A BELOVED PEDAGOGUE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 71, 17 December 1919, Page 8

A BELOVED PEDAGOGUE

MR. G. MACHORRAN HONOURED

A NOTABLE GATHERING

Yesterday was a red-letter day in the ' hislorv of the Terrace School and in the life of Mr. U. MnoMorrnn, who tor thirty-live years ruled it 3 destiny (is headmaster. Ac the Concert Chamber "old hovs." members of the school committee, teachers and educational authorities, ana orc-sent-ilay scholars assembled to honour the man who has done so much to maintain and enrich the prcstiire of the- school. The chair was ocouuied liv the chairman of the committee (Mr. J. A. Thompson), who was supDorted on the platform by tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke). Mr. "i. Forsyth (chairman of the Wellington Education Hoard). MY. J. Caughley (Assistant-Direc-tor of Education), Mr. H. A. Parkinson (secretary New Zealand Educational Institute). Mr. G. L. Stewart (secretary Wellington Education Board), Dr A, K. Newmnn. Key. IT. Van Staveren, Messrs. .1. Darling. A. Erslnne, F. J. Evans, Walter Bethune, D. E. Leslie (present headmaster). 6. Moo, and other gentlemen who have boon more or less associated with the life of the school. Mr. J. A. Thompson, aftdrassing Mr. MacMorran. said that, oil present were friends of his. and they were there to honour him. and to say how much they were indebted to him for tho valuable work he. had dons as head-teacher at the Terrace School. (Applause.) Mr. Thomnson mentioned that a.pologies for non-attendance had been recived from Sir Francis Bell and Sir Robert Stout, anrf 'lie hud a sheaf of telegrams wishins Mr. MacMorran every success Tho fact that during his term no fewer than four Rhodes scholars enmc from tho school must bo a source of great satisfaction to him. and he hoped that tho children would emulate the example of tho nnsr, and that the Terrace School would produce more ■Rhodes scholars and those dis- • tinem'shed in othev wnlta of life. In emphasising the love ;.nd esteem in which Mr. MacMorran was held, fir. Thompson said that .he was prepared to go as far as to suggest to our legislators that thev should ask His Majesty the King to'.honour men who had done so much for the vouth of Now Zealand, fflfn like Messrs. Grundy, Watson .T. P. Firth (of tho College), .and their esteemed friend. Mr. MacMorran.. (Loud applause.) On behalf of the teachers, scholars, and committee ho wished to tender Mr. MacMorran a liibute. for the service he had rendered had been all * that was good-and noble, and he was sure that the. final verdict would bo "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" by the Sunramo Judge. (Applause.) The Mayor (Mr. .1. P. Luke) felt it a _ great privilege to bo present and to bo associated with those ' honouring Mr. MacMorran, whom he had known ever since his arrival in Wellington. The fact that a school turned out three or four brilliant scholars did not count Ko much as average capacity, and in that respect the Terrace had stood as high as any school in New Zealand. (Applause.) Mr. .T. Caughley. who spoko in place of Br Anderson, referred to the admirable work Mr. MacMorran had dono in tho early davs of the Educational Institute. Mr.'MacMorran was not much interested in the perennial question of constitution, nor did" ho speak very often, but he was very vigorous and to the po'it in dismission, nnd when, with characteristic action, he would, in conclusion, lay his pencil down on the table, one felt that a nail had been driven in a good place— and clinched. When they examined the real inwardness of modern education tliey found that Mr. MacMorran and others of his school had all the best that was in the newer education, and vhen newideas swent some of them off their feet it were well to have some of the solidity nnd strength of such men as Mr. MacMorran to steady the ship. Apart from his work on the institute end- in purely educational matters, there was his influence as a man on every 'boy and girl who had passed through tho school. He n-reed that no honour was too great tor men like' Mr: MacMorran. and he Hoped that they would have tho benefit of his presence amongst them for many years to come. (Applause.) Mr. T. Forsvth (chairman of the Wellington Education Board) said that Wo I. lington had in the past been very fortunate in its headmasters. Wellington was 'al*o to lie congratulated on its present headmasters. Mr. MacMorran had been teaching for 51 years, having commenced in Scotland in 1868, and had been 3a years headmaster at tho Terrace. When one visited the Terrace School, and m walking through the corridors saw the roll of honour and scholarship lists, ono gathered that there must be something behind such a school-and that sometliiii" was tho teaching staff. After ail, though, it was not the lists so -much as what come out of the school. Did it make good citiwms of Wellington? Tho answer was everywhere in its old boys, who had brought credit upon themselves, their school and