An Educational Record

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7938, 20 October 1904, Page 7

An Educational Record

Mr F. £. Watson Honoured.

Between 40 and 60 former pupils of the old Central School and the later Campbell street school gathered round the festive board at the Empire Hotel la»t night. The occasion was the celebration of the completion by Mr F. E. Watson of a quarter ofaeentury's service ao headmaster of the school. A committee consisting of Messrs J. P. Innes W. Keeling. J. Laurenß'on, E., Dawick, A. Levy, A. Mowlem, K. Wilson, and H Palmer (secretary) the function, and, also, the presentation to Mr Watßon of a silver tea and coffee service, bearing the inscription : " Presented to Francis Edward Watson, by the scholars of the old Palmerston Worth school, in commemoration of his having completed 25 yeara' service...as headmaster." As the result of the committee's work, many of our leading citizens, who once ' attended the old school, spent last night, i a pleasant hour or two in recalling the ' happy days of a more or less chequered youth. Amongst those present was Mr W. T. Wood, M.H.8., and a suggestion thrown out by him that the function be l a regularly recurring one to which old , girls and boys be invited will probably Ibe adopted. Mr J. P. Innes presided, Mr H. Palmer being in the vice chair. Mr Innea, in rising to giv6 the heath of guest of the evening said . Mr Watson was entitled to all the good thiDgs they could say of him, both as a ' master and citizen. A great many of them remembered the day he arrived 25 years ago. During the whole of the time since, a quarter of a century, he had been, headmaster in the state sohool, and he had hold the position with a great deal of credit to himself and the district; He had' during' that period earned the respect and appreciation of parents and scholar?. Mr Innes mentioned the fact that they were on the Bice occupied -by the old school. It was, he 'continued, the scene of ■ many adventures and much wild exoitement. (Laughter). But he .did not propose to go into them. He did not care to bring the blußh of shame to the cheeks of those who dock part in them. (Laughter.) - Continuing, Mr Innes said many presentations made now-a-days were of a merely formal nature, with indirect motives. .He thought those present would agree with him when be said that on the present occasion they were actuated only by the good will and esteem in which the old pupils held Mr Watson, arid from no other motive at all. He naked Mr Watson to accept 'the presentation, which he hoped would serve to remind him of the old days. Since he had left the school, the speaker said he had met. Mr Watson many timea, and the more be knew him the more.he appreciated him. They must not forget that much of the success of life was. attributed to the influence of the school." He did not intend to refer to Mr Watson's many good qualities; it would take too long. But there was one point that struck him, and that was that when a boy left the school and went his own. way in the world, Mr Watson's interest in the boy was never lost. That was his experience. Mr Watson was always ready to give encouragement and advice. (Applause). Mr H. Palmer spoke to thejtoaat. It was one of the proudest moments of his life to be able to add a few words to what the chairman had said. His position was a unique one. Twenty-five years ago he was a pupil under Mr Wat. son. To-day he was chairman of his school committee. He was in a position to speak as to Mr Watson's good qualities. He had put hundreds and thousands of pupils through his hands, and to-day they were a credit to the town and school, and he was still puttibg them through. Mr Palmer referred to the influence Mr Watson had over the scholars, to which he attributed the interest taken in the school by the pupils, and also referred to the place occupied by the school in sport, while at the same time the education of the scholars progressed. . v

MrW.T.Wood, M.H.Bi, congratulated Mr Watson and the old scholars on the enthusiastic'nature of the gathering. He was one. who had come in close contact with Mr Watson in connection with Bchool committee matters, from a very early date..,- He prohably had known Mr Watson longer than most others present. "I know him," said Mr Wood," when you were little boys going to school," It was unique to look round the table and see those who were little toddlers when' he first knew them, now grown to manhood, and occupying responsible positions in the town, many of them being leading citizens; Mr Wood Baid he hoped the Wanganni Education Board would recognise in some way Mr Watson's twenty-five years' service in the cause of education. The speaker paid a tribute to his sterling worth and in conclusion wished Mr Watson and his family long life and prosperity. Messrs T. Bodgers, A. Mowlem, Bruce Beale, old pupils, and Mr L. G. West, as an old resident of the town, added a few words of appreciation. Mr Watson was received with enthusiasm, when hie rose to" reply. - It .was, he SBid, rather a hard matter for him 1o return thanks for their handsome gift. At times like this one's feelings 1 were too deep for words. There were I times, however,] when he had no difficulty in speakingJto them. (Laughter). It was gratifying to find that no sting had been left behind by anything he had said or done in the past. If justice had been meted out in the past, the. gathering showed-it was tempered with mercy. During the many years.he had | lived among them he had not been in the habit of wearying them with long speeches, and on this occasion would not j keep them very long. One speaker had I referred to the fact that he had not I taken much part, nor. made himself conspicuous in public affairs. This was not the result of apathy but of a fixed reso- , lution to abstain from such things. He felt that the master of a public school, who wishes -to successfully fulfil ard discharge his duties must keep himself apart from all extraneous matters, so that he might deal fairly and impartially with questions that arose m his school. There were times when he would have liked to put aside this restraint and' become a partizan, but he had refrained from so doing. ~He was pleased with their gift, and. glad \t had. taken the form it didr as it was thus a compliment to his wife, who"was for. three years a fellow teacher, with Him in the school. It would be a constant pleasure, to them to look upon it and remember the givers and the past. ..

A brief toast list was then honoured " Mrs Watson and Family," proposed by Mr W. Keeling, was replied to by MrEnc Watson. "The Old Girls," proposed by Mr F. E. Watson, was replied to by Mr J. Laurenson; " The

TeacLing Staff,".was proposed by Mr H. Palmer, and replied to by Mr C. H. Warden; "The Chairman was proposed by Mr W. T. Wood and replied to. - " Our Post, Mr Devine," was also honoured.

Songs were given by Messrs C. H. Warden, P. Larcomb, T, Bodgers, B. Drew, A. Mowlem and' a recitation by Mr Gabites, and the gathering closed with "Auld Lang Syne."