MR. FARQUHAR MACRAE AND HIS PUPILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6064, 25 April 1881, Page 3

MR. FARQUHAR MACRAE AND HIS PUPILS.

On March 29 at 4.30 a deputation from a. general meeting of the former pupils of Mr. Macrae, both in the High School and in the Auckland College and Grammar School, waited upon the he:ul-n\nster in the school building in Symotuls : street, for the purpose of presenting an address. The deputation consisted of Messrs. Kdtuiuid J. F. Haultain. <T. C. Maeky. and W. 11a t tray. Mr. Edward Mahosky said: On behalf of the deputation appointed at a public meeting held by your old pupils in the Insurance Buildings, and in company with three of my-fellow-committee men, I have waited upon you for the purpose of presenting you with the following address. It hears the signatures of>2ol of your old pupils, hotli at the High School and the Auckland College and Grammar School. The sentiments conveyed in it are the outcome of one of the most cordial and unanimous meetings ever held in Auckland. I shall not detain you with any further speech of mine, but will at once read the address :— To Farquhar Macrae, Esq., head-master of the Auckland College and Grammar School. Dear .Sir, — We. the undersicm*d. formerly pupils of the Auckland Hich School and the Auckland rolle;e and Grammar School, without expressing our opinion of the charges brought you. In? to tender you our heartfelt pvimvithv unfkT the circumstances iu which yon arenow placed. We desire to assure you that. as the result of our own experience. we entertain the highest respect for rou personally. and the greatest Admiration <.f your ability a* a teavher. From the r.eal you displayed ir. instructing us while wt- were at school and from thokindlv interest in our welfare ever shown bv vou since we left, we arc satisfied that you have always had our advancement thoroughly at heart. In eonchi?ion, we hope met&l sincerely that you max be lonu spared to continue the good work which yon commenced in Auckland nearly twenty years ago, of so instructing the hoys placed under your care that they may grow up useful men, able to do their duties in their respective spheres with credit to themselves and advantage to tfie place in which they reside. — {"Here follow the signatures] I have only to say for myself, .md for thosc\ who accompany me. that we coincide wholly in this expression ot sympathy and respect. The number of signatures is '201, but several cf your old pupils of the Hisrh School and (!ramm.ir School reside at a distance from Auckland. These have sent telegrams stating their concurrence in the action their old school-follows have taken, or letters expressing sincere sympathy with yourself. Had we been able to go about with tb' s .\ddress we believe that instead of -01 names there would have been upwards of 400 attached. We beg that you will accept tlio address as a testimony of our respect for you personally, and of your ability as our teacher. Mr. Macrae -..uule the following reply ; - I should be unjust U> the old boys of ' 1 High School ami of the College and C ' r;> ")"; c j 1 .School, who have signed the :u ' ( ' n ;f J yon have now presented, and t)V tho not tell von that I am teacher's spirit which l.as seldom work, iiowov er fait £ <ls w ],j c h ordinarily prosecution of other calli»"s * but it has its own recompense. And you have rewarded me by this public assurance of the fact—of which, personally, I needed not to be informed—that my "old pupils appreciated the spirit in which I endeavoured to discharge my duty to them, and that, with increased experience of the world, they have not altered their judgment of my work. Allow me to remind you that, by doing with your might what your hands find to do, and by bravely bearing your appointed burdens, you will give the best proof that you have profited by your early training. Again, gentlemen, I sincerely thank ! you for your kindly feeling. I The deputation then retired.