Empire. Mr. Walter Bethune, representing the Old Boys' Committee, asked Mr. MacMorran to accent & small envelope (with cheque), which "represented in a measure tho love and esteem they had for him and the keen appreciation they had tor the noble work- helhnd done. (Applause.) Mr. D. Leslie (headmaster spoke or the efficiency of the school when ho took over, and the difficulties there were for ono following a man like Mr. MncJrorran. "When a school was ma ton tho sand," said Mr. Leslie, "one had to start all over from tho banning, »»t when it was built upon the rock, as was the case with the Terrace, the way is made easy " Mr. Leslie related how interesting it was for Mr. MacMorran to return to tho school a few weeks ago as inspector and ho graphically pictured tho warm woleomo he got iroin the bi.\tn Stniulad girls. ~ Mr -V Erskine spoke on behalf ol the teaching skiff, and said how much they all owed Mr. MacMoi.van. On he halt of tiho staff and children he wished him good luck in his retirement. Applause.) On rising to reply. Mr. MacMorran was greeted with a hailstorm of applause following which evoryono sang am He's a Jolly. Good Fellow," and oheei. were given that made tho Town Lull rin* again. Mr. MacMorran said that a great mistake had been made. Ho should have been an early speaker-bhey had placed him in a portion of considwable difficulty. He had to acknow edge tho welcome, given htni, the pit. and the school staffs who had worked in the building ever since he was connected with it The fact that there were four; F.hoaes <oholars had been due to no individual, but to faithful work dono from too lowest to the highest. (Applause) He had often thought thati his staffs must havo bpen specially selected, so well had hey fitted in and dono their work. I hero had been differences of opinion, hut siicu never altered their relations. He, too, was personally indebted to tho members of the school" committees, to whose efforts were larrelv duo tho fine building and grounds of (llic school. Ho mado his p.cknowlcdgments tn the parents of the children, who were a long suffering coinnvunily, as only on the raresli occasions had they sought to interview him. Lyldently they knew tho teacher's lot to 1» a hard one, and recognised the fact. (Laughter and applause.) It might M interest in" for the children to know that Ihe first Terrace School had some claims to architectural beautv.. It. was a graceful church-like structure, but not a ves-li-e of it remained.' The firo of 19(12 wip'rt' it out. In the early day." the hoys had had the whole of the hills for a ilaygrouud. Then there were only two mi'ldings in the ■ vicinity-the hostel at ho back and the resilience of Ihe late \fr. John Jack. Then thero was no I Tula vera Terrace, no Kelburu Park-t ho park was part of the Town Belt, and ho could remember the lessee protesting against tho boys playing fox and hounds over his preserves. (Laughter.) And fo they had workad on the hill ve'rv quietly, hut ho hoped cfliciently, turning, out fine boys and girls ' in every walk of life— "until August. l!)'ll, when camo many chaniros tn the lives of everyone. A j fine response was mado tn the demano'. Did thev knew that in the little expedition that \n-»' to Samoa . thero were sixty-four Te-"".' schoollioys, and alto■•"thnr thev '■■'' accounted for between 7I« and SHI) - -.:n<<s of "old boys" who went on adiv -vrvico, and it was vet incomplete? !' nil could bo remembered it would bo found that well nigh a thousand "o!o. toys," ha l .! -f«rt

in muni iiitct iiiuiiiiwi. i\oc nil, unit ' a hundred of them did not return, nor • ever would. They sleep-some on the shores of Oallipali, most of them in .' France—a:*l ho would liko to say that .thnir names would not be forgotten. Ho had one wish for his successor— that he might go', tho same pleasure and satisfaction the sneaker had so often felt. (Applause.) lie expressed the hone that tho school woultf as long remain a" model democrdb wliool as it liail been in the rast. Within its walls all classes had been uiwn (he best training possible as citizens. To-day lie perceived snmetliint; sinisio: in the movement that was making for class education. It was ening to make very serious difficulties, for if thev were not to understand one another in boyhood how wore they to do so Inter? lie was proud of his fifty-one years' service, for in it ho had found ereat satisfaction and happiness. In the vears that lay aheay of him tho creates! consolation ho would have was that ho would carry with him the best wishes and' friendship of everyone with whom ho had been associated at the Terrace .School (Prolongr-i! applause.)

Before Hie gathering dispersed Mr. MaoMorran presented the gold medal for the athletic championship of the school to John. Bovle. The medal was presented bv the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), whoso Bonerosilv was warmly acknowledged by tho school children. The flinging of the National Anthem brought a memorable Catherine to a close.