MR BURLINSON’S GOOD-BYE

Evening Star, Issue 12647, 30 October 1905, Page 3

MR BURLINSON’S GOOD-BYE

Since Mr G. M. Burlinson took charge of Caversham Industrial. School on October 13, 1892, he has built up for himself a popularity as firm as deserved. And now that his own success as manager of the inistitutlon has earned for him a promotion which means “ good-bye ” to Dunedin and the rupture of many of those little tics that m;ike the principal differences between one place and another, congratulations mingle with farewells, and there is conflict of fooling. Saturday afternoon’s little function at tho school was happily done, and expressed its own meaning very clearly. Mr Burlinson has won many friends, and those whoso I friend ho is are liis friends also (not quito I always redundancy, this). Probably''just j now it is thin comfort to Mr Burlinson to I knowlhat liis own energy and wise adminis- ; tration have earned him this severance. One is prone to feel on these occasions that when we are gone the old routine of things will go on just the same—without ns. And that is a sore thought. Therefore this spontaneous little demonstration of friendliness on the part of Mr Burlinson’s friends was a good thing, and quite the right thing under tho circumstances. Already we have put into print the letter which Mr Burlinson sent to his Board of Advice, and the resolution which the Board of Advice made for Mr Burlinson. These were the black-and-white matters of importance, and exemplified the excellent relationship which mutual experience has taught. For the rest there is no need to expand. Several speeches were made, with cordiality for their common keymAeMr Deter Miller, who was in the chair, read the letter and tho resolution referred to, aud added his personal regrets ami congratulations. lie expressed his and the Board's doubts as to the wisdom of tho dcjKuttnent’s sciteme of separating tho sexes in the industrial schools, but added the lioj lll that he might be mistaken, that the new . system might work well, and that the in-.-iitution at Levin (where all the boys are to go) might be a success. He then pro seined Mr Burlinson with an inscribed hciwater kettle of silver, which the Board hoped would serve as a memento of their good feeling.

Air At. Cobttn emphasised ail that Air Miller hod stud as to the procedure of the department. They ('the Board) hitd majn their pretest, and they had made it duly .strong. However, the step bad been taken, and tor good or ill they were content lo watch its progress, and he trusted that it would turn out well. He hoped that under the new system the education of the girls would bo domestic rather than bookish, and would be such as would enable the recipient:; of it to take their proper places m the. world. It wns his opinion that if the heads of the Education Department. «cro sent ou travel, especially to America, they would r.j ai information tliat would b<- of great value to tlie ct looy, because flic Kngihdt method, on which our system was largely based, was authoritatively etrtimauxl to he about a hundred years behind the times. Finally, he said that in Mr Burlinson thi-y hud au officer of wfmut the colony might well be proud—a verdict which, be thought, would be seconded by the people—and tho Government, in choosing Mr Burlinson to manage tins new work, had selected one who canid nut be bettered in the whole country. —(Applause.) Air J. Robin, auditor mcmix'r of the Board, added his genial support to the general offering of praise and good-will, Mr Burlinson, in reply, expressed the difficulty lie felt in saying anything at- ail under the circumstances. He was somewhat, overwhelmed by tlie presentation anil tire exceedingly Idnd remarks that bad been made. He was very grateful, and he appreciated it all very highly. But, at the same time, it brought up so many memories that it made it all but impossible for him to say what he would like to say. The work he bad done had been to a great extent pleasure, hut nothing he laid done could have approached tho ideal he had set before himself. He had been greatly helped, and he specially desired lo thank the teachers of an undenominational Sunday school who bad come to the school regularly and Air Torrance, Mr Axeken, Canon King, the Bov. Mr Bowden, Fathers Ooffey ana Corkoran, and Mr D, H. Hastings, and also those societies which had helped. He felt that he could never have better friends than those he would leave behind in Duurtiin. Other presentations were made by Air Burlinson to Air Bom, one of the schoolmasters, aud Air Grant the gardener, to each of whom congratulatory things wore said. Tlie boys also gave their mementoes to Air Burn.’.Miss Christie, and Miss Falconer, The Gliutnnan offered his congratulation's to Mr Alarryatt, another ot the school staff. An excellent programme of musical aud other items by the children lent cluvra.iter to the gathering, and an afternoon tea gave opportunities for hand shakings and more intimate farewells.