THE LATE MR. S. LUKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13191, 31 May 1906, Page 6

THE LATE MR. S. LUKE.

, ; «>_„ REFERENCES AT THE EDUCATION BOARD. ,Some. touching- .references to the death of the late Mr. S. Luke, for many years member and chairman of-the Auckland- Educa-• tion Board, were made at the meeting of the. Board yesterday. The secretary of the Board, Mr. Vincent 'E. Bice, sard it was his painful duty to have to ask them to elect a chairman in place.of his old friend, -Mr. Luke. , It was a proverbial saying that the unexpected always happened, and no one thought three weeks ago it was the last meeting at which Mr. Luke would preside. He could not trust himself to express his 'feelings at the severance of associations which had'existed for su long, a period. .During the time he had been privileged to- be- associated with I Mr. Luke, a period of 28 years, Mr. Luke had rendered invaluable services in the cause of primary education throughout the province, and he felt sure that the Board, when it had elected a chairman, would place on record its appreciation of the valuable work carried out b> Mr. Luke, and of sympathy with the relatives. Mr. C. J. Parr moved, "That Mr. L. J. Bagnall be elected 'chairman." Mr. J. • Stallworthy, M.H.R., seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. Bagnall, on assuming the chair, said he felt honoured by the confidence the memu™.- „fa« n» n -,i u«j _i.,„..] ;„ i.":_ u.

bers of the Board had placed in him. He j, moved, "That a letter be ' sent to Mrs. . Luke and the late Mr. Luke's relatives, ex- . pressing the Board's appreciation of his serl vices and their sheerest sympathy with . them in their sad bereavement.'' He was sure the public generally recognised that ; the Auckland educational district had suf- ; fared a great loss in the death of Mr. Luke. ; His keen sympathy with all educational i matters, and his whole-hearted sympathy 1 villi all connected with the Board, and ' especially with the teacher?,.had gained for . hint tho greatest and admiration of . all. In fact, he thought that amongst the ' teachers he was known, as the teachers' ■ friend. ■ The school ;orariiitteen and pub- ' lic generally recognised in him one who had always tried in every way to further the progress of the Auckland (educational district., and had tried to provide every ■' facility for education in the back block.*. He sincerely regretted the loss of Mr. Luke, who was a personal friend. Mr: C. J. Parr seconded the resolution, and said that Mr. Luke had been a friend of his for 20 rears. The deceased gentleman's , heart was in. the "cause of primary education. Perhaps his most prominent charac- ' teristic was his kindliness of disposition. The Board had never had a chairman whose unfailing tact and courtesy were so much . in evidence. , ,He was a model to the other members of the' Board. Mr. G L. Peacocke also pcid a high tribute to the memory of the deceased, whom ho looked upon as a personal friend. The teachers, he said, had lost an untiring champion. The motion was carried. The late Mr. S. Luke was for many years connected with the Otahuhu Mutual Improvement Association. He was one of the first members of this society, whic> has now had a continuous existence for 35 years. He held various offices in the society, and was a regular attendant at its meetings. His criticisms, though arrays to the point, were kindly, and he ever had a word of encouragement for young members. In token of the esteem in which Mr. Luke was regarded by all the members, a wreath was sent, and several office-bearers were present at the