PRESENTATION TO. MR ALEX. AYSON.

Clutha Leader, Volume IX, Issue 494, 30 March 1883, Page 5

PRESENTATION TO. MR ALEX. AYSON.

On Monday evening sevei'al old resi-. dents of the district met at the Manse,, Milton, for the purpose of making a presentation and bidding farewell to MrAlexander Ayson, who, in consequence of- 1 failing health, has been compelled to relinquish his position as teacher at theSouthb.i.'iclgd School. Mr Ayson arrived' in Otago from Scotland in the year 1856, having" completed his studies to enable him to enter into the teaching profession ' before leaving the Old' Country. He was the first teacher in Tokomairiro, and has ' followed the occupation ever since, but periodically devoted a short time, by way ' of relaxation, to farming. During his re- '' sidence here he has done much good in connection with the Presbyterian Sabbath School. Mr Ayson was not one of those who sought to bring himself into prominent c by publicity, but was always making h ». influence felt for good in * quiet man-* 1 ner. Mr Henry Clark, in making the presentation, said that he regretted to say that they had met together that evening for the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr and Mrs Ayson, two old and most respected friends. Mr Ays'.n had been [ compelled, owing to failing health and other infirmities, to resign the position of teacher which he had so long held at ' I Southbridgii. They all, he was sure, felt __ j that he (Mr Ayson) required rest, and '* had well earned ifc r bnt at the same time they would regret that he was so compelled to sever his connection with the i profession, a most useful member of which Ihe had' proved himself to be. He (Mr : Ayson) commenced work in this district under the Otago system of education, a system which proved most successful for 20 years, «nd one which he (the speaker). . regretted had ever been abolished. Bible reading in schools should never have been abandoned and he considered they . ought to be thankful that the teachers of early days were men who sympathised with religious instructions in schoolsMr Ayson on his arrival in 1856 began in a very humble way. An ont-house, which had buen previously made use of as a dairy, and which was about twelve feet . by ten, was placed at hi 3 disposal by the ' present proprietor of Greenfield, Mr Smith. Though small it was largeenough to accommodate all the children then in Tokomairiro old enough to attend • school. A clay wbare was all the houseaccommodation he had. Milton wasnot it existence then,, and only a few houses were to be seen at Farifax, theGovernment township. As time went • on settlers flocked into- the district,. and it was not very long before it • was found that the dairy was too small to- ' accommodate the increasing number of scholars Next a house was built for the> .teacher,, a large room-, of which was used, for school purposes. TtJiis was also soort\ found too small, and the Presbyterian - Chnrch, which was then at Fairfax, was • made use of as a school-house. Shortly after this the gold discovery made great changes, among which was causing population to settle in Milton, which quickly became the chief centre* and a school waserected.. Mr Ayson remained teauber in it .. for some time, but having a desire to go farming resigned. Farming did nob prove a success with him, and he again returned to teaching, and labored zealously at .Ttiturau, in the Mataura district, and at Waihola Gorge, leaving the lattar a few years ago. to take charge of the school, at . Southbridge. Mr Ayson had now re- \ solved, feeling that he had done his duty, to spend the rests of his life on a small farm. at VVarepa. We had irreat pleasure i in', presenting Mr-Ayson with a cheque for- ' L4O, which he considered but a smalltoken of the respect and esteem in which, he was held by the old residents of Tokomairiro. Mr Ayson feelingly responded. Hehad no doubt they were thoroughly sincerein what. they had done, but he felt that he .did not merit, suchokindness. He had en-, deavoured t0..d0 hia; duty in the past, for . which he hadrreceived remuneration. Ho . , referred to old times, and made longthy ; and interesting remarks. Mr Jus. B: Brown said that he had known Mr Ayson for a very long time,and had' always respected him. most highly. , He trusted 1 he would enjoy the last few years of his life. Mr R. R. Jones also bore. testimony to. [ the esteem* in which the recipient of the- ! presentation had'always been held by the residents of the district. A most pleasant evening was.spent by> ' the party at tlie Manse. — Bruce Standard. .