Farewell Social at Croydon

Mataura Ensign, Issue 13, 30 July 1895, Page 2

Farewell Social at Croydon

A social and dance, for the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr and Mrs Overton (the former having been transferred to the charge of Mandoville school) was held at Oroydon on Friday night. The programmelooneisted of dancing and, music, excellent songs being rendered by Mesdames Dickaon and Carroll, Miaaea Dickaon and Marjoribanka. and Messrs Edwards, Booth, Copland, Carroll, Dunne and Overton. Mr Smith, on behalf of the residents of Croydon, presented Mr Overton with a silver watch and chain, and Mr Dickaon (sen), chairman of the local School Committee, presented the departing guest with the following illuminated address :— Oroydon, July 10th, 1895. To Mr W. R. Overton, Head Teacher, Croydon Public School. Dear Sir, — We the undersigned members of Croydon School Committee, householders and residents of the district, desire to convey to you on your departure from us, our sincere appreciation of the many benefits that we and our children have derived from your private and public actions, which you have displayed during the seven years you have been a resident with us. In our social relations with you, we wish to place on record that you have proved a valuable acquisition to our community by your promptness in responding to all our requests by placing your time, advice and contributions at our disposal to make all our social gatherings an assured success for the welfare of the district. In your capacity as our children's instructor, we desire to add that they have made good progress under your able tuition, as your past records and fruits of that teaching can testify. In presenting you with this address, we sincerely hope that you will be spared health, long life, and prosperity, to enable you to make the same good use of your many eeuuine qualities as a teacher and private individual, and by so doing you will earn the same high esteem and respect in your new home as you have gained with us. Wo also wish to convey to Mrs Overton our deep sense of obligation tbat we owe to her by her many acts of kindness and sympathy in always being foremost to relieve sufforing and distress wherever it has prevailed in our midst, and long may you be spared together to work in such a good causo is our earnest wish. We cannot close this address without expressing our deep sorrow and regret at your departure from us, as by your unceasing efforts, and kindly feelings, to promote peace and harmony, you have cemented ties of friendship that will be hird to sever. We also wish to assure you and Mrs Overton that, wherever you may be in this life, you will always ba held in kind remembrance by those honest friends you are leavintr behind, and may God bless and prosper you, is the earnest desire of— Yours truly.— (Here followed the signatures.) Tbis address is a very handsome work of art, and, it may be noted, is the work of Miss Marjoribanks. Mrs Overton was the recipient of a very massive teapot and a music stool. Mr Overton, in a few words, feelingly thanked the residents of Croydon for their uniform kindness to him during his seven years' labor amongst them. On Wednesday, Mr and Mrs Overton entertained the whole of the school children to tea at their houso, and the pupils pre sented them with a Gladstone bag, accompanied by the following address : — Dear Teacher,— On behalf of ourselves and fellow pupils, we wish to convey our sincere regret at your departure from amongst U9, We fesl the parting the more, many of us never having bad another teacher, and we also wish you every happiness in your future career. Hoping you will accept this small token of our love and esteem to keep us in kindly remembrance, — We are Your Loving Pupils of Croydon School.