THE FREE KINDERGARTEN

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 103, 2 May 1924, Page 5

THE FREE KINDERGARTEN

O.here was a large gathering of kindergarten vfolk, councillors, start, . advisory committee, ■'. many subscribers, and lriends^and admirers of the fine work of Mrs. 1.. H. Gill, who has been president of the Wellington Free Kindergartens for the past twelve years, at the Pioneer Club yesterday afternoon* The occasion, was to bid farewell to Mrs" Gill, who, with her husband, is leaving New Zealand for'about two years, intending to make an overseas tour, including Great Britain and the Continent. Mrs. D. C. Peacock, the new president, received the guests, who were many in number.. The room was charmingly decorated with chrysanthemums, and a delicious tea was served by the younger members of the.kindergarten staff. Mrs. Gill was presented with two bouquets of flowers,, one being from the Mothers' Club in connection with the schools, a .very dainty one of stephanotis, roses, and maidenhair fern, and to which she alluded in her brief speech with special pleasure. Among those present were the Mayor of Wellington, Mr.' R. A Wright, M.P., Sir John and Lady Luke, Mr. and Mrs. Burnett, Mr. and Mrs. Ballinger, Misses Seaton and Wilson, the joint hon. secretaries of the movement, Mesdames Corkill, Seaton, Adams, Dr. Ada Paterson, and' many others. After tea had been served, Mrs. Henry Smith made a presentation of a handsome -leather suitcase to Mrs; Gill, as a parting gift from the members of the council.' In .doing this, Mrs. Smith spoke of the fact that what people love they work for' generously and willingly, and that •was the case with Mrs, Gill and the kindergartens. She alluded to the.tact and "energy of MrsrGill, and while sympathising 'with the council in losing such a president, she felt that the members were to be congratulated in,having secured Mrs. Peacock, who fully understood the amount of work that had been given by Mrs. Gill, as the incoming president. Mr. -Burnett added a tribute.to the .fine work of Mrs. Gill, and expressed the hope ofthe council that she would have a thoroughly enjoyable holiday.. Miss Hiley. directress of the Wellington Kindergartens, spoke of the ready sympathy and of the; hard work which Mrs. Gill always bestowed on the movement, am) of her special work-in the examinations of the students, for she had never missed one of these,, and only once; in all the twelve years,had .she been late. Miss Riley .said that the kindergartens were going- to have their own farewell next week. -Mrs. .Gill, in returning' thanks for the gift and for all the kind wishes and speeches, said that she hardly recognised herself in all the qualities that had been mentioned. She' had not realised that tact was needed, for -the work went on so i smoothly under direction of Miss Riley and the council.'; What she did most earnestly wish was that more Wellington people would take an interest in the kindergartens, and would go to the Taranaki -street establishment, or either of the others, and see the .change wrought in some of the children in.the time they. were : in the schools; and the good workextended to the parents, who took such a vivid interest in the work themselves, and helped a great deal. The more any person saw of the work, the more interested .they" became.; She thanked all fur Urn pood.wishes and for the presentation. There , whs a. little good music. Miss Ballinper playing a piano solo, and Mrs. Peacock sincrin<r a - couple of songs