A UNIQUE JUBILEE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1183, 19 July 1911, Page 6

A UNIQUE JUBILEE.

HE. JOHN BOLLARD HONOURED.

Mr. J. Bollard, JI.P., was the guest of honour at a crowded meeting at Avondalo last Saturday night. For half a century Jlr. Bollard has served as a member of the' Avahcl'alo ! School Com,nittee, and the residents eamo out in strength to celebrate tho jubilee, and to witness tho presentation of an illuminated address. Tho chair was occupied by Mr. John Jl'Leod, the senior member of the Avondale School Committee, who stated that the occasion was unique in the Dominion. .Mr. Bollard had served 011 the Avondale School Committee for 50 years, and that period easily constituted a record. The Hon. G. Fowlds said ho felt it a great honour to maks a presentation 0:1 behalf of the Avondale folk to his old friend. There was only one opinion in Auckland district with regard to Mr. Bollard, and he was rospected everywhere. It would bo many years before a similar event would be celebrated, if ever. Jlr. Fowlds then read and handed to Mr. Bollard an illuminated address, which expressed the hearty congratulations of tho subscribers upon his long record of service. Mr. Fowlds also presented to the school a shield for competition among the classes for the highest percentage of attendances during the week. lie explained .that Mr. Bollard had desired (0 give the shield, but the residents, while appreciating that generous motive, had decided to "give it themselves, and to incorporate in it a portrait of Mr. Bollard, so that it would remain a memento of his service. Jlr. Bollard. 011 rising to reply, was greeted with grojitenthusiasm and the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Fifty years ago, lie said, tho Avondalo School consisted of ten scholars. The school had been established by the' Presbyterians, and was subsidised by the Provincial Government to the extent of .CIS per year, tho parents of tho scholars contributing Is. per week for each scholar. Even thin five residents (of whom he was one) had to contribute jCj each per year to help make up the teacher's salary. Now the Avondalo . School contained "nearly 500 scholars.

Mr. W. F. Mass-ey stated that in Parliament there was no man more esteemed and popular on both sides of tile House than Mr. Bollard. Mr. Massey paid that Mr. Bollard was the father of the workers' homes' measure, which tho Government had adopted, and alluded to tho keenness and foresight of tho member for Eden in his endeavours to have an agricultural college established.