MATAWAI NEWS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16612, 30 March 1928, Page 10

MATAWAI NEWS

(Herald Correspondent.) A large crowd assembled at the Mata* wai Hall to bid farewell to Mr. Peake, who has been headmaster of the school for the past 3£ years. Mr. Peake took a keen interest in all outdoor sports, being on the executive of the Tennis Club and at the top of the ladder. He was a keen follower of Rugby. He also fostered school games and sports. The majority of those who attended spent the evening dancing, while others played bridge, 500, or euchre. Prior to the supper adjournment the President of the Teniiis Club, Mr. deLautour, expressed the regret of his club and of the residents of the district at Mr. Peake’s departure and called on Mr. Goldsmith, secretary of the school eommitee, to make tlie departing guest a presentation. In presenting Mr Peake with a luminous wristlet watch, suitably inscribed, Mr. Goldsmith made reference (to ; the high standard of efficiency the school attained under Mr. Peake’s guidance both as regards tlie inside and outside work, the playgrounds with flower and vegetable gardens being the best hi the district. With few exceptions, all pupils presented for tlie proficiency examination succeeded, while the work of file lower standards was of the same high standard. The speaker also stressed the organising ability ol tlie guest in raising' sufficient funds to concrete tlie assembly ground in front of the school.

Mi\ Tucker, headmaster of the school, spoke of tlie organising ability of Mr. Peake, saying that it was he who inaugurated (he annual sehopl competitions between the Motu, Motuhorn and Matawai schools, and expressed the rogi'et of liis colleagues at Mr. Peake’s departure. Further regret was expressed by Mr. Wilson, chairman of the Football Olub. Mr. Peake, in' expressing his thanks for the presentation and regret' at his departure, said that liis work was made a pleasure at the school by, the assistance he had had from (he scjiool committee. parents, members of liis staff, and children. His association with the sports bodies was a work of love. Much of the! success of the. evening was due to Uni work of Mr. 0. Korte, M;C., Mrs. Mehrtens, at the ,piano, and the usual hand of ladies who prepared tlie supper. On Friday (lie children farewelled Mr Peake and presented him with a pocket wallet and tobacco pouch suitably engraved. Mr. Peake left Matawai on Monday morning to join the staff of the fft. Clair School, Dunedin.