POPULAR HEADMASTER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18581, 15 December 1934, Page 15

POPULAR HEADMASTER

MR. OLSEN FAREWELLED I r Iransfer to mangapapa ; • • V I Mr. 0. R. OJsen, headmaster of the laiti School, who will take oyer the ■eadmastership of the Mangapapa School It the beginning of the new school year, Ind Mrs. Olsen were the guests of honor It an enjoyable social evening held in lie Preesia Lounge last night. The unction was arranged by the Kaiti chool Committee to enable Kaiti resients and parents of children attending is school to bid farewell to Mr. Olsen, nd attendance numbered between 0 amJf7Q. During the early part of the evening regressive live-hundred and progressive triage were played, the winners of the ormer being Mesdgmes McDonald and Juckeridge, and of the latter Miss Nicoi itld„ Mr. J. Scott, two members of the rCaiti School staff. The five-huhdred ,nd bridge tournaments were arranged >y Messrs -J. W. Fyson and D. M. iraeie, and Messrs. L. W. Bright and >. H. Seddon respectively. A delightUl musical piogramme followed, songs jeing contributed by Miss Christina Irmiston. Wellington, and Messrs. U. Hampton and A. Williamson, for whom :he accompaniments were played by Mr. Wilfrid Kohn. After a dainty supper had been served, Mr. G. H. Seddon, a member of this committee, in the absence of the chairman, Mr. T. A. Coleman, who was in Napier for Ihe meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, extended the best, wishes of the gathering and of all Kaiti residents to Mr. and Mrs. Olsen.

MR. OLSEN’S SERVICES Mr. Seddon gave some very interesting information concerning Mr. Olsen’s activities in this district. Mr. O’lsen he said, arrived in Gisborne in February, 1905, one year before the founding of the Kaiti School. His first position was at jthe Gisborne Central School, where he'was'assistant for 64 years, after wMeh'Aß went as first assistant to the scno&lto which he was now to return as headmaster, Mangapapa, a school which was much smaller than it is today Soon afterwards the Great War broke out, .continued Mr. Seddon, and Mr. Olsen responded to the call of his country. Ho saw years active service, and on his return from overseas he completed 16 years at Mangapapa. Ho was then appointed headmaster of the newly-established Awapuni School, a-position which he held for three yeaSS His next appointment was the good, fortune of the Kaiti School, where he had been for the oast 4J,- years. Unfortunately, the Kaiti School had sufferedl through the exclusion of the fiveJ ear-old children, ami had gone down 1 grade, so that Mr. Olsen was compelled to find a new school that was equal ip grade to tire former position of the Kaiti School. “Our only consolation,’ said Mr. Seddon, “is that he is not lost to our district. On behalf of the committee 1 should like to record our appreciation of the excellent service performed by Mr. Olsen during his term as headmaster of the Kaiti School. He has been a model ‘head.’ and the committee has received all the co-operation and assistance possible. INFLUENCE OVER. CHILDREN “Speaking as a parent, I wish to pay a tribute to his influence over the children, and to congratulate him on the way he is training the future citizens of (Gisborne. Both in the school-room and on the playing field he has put his soul, into his work, and it has not been a mere job to him." Mrs. Olsen, continued the speaker, had besn j tower of strength to Mr. Olsen, ano%io small share of his success was justly due to her. Mr. Seddon mentioned that he had received apologies from the chairman, Mr Coleman, from the first headmaster of the school, Mr J. 11. Bull, and from Mr and Mrs Hugh 'Bennett, regretting their 'inability to attend the function. He mentioned that the annual break-ing-up function would take place at the school at 2.15 p.m. on Wednesday, and on that occasion a presentation ■would he made to Mr and Mrs Olsen. On behalf of the committee and residents of the district, Mr Seddpn concluded by wishing Mr and Mrs Olsen ijiccess, good health, and happiness a former member of the commit!tep, endorsed Mr Seddon’s remarks and his expression of regret that Mr and Mrs Olsen were leaving Kaiti. $ -f;