Social Afternoon at School.

Mt Benger Mail, 1 April 1914, Page 3

Social Afternoon at School.

FAREWELTj TO MB AND MRS COUTT3. On Friday a social afternoon was held at the school for the purpose of saying good-bye to Mr and Mrs Coutts, -who are removing to Anderson's bav where Mr tt>uts has received the appointment of headmaster—ana also for the purpose of gleiug them some token from the residents ns a mark of esteem. I'here was a large attendance of parents ami friends at ihe gathering, and it must have l.e.a pleasing to Mr < outts to see so many present and to listen to the applause given during the proceedings. During the proceedings the pupils of the upper classes, under the direction of Mr Coutts, gave several iturus which were appreciated by those present. Mr dames Morrin, Chairman of the School Committee presided, and in making the preseutatiau said that he hail known Mr Coxitis iov the past seven years. II" had been chairman oi ihe Committee for the pest six years and had torn., into closi touch with Air Coutts's methods of woivt, which hatl given the utmost satisfaction and ... w hieh he could not sp a■• toe highly. The statu.- of ihe s. hool at preaeni v\ as .if a \i ry high standard indeed anil it co dd more t l.an hold it ~ own with other .ountn schools .a" Hia /o. Since Mr t out is had been in charge, the surroundings of the-eh,..a hatl been gr. aih :n.| rowd Ihe playground had been eulaived. saliool gar- ,!■ ns hail l>. en start a. an i \ arious other important matters, including a •» ei\' line school library ami lunch club loi all of which he must L d\e Mr l outts ii... in- iit as h ■ -.\ as tlu prime mover ia their inauguration. Of Mrs Coutts he could not speak too highly as die had the welfare of the pupils and school at hearJ a id she ha i been ol gr. ai a.- isi ,n.e to Mr Coutts. lie \\a> <orn -h ■ vva- unable to be present with ;lr m ,iii i hi- i" casion. 1 h ii departure was a distinct n> this district, but it was a gun to \a-,i-son's Bay. I - was nn noi ability i su ii as Mr I out l- that were r .jm.ed ia ihe ..a;nn . ,-1 ...»!>. lie wi-h. i Mr an i Mi - i out ts ihe best ot health and hai'pilie<- i :; ||„ : r n w soln re. and 5. iped ih,a w.a.l.i i.. lone spnml to ' „-,- the g : :fis. lie th, ii ! anded Mr Coi.tt-s a ■ as-- each ot fish an i fruit V..W I ni\. ■ and fork-, sih -r nioant. d !Uid with ion hand!,- i applaus.-l. '['he ', ~1 ~n td ca- . "' I're-entetl lt> Mr . an . Ml - T. U. U. t'otltt- In tiie j School l oinmil he n b I all of the re >\'"A- ot lu.xl.urgh.. a- a -li-jl I token of appreciation and est-em of -a \i, •■- i-end-retl. -'. _. It." Mi>s I .wen I homp.-on, on behalf oi d.e pupils, pr, ■ and M is- Man i out I .; wan a silver senietn ring and sib ■. er moiinti d hair comb and bi ish . long .-1 are ! lo us ■ tin m '■ appla ,•->.. Messrs U. Kinaston an I It. Ih oi ge, memiii-rs oi the S-hoolCommitt'-e, endor- n , ! hai iln • hail-man Ii A said leganling th''ir l'ih t and add*l their j be-t wishes for their future welfare. ! Mi !■'. l.uloli, on i. half ~f the Bowling < lub, expre-M-d regi ■ t »>t the h. ; s to the I lub through ill I 'outts' removal, as he !: id b.- n a very active iieiuh ■!>■ and a tower oi strength to I the I'lulj- .aie who had be. n willing to 1 >■ o' . w!l h his Land- £l s ■,,. || 3- . with j in- brains. Ho ielt -are lie was \ oicing iho m aiineHls of ihe members when he wbLed Mi and Mis Coutts lAppluuse). j Mr Siaier r-r 1 reU ... ine gooti worn j M i 1 <,ui t- ir..!. .I. >u in c iniieci ion w it:. 1 football, a- far as the schoolboys tv, re 1 oncei tied, and in lam ed the splendid exkibition given i.} them. Mr Loutts had also been a prominent j..ember in connection with an 1 I. nuis in the Jistri 1. Mr Slater al.-o meutionetl the great success thai had attendetl th efforts of Mr Coutts and .-tan at the auuuul school .oneeia. I ii.-. were of a very high order indeed aiii were a distinct credit to th« seliool aad district, lie expressed regr>'\ at ur Coutts leavuij tie district and wk-hed him a»i Mrs Coutts- every success and happiness in their new koih" ai Andersons Bay.—(Applause.)

Mr loiua, who was- greeted with applause ou rising, said he felt much moved at the- great kindness shown t 0 him that aftenoon and also since it was known the) were leaving the distii'i. lie was no' altogether taken by surprise ai tke tunction as he had susI■■,c : oiiieihing oi the sort \sa> brewing. The pas'. three weeks had been ihf most miserable lie had ever |)UI in. Mrs (..mis hud fid him to tell thu peoph oi Roxburgh that she loved the children of Roxburgh and would feel i". very much at leaving the place. She said they were as good as Arthur Street Sch ol which he considered the ii ghest praise she could give ih" children here, as that school \v ;l s tli' lirst i» tone and discipline in Dunuiui. lie would ii » to tell the parents that they had a line lot of chii drwi m this district, the Unit- ones li'.'iny full of enthusiasm, and it was a delight ioi him to go among them'to Bee them at their school work. Through ih- generosil) of the peopl" they had the finest public library of any school in New Zealand. It was the duty of the parents to encourage their children t 1 read. 11 was nun • true what the pn vious speakers had s-aid, that they had the best wishes oi the children al heart. lie thanked them sincerely for their great generosity and their nice gift to Mrs Coutts and himself, which would always recall pleasant memories. Thoy had been seven years all but a month here and they were (ho happi. t se\a'n year-- ot their lives. It was ,j big wrench indeed tearing themselves n".a\ from the people—they wo dd like to stay all their hues in Roxburgh, but it was perhaps better u> take the opportunity of a shift with promotion, as there would be plenty oi as good men willing to do the work, but none who wished better for the, children. Mr Coutts concluded by giving some advice to the boys and girls, exhorting them to take pains,

r' hard, and never let an opportunity slip past. On com hiding Mr Coutts was again loudly akplaudedt