BON VOYAGE.

Patea Mail, Volume XLIX, 3 August 1928, Page 3

BON VOYAGE.

UPAKU.

ME. i’V G. SPUEDLE HONOUEED. The Opaku Hall was crowded to overiiowuig ou Tuesday uigut, when idle settlers Oi the district foregathered to bid ‘‘.Dor. voyage" to Mr. E. G. bpurdie, who has occupied the x JOSi ' tiou of head teacher of the Opaku bciiool for the past U years, and wlw is leaving shortly for Liondou to ptu sue his studies at the London University under the travelling scholarship .scnenie. The hall was very prett.il> decorated with nikau palms and coloured streamers, and these, with the varied coloured dresses of the dancers, made the scene a very pretty one. ihe evening was devoted to dancing, anu shortly after 11 o’clock a very dainty supper, for which the Opaku ladies are uoted, was handed round, after which Master D. Hurley, in a very neat little speech thanked Mr. Spurdle for the interest ho had taken in the scholars, and wished him every prosperity in the future. n behalf of the pupils he asked him to accept a. fountain pen as a slight token of their appreciation of his efforts on their behalf.

Mr. Spurdic thanked Master Hurley for his kind remarks and said ho had spent two of the happiest years of his life in Opaku. He would have nothing but good thoughts of the very happy time they had given him. His association with the children made him wish to bo a better- fellow all round. He thanked them for the way they had. .supported him, and carried out their work. The pen, for which he was very grateful, would serve to remind him of them as he used it daily. He would never forget them and their kindness. (Applause.) Mr. W. J. Hotter (chairman of the committee) also wished Mr. Spurdle every success in his future work. One and all were deeply sorry to lose him, but they felt that he was doing the right thing in going Home to pursue his studies further. As a token of friendship from them all he asked him to accept a well-filled wallet, which he hoped he would find of use in the future, (Applause.)

Mr. E. E. Hemingway, the member of the Education Board for the district, also expressed regret at Mr. iSpurdle’s departure, and paid a sterling tribute to his work as a teacher. The members of the .board in granting Mm leave of absence to take up the scholarship at the London University 'were unanimously of the opinion that Mr. Spurdlc was doing the right thing, as they felt sure that with the experience and knowledge ho would gain he would make a name for himself in the future. They only hoped he would not forsake the teaching profession, as they regarded him as one of the most promising young '• teachers. On behalf of the board he wished him ov-iiy happiness and success, and could assure him of a very hearty welcome on his return from the Homeland. (Applause.) Mr. Spurdle, who, on rising to reply, was received with cheers and ‘‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” said he .could not find words in which to thank them all for the innumerable acts of kindness .and hejlp he had received since he had been amongst them. He felt that if he had been reared in the district he could not have had more loyal support. They had been like mothers to him. He thanked them most sincerely for their handsome gift and he only hoped that when his time was up at the University ho would bo able to return and renew the friendships he had made. He would never forgot them and their many acts of kindness and he again thanked them from the bottom of his heart. (Applause.) Dancing was then resumed and kept up till ‘‘Auld Lang Sync” was sung in the early hours, one and all voting the evening to have been one of the most Successful ever held in the district, though tinged with sadness at the thought' that they were losing the services of one of the most popular as well as one of the most able teachers they had ever had. The music for the dance was supplied by Miss Hurley in hor usual talented manner, Mr. G. Smith (violin) assisting.