MR G. H. MASON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18143, 8 July 1919, Page 8

MR G. H. MASON.

H«4 FAREWELL presentation., HMr 6. H. Mason, who has retired on |Hiperannuntitm from the position of of Canbei'bury College after years’ service with the hoard, BHas farewelled yesterday afternoon at |Hro College Hall by a gathering ropreof the Board of Governors gHnd the staffs of all the institutions administered by the boardMr H. D. Aeland, chairman of the Jr who presided, said that Mr had not been an official but a seventh institution, and from speaker’s experience as chairman he not know how he could have got ■n without him. Ho was the go-bc-of the treasury and the spending and bis loyal services greatly appreciated- (Applause.) had carried out his duties with the integrity, and with the sole ob|Kct 'of furthering the interests of CanCollege. He had also given a |Hreat amount of energy to Rugby and ■s teaching, and probably no man was known in the eitv in connection sport. His popularity among the was shown by the fact that IIG • connected with the college had towards farewell presen- ■ Mr , Aeland then a deed Mr Mason's of a gold watch and a trnbag, and expressed the liope Mr Mason would not altogether his connection with the college. ■ ,Miss Gibson asked Mr Mason to acfor Mrs Mason a silver entree' She paid that she -had been reby Mr Mason as a pupil at the High School, and in the last years as principal of the ■Jirls’ High School she had received the kindness from Mr Mason in conHiection with the Work of the school. Mason had entered into all social ■unctions connected with the college, ■nd -had' given Mr Mason invaluable Help in his work. She hoped that they long be spared to enjoy their retirement together. (Applause.) ■ ’Dr Hight. in the absence fromChrist■:hurch of Professor Gabbatt, expressed ■he good wishes of the Professorial ■Joara towards Mr Mason, and in eulo■rising his work wished him many years ■>f pleasant retirement. He said 'that students also would greatly regret ■he loss of Mr Mason, who had contri■)Uted greatly to make and maintain .the College tradition, and to develop the Eirit of harmony without sacrificing e interests of the b’oard or the staff" ■ Professor R. J. Scott said that lie ■had cancelled an important engage■rnent and practically come out of bed ■to' be present to say how much those ■connected with the Engineering School ■appreciated Mr Mason’s work. Owing ■to Mr Mason’s personality there had ■never been the slightest disagreement. ■Avoiding; red tape and formal com■munieations, he had carried out nil ■business' in the good old English way, ■by'i'word of mouth, and he had never ■forgotten or gone back on any promise. ■(Applause.) He regretted the loss of ■Mr Mason’s service while he was still Bin (the prime of his activity, hut in ■whatever walk of life he might choose ■he had the best wishes of the School ■of Engineering. He could not believe ■that Mr Mason could drift into any ■leisured retirement. B;' Mr O. E. Bevan Brown said that in ■his thirty-five years as head of the ■ Bovs’ .High, School ho had seen reveral ■registrars come and go, but at all times ■Mr Mason had been looked on as the ■backbone, and the reliable, permanent ■head of the college, aftd it was with ■ the deepest regret that Mr Mason's I retirement had been received. His ■ uniform kindness and ability and helpI fulness would never be forgotten. He ■ had regarded the school with the touch ■ of personal helpfulness, not as an offie- ■ ia 1 but rather as a master. He had I coached the first fifteen for the last ■ two years, and he .was glad to sny that ■he had agreed to retain office as ■ trustee of the Deans’ Memorial ■ Scholarship. He wished Mr and Airs ■ Mason every happiness in the future. ■ Mr F. G. Gurnsey, on behalf of tho I staff of the School of Art, also washed ■Mr and Airs Alason a pleasant retire- ■ nient. I Mr J. O. Adams, speaking from an ■ .experience of nine years as chairman ■of the board, testified to the energy, I ability and loyalty that Mr Alason had ■thrown into his work, and the speaker ■ declared that he would never have I carried out his work but for Air ■Mason's instruction and advice. To I him and to many others he had been l a personal friend, and he desired to ■ thank him for the pleasant times they I had spent together in work and piny, ly Mr Alason, who was very heartily I applauded, said that he had been ■ greatly honoured by the kind remarks I.rgade about him. He had tried to Ido his duty to the college without I creating dissatisfaction in any quarter, and it was gratifying to know that he had succeeded in some measure. He ‘ thanked Miss Gibson for her kind references to Airs Mason, who had been unable to remain in Christchurch. (Everybody knew the value of tho help of-a loyal wife, and he could testify to |Mrs Mason’s "whole-hearted assistance An his work. Tie specially thanked Mr Aeland and Air Adams for their refer.ences, and the office staff for their loyal support. In particular he desired to thank Air Evans for his very loyal co-operation over a period of many . yehrs. In conclusion, Air Alason expressed the hope that his successor . (Air L. A. Stringer) would enjoy the confidence, and courtesy that he had ’•.always received. •>: Cheers were given fe? Mr Alason, (with musical honours, and i ’temoon ‘ tea was served as a pleasant conclu- , iion to the ceremony.