PRESENTATIONS AT THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

North Otago Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1161, 29 December 1875, Page 2

PRESENTATIONS AT THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

A considerable number of pupils of the Grammar school, parents and friends assembled on Friday morning last to take farewell of Mr FitzgeraH, the late rector, Miss Fitzgerald, Miss Murray, and Mr Howat. On a table in the senior class room, where the proceedings took place, were displayed the following very handsome articles, subscribed for by the pupils and masters a9paiting souvenirs, viz., a valuable time- piece in variegated marble, valued at 30 guineas, to be presented to Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald ; a richly chnsed silver tea and colfee service to Miss Fitzgerald ; a gold bracelet set with amethyBts to Miss Murray j and a gold pencil-case to Mr E. Hewat. Mr Smith, second master, addressing Mr Fitzgerald, said that, on the termination of their connection with the Oamaru Grammar School, the teachers and pupils could not nllovr Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald to depart from among them without offering for their acceptance some mark of their respect and esteem. He was sure that neither of them would measure that osteem by the value of the gift, for if it wore so the mere value would be a most inadequate return for the manv kindnesses received at their hands. On the part of tho teachers he could say that no matter hovr busy or pre-occupied Mr Fitzgerald might be he was ever ready to listen to their difficulties, to help them out of them, and to give them the benefit of his advice and experience. He carried the doctrine of noninterference to an extreme. So much so that ho was afraid that they were sometimes in danger of forgetting that they were in a subordinate position. He could testify that there had never been the slightest ill-feeling between the teachers of tho school from the highest to the lowest, and Mr Fitzgerald's system had. the further merit of causing them all to strive heart and soul with him for the honor and well-being of the Grammar School. They could all bear witness to the deep and unwearied interest be took in the children. , No grievance, however trivial, brought before I

