for him to read the address which had been signed by the parishioners, which was as follows:—" The parishioners of St. Luke's having learnt with regret that you have resigned your position as mistress of the parish school, and that you are about to leave New Zealand, desire to express their great appreciation of the valuable services you have rendered during the past nine years in this capacity, and beg your acceptance of the accompanying token of their esteem and regard. With eveiy wish for the welfare of yourself and family in your future home, they beg to subscribe themselves your sincere friends." This address was signed by the Incumbent and Mrs Lingard, and fifty-one other parishioners. Mr Lingard said that in presenting this address the parishioners did so in the hope that it would be a testimony in the new country to which Mrs Young was going, of the admirable manner in which she had discharged the duties devolving upon her, and the estimation in which she was held by those amongst whom she had been so long. He had also, on behalf of the parishioners, to request her acceptance of the accompanying purse of twenty guineas, and to again express a hope that in her new sphere of labor, Mrs Young would be as successful as she had been in Canterbury. The rev. gentleman then handed the address and purse to Mrs Young. Mr George Goedon then came forward and said that as one of the oldest parishioners he had been asked to say a few words on this occasion. On behalf of the parishioners he had to express their feeling of regret at parting, which was now about to take place. He had been connected with the school from nearly the first day he had been connected with the parish, and he could bear testimony to the very able manner in which Mrs Young had discharged her duties drjing the long period she had been in the position of mistress. Mr Gordon concluded a highly eulogistic speech by requesting Mrs Young, lon behalf of the parishioners, to accept the present as a mark of their esteem and goodwill. 1 Miss M'Gregpr, the pupil teacher of the school, and one of the girls of the school then came forward and presented Mrs Young with a workbox on behalf of the children of the school, accompanied by the followingaddress :—" To Mrs Young—The, children of the school, past and present, beg your accept-, ance of this token of their esteem. We are very sorry to lose you, but we trust that in the new country to which you are going you will meet with as many friends as in Canterbury." Signed by forty-four children of the school. Mr Lingard then called upon the children to give three hearty cheers for Mrs and Miss loung, which the youngsters responded to most lustily, Mrs Young, who was much affected, requested Mr Lingard to reply for her, and that gentleman briefly returned thanks to, the parishioners for their handsome gift, and also to the- children for their unexpected gift, urging upon them, to give to whoever might take charge of ' them, that diligence and respect which they had always given to her during her long connection with them. Mrg and Miss Young both take with them the best wishes of the parishioners of Sfc Luke's and, all they have gome into contact

with during their long residence in ft ha parish, and universal regret is expressed at their leaviug Canterbury. The address, which as we have stated wu illuminated by Mr McCardell. was ornamented in the most quaint mariner, tho border being composed of exquisitely' cxc cuted representations of frogs, herons, snails •fee, interspersed with aquatic plants, and ig really a very elegant specimen of p'cnmnnship.