RETIREMENT OF AN OLD SERVANT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7392, 19 February 1902, Page 2

RETIREMENT OF AN OLD SERVANT.

The Wangaaui Education Board bad an unpleasant duty to perform on Tuesday, in terminating the engagement of Mr A. A. Browne as secretary. For nearly a quarter of a oentury he has been a zealous officer of the Board, but increasing age has decreased his ability to perform the duties of his office, and gradually these have fallen to the assistant, Mr W. J. Car?on, who now becomes charged with the responsibility a3 well as the work. Those who know anything of the history of the Wanganui Education Board must appreciate the work Mr Browne has done. In the early days especially his influence was great, and we have heard a gentlemen who long since has retired from the Board say that Mr Browne, by the keen grip he had of finance and the courage he displayed in offering oriticism and advice, more than oned saved the Board from unwise expenditure rather against the evident will of members. The Wanganui Herald mentions that twenty-four years ago the Board commenced operations with 24 schools ; to-day it controls over 150. The development is surprising, and side by side with it the Board has organised a system of administration which has stood the test so well that educational affairs are managed at least as eatisfaototily in Wanganui as in other parts of the colony, especially in view of the faob that a widely scattered population has knpoßed special difficulties and limitations upon administrators. That Mr Brown's bhare in this work has not been inconsiderable is recogn'.eed by the Board, who expressed sincere regret at having to terminate the engagement of one who had ever been a faithful servant with no other desire than to further whe interests of education, and to facilitate the administration of the Board. The Board further regretted that it had no power to grant a retiring allowance, and that the best it could do was to appoint him assistant for a year at his present salary.