PRESENTATIONS TO MISS WILDING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13908, 8 November 1919, Page 8

PRESENTATIONS TO MISS WILDING.

There was an attendance of well over wo hundred parents and irionds at tho iVcar Street Hall last night upon the :ecasion of a presentation to Miss lYilding. of the- Middle School staff, who s retiring upon superannuation after oriy-tw.o years' service, only five years ;f which was spent elsewhere than in Jawaru. .Mr \Y. Kinder, Chairman of .he Middle School Committee, presided, uid there were also present Messrs W. l'\ Abel (headmaster of the North school).. W. McLaren (headmaster of the South School). E. T. Earl (Middle School head). and members of tic s«ifs ?f those and other schools. Apologies ivere received from Messrs Piper (exLeaeher). H. Grocott. -l. P- Malcolm, J M. Forrester, Rev. Hunter, his Worship the Mayor, and Mr Geo. Livingstone (member of the Education Board). The Chairman welcomed those present. and was pleased to_ see that so large l a proportion of Miss 'Wilding s friends had been able to take part in was a special pleasure to take part- in doing honor to one. who had done such oood work for the Middle Sclicol as Miss Wilding, who had never tired in caring for both the happiness and progressrof her pupils. A musical programme was presented, prior to the chief event of the evening (presentations to Miss Wilding) as follow;; :—Selection by the school band; pianoforte solos Matches and Drummond: "Dusky Diamonds." a duet in character. by Ina King and Bertie Tonkin, with chorus by the children; action song bv infants: mandoline duet by Misses "De' Norrille and Symington. Misses Drummond and Matches were the accompanists. The children's items were of excellent and reflect credit upon Misses McMullan and Matches, who trained them. Miss Jameson, one of the pupils, m a brief but happily worded speech, presented Miss Wilding with a gold wristlet watch, suitably inscribed, from the pupils and teachers. A wee dot from <he infant- class then presented Miss Wilding with a travelling rug from the pupils of her class. The applause at this staff© spoke well for the* popularity of Miss Wilding with the children, than whom few arc better judges of character. ilr iloclgers, headmaster cf Totara and President of the Waitaki Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute, spoke in glowing terms of Miss Wilding's sterling qualities as a teacher and friend, and voiced thei. regret of the Institute at the loss of her services to education. _ Messrs Rolvt. Milligan and W. McLaren spoke in support of Mr Rodgers' remarks, the latter referring to the many young : teachers, now successfully launched in their career, that Miss Wilding had put through her hands, "• .Mrs M. Forrester spoke of Miss Wilding's readiness to always do anything for the good of the community. Mr E. T. Earl, headmaster of the Middle School, voiced his deep regret at the severance of Miss Wilding from the school, and paid her a. rare tribute as a teacher. He wished her many years of well-earned rest. ? Mrs Kinder, on behalf of ex-pupils, parents, and friends, then handed to Miss Wilding a suitably inscribed silver tea service. . Ven. Archdeacon Russell replied on behalf,of Miss Wilding, who would, he said, always treasure the kindly thoughts of the children, their parents, and the community in general, so generously expressed in their gifts. The meeting then stood and sang "For she's a jolly good fellow," followed by cheers. I. Supper, bountifully provided, was then enjoyed, and after a. social halfhour the' gathering concluded with, "Auld Lang Syne." ..