him by any one of them wa« allowed to rerakin unenquired into, or, if substantiated, uoredreiied. With Mri ' Fitzgerald's per* miaeion^ they, had associated her name with Mr-Fitzgerald'* in this presentation, not only because she had taken a very considerable ■hare in the work, but becauio even when not present her influence had always been felt in the school, and that to its great advantage. Individually, and to eaoh one of them, Mr Fitzgerald's leaving was a matter of regret, but they were not so selfish as to wish to keep him from a field where his energies would hare a- wider range, and his usefulness be more extended than could possibly be the case here. It now only remained for him, on behalf of his colleagues and of the children, and ulio for himself, to wish Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald " God speed," and to assure them tb at they carried away with them their best wishes for his and her success and happiness in the future. Mr Fitzgerald, in taking leave of the colleagues and pupils in whom he had felt a deep interest — an interest which he should continue to feel — said that he felt very keenly the position in which he was placed. They *U knew that he was no speechmaker, but he could not accept of the handsomo address which Mr Smith on their behalf had mudo, and of their handsome and valuable present, without expressing his gratitude for the very kiml manner in which they had come to bid him good-bye. With regard to what Mr Smith had said as to his (Mr Fitzgerald's) colleagues being indebted to him he could only say that the debt had been on bis side. Ever since he came to Oamaru he had been fortunate in securing for the Oamsru Grammar School teach6ra who made it their business and pleasure to advance the interests of the school as far as in them lay. Although he had held the position of Bector, he had often found it needful to advise with those who were working with him, and oguin and again he had found their advice of the greatest possible benefit. Their school had indeed been governed rather after the model of a republic than that of an absolute monarchy. He was t glad that his colleag ues were able to say that the work of the school had always been conducted pleasantly. He had never had the slightest disagreeable feeling in working with any of the teachers who had been in the school since he came here, and in that respect regarded himself as remarkably fortunate, as it was far otherwise sometimes in similar institutions. He had to thank the pupils too for the excellence of their conduct. They had, almost without exception, done him justice, both as regards their conduct in school, and in preparing the work required of them, and if the school had obtained anything liko a hiph position among the schools of Otago, it was due to the interest taken by the pupils in their work. Whenever he had had to call upon them for any special exertion, the call had been readily answered. They had had rather n heavy piece of work about a fortnight ago. The Inspector visited them once a year, to examine into the year's work, and however w.ell the pupils applied themselves during the year, the best of them were liable to forgot, and a little time was always required for revision. Wliat with holidays and wet days, the fortnight allowed for this had scarcely been more than a week, but the pupils did their work nobly, and the result was very much to their credit, indeed, he had never been so pleased at the result of any Government inspection as of that held by Mr Petrie. He hud experienced great gratification at the way the pupils had acquitted themselves, and he thanked them for it as a personal favor. He left Oamaru with regret, for many reasons. Six and a half years ago, when ho first came among them, he thought there was a good future for Oamaru, ani her schools, and he thought so still. One of the most successful schools in the Old Country was St. John's Grammar School, Hamilton, Scotland, and he thought Oamaru might have a school such as that ; and while he had been here he had kept that school in his mind's eye, and had made it his constant endeavour to bring the Oamaru school up to its status. When he came to Oamaru he wns on the point of relinquishing the profession, but he now saw that he should have made a great mistake had ho done so. H© loved the profession and had made it his endeavour to allow nothing to interfere between him and his duty, and ho was glad to be able to say that he not only got credit for his work, but that ho had been well paid for it, a matter which in the Colonies they all looked to pretty keenly. When he heard that a rector was wanted for the Normal School, he never dreamt of seeking the position, but when it was offered him he felt it his duty to accept it, but though he was now leaving for Dunedin, he should still feel interested in the welfare of Oamaru, and especially of the Oamaru Grammar School. He knew that he need not ask his late colleagues to give themselves to their work, for ho was sure they would do that under Mr. Thornton as they had done under him ; but ho would ask the pupils to have even more confidence in their new Rector than they had had in him. He had before now seen a new teacher recoived with something like suspicion. Let no such feeling enter into any of their minds, for he felo assured that Mr. Thornton would bo all to them and nioro than he (Mr. Fitzsciald) hud been, and that the School would make fresh advances. Changes in the system might be made, but they would no doubt be ch.mges for the better. He himself, had he remained, had contemplutcd making some changes, as the different circumstances since the removal of the school from the hill necessitated them. He had now to thank them for all (heir kindness, and this crowning one of all. This was the third occasion on which, when removing, his pupils had similarly taken leave of him, and he often looked wi»h pride and pleasure upon a gift of his pupils in Canterbury. Their present to-day was a most handsome one, and he was sure it would prove as useful as it was handsome. . Referring to those who were leaving with him, he said that he had long seen that Mr Hewat was specially adapted for ,the profession he had chosen, and at the last teachers' examination, he Lad been specially noted by the examiners. Miss Murray proposed to take during the next year the whole of the subjects of examination usually taken in a three years' course, and he had no doubt of her passing successfully. Mr Rice, on behalf of his colleagues and the pupils, then presented to Miss Fitzgerald the gift above described, referring in very complimentary terms to the result of that lady's work in the school. Mr Fitzgerald, on behalf of his sister, thanked the donors, and said that it had always been her endeavor to do her duty pleasingly ; and afterwards made a few general remarks upon a teacher's work and responsibilities. Mr A. T. Smith, in presenting the brncelefc to Miss Murray, and the pencil case to Mr Hewat, expressed the regret of the teachers and the pupils at losing their services. During the time Miss Murray had been in the school she had endeared herself to all j and the same might be said of Mr Hewat, who had been so long in the school that it would not look like the same place without him. Personally, he had to thank him for the able and cheerful assistance he had given him, more particularly when Mr Fitzgerald was absent. Mr J. Murray (on behalf of Miss Murray) and Mr Hewat for himself, then, in n lew words, thanked tho presenters for their handsome gifts. The Rot. Messrs Gifford and Todd then addressed the meeting, the former gentleman giving Mr Neil Fleming great credit for the way the echool had progressed under him. Since then, too, the school bad steadily progressed, and he wished it every success in ! future, Mr Todd, nmong other matters, noted as very gratifying the kindly feeling which existed amongst the teacher*, and highly complimented Mr Smith on hit speech, which did

credit both to his heart and mind. That 'gentleman had risen in hit regard and eiteem, !and he desired to take the opportunity at one .who waa pre«enfc at the recent; examination to bear testimony to the excellent manner in which Mr Smith's classes acquitted them* •oItcs. He hoped that in the future* the/ might hare equally good teachers ; and, referring to Mr Fitzgerald, said hit loss was one of u personal nature, but that his best wishes followed him for his success in his work in the Normal Sohool.