SCHOOLMASTER RESIGNS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 252, 7 October 1936, Page 5

SCHOOLMASTER RESIGNS

Former Principal of Napier Technical College

Mr Robert McLaren’s resignation as principal of Greymouth Technical College ■will be very interesting to his many friends in Napier. Mr McLaren was the principal of the Napier ’technical School for some 12 years previous to the earthquake. His force of character and personality made him a popular figure in Napier, and during his term of lieadmastership the Napier Technical School made splendid progress. At the time of the earthquake the school was being transferred, but the destruction of the old buildings saw the Technical and High Schools amalgamated. Mr McLaren was instrumental in founding the Napier Technical School Band, being the first dayschool in New Zealand to possess a band. Although aviation did not create the same interest then as it does now, Mr McLaren brought a certain airmindedness into the school as well as encouraging the wearing of, the Air League badges. He developed entertainments to play an important part in the life of the school, the operettas produced by the pupils being the envy of other colleges in the Dominion. Tn the sporting arena Mr McLaren was a keen enthusiast, and nt one period he and Professor Maxwell Walker were recognised as one of tho leading bowling pairs in the Dominion. Mr McLaren’s long term of service as a teacher has well earned him a rest