OTAKIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2410, 10 May 1900, Page 12

OTAKIA

April 30. — A social was held 0:1 Friday last in the schoolhouse lo bid farewell to Mr and Mrs Chesney on the eve of their departure from the ciistiict. Mr Chesney is leaving the position of head master 01 the Otakia School, to take the position oL fiist assistant in. the Kaitangata School! ''Ilia schcolhouse -was crowded to the door. Mr James S. Gibson, who. oceu- . pied the chair, referred "lib Mr Chesney's many good qualities as school master, and also io the -^ cry creditable position he occupied in the school inspector' a report at his last esamina-" lion. Ho also made lefere-nce-to the very harmonious relations which had eidsted betweenMr Chesney and his school committee and the great loss the district sustained at the loss of his services. He then presented Mis Chesney with a silver teapot and Mr Chesney with a handsome -^old albert as a token of the esteem j in -which they were held by the people of Ota- ! kia. Mr Chesney, on behalf of himself and Ml 3 ■ Chesney, suitably replied. The musical pro- j giamme wis opened with a violin duet by Mr and Miss Dick, which was heartily appreciated by the audience. Songs weie contributed by Mr Sam Syir.monds, Miss Walsh, Miss Hodchnott, Mr W. Murphy, Sir Andrew Ji'Kay, Mr lJa,vid Wilson, and Mr J. Stevenson, and speeches were delivered by Mr A. Fleming, sen , and Mr A. Stevenson, who both concurred wiiih the chairman's remarks. Refreshinenta were handed round, and the room was then cleared lor dancing, which vsas kept up to an early hour. Songs were sung by Messrs W. Payne and Murphy during the dance. Mr J. Molcolm made an efficient M.C. At the conclusion a call foi three cheers for Mr and Mrs Chesney was heartily responded to, and the proceedings were brought to a close by the singing of "He's a jolly good fellow" and " Auld lang syne."