SOCIAL AT DUNROBIN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 72, 12 March 1903, Page 3

SOCIAL AT DUNROBIN.

(Tapmiui Courier.) It 18 our duty to chronicle another 'farewll social" at Dumobic, the occasion being the departure of Mr, Mrs and Mifs Billantine from this district. Mr Ballantyne, who hts held the position of headmaster et Duurobin school for the past six odd years, bav- ! ing been promoted to a responsible position under tte Taranaki Education Board, the residents thought fit to mark their appreciation of the energy and ability so succe-sfully tin own into the school work by Mr Ballantyne during his term tf office, aDd for this purpose a social was held on Tuesday evening, 24th ult. Mr William B resford (ekaiiman of S hool Commit.*ee) pre ided, and said hj" was sure they wouid all regret Mr Ballmtyne leaving the district 1 ., bus they coul.l not blamo a teacher far tying to better himself. It could hardly be expfcted that a man of Mr Ballantyne'd calibre would be satitfi-d to continue at Dunrobin. The gu-sts of the evening hod been invred to be present that their friendsmight showin a substantial man-, n? r the high esteem in which tbt y were held. He nied hardly remind tho?< present tint while Mr Ballantyne had been io chirg« of the Dunrobin scho 1, result.s had been obtained both in standard and scholarship woik that comparrd favourably wi h any feed in Otago. He then called upon Mr and Mrs Ballantyne to ac epfc a purse (.f sovereigns subscribed by the residents of the dis ric l -. Mr Billantyne, in hc epting ti.e pmse on behiif of him'elf und wife, arid that tbe feeliDg of plejsu e on the present oconsion was mit g'ed with or e of sadness—radce-s a-- sevf-ring hi* coa motion vith hi friend* in tho district. Although tbey had marked h s d paiture in a pructicil manner, he would valu < tbe purse more a* a token of their cs'eem than

fom an intrinsic point. The Rev. John Col ie, in tbo course r,f a few remarks, sii.3 that he hid probably known Mr Balian'yne longer than any one parent, a- i hey bad b-.tn clast fullowH at the "University. Daring the time he ( he speaker) had be>-n in tht d'striut hj» had b-en associated with Mr Ballantyne in mat ers outside ot social work, r>nd could spe*k with sonn.-auf-hori y a r > to the sterling qualiiepO'Sessed by the guests of the «ven iug. It w*s a difficult matter to judge tbewo;kofa teacher; the results of* the Duiiio'"in school, compared vitb the other fcchcols of Otago, showed th >" Mr Ballantyne had discharged his duti< s in a con-citn'ious and able manner, but it would be unreasonable, under the circumstances, to expect to retiin the services of a teacher cf such attain roents as Mr Bd'aotyre. Mr John Edie, jun., in s-ying farewell to the guests, said he wou'd go further thai the previous speakers, and fay that the Dunrobin school not only compared favourably wi'h the other schools of Otago, but so far as scholarship work wen* 1 , wa<! certainly ahead of the o'hers. Mrs J. W. Cunningham, on behalf of the many friends of Miss B illantynr, asked the latter's acceptance of a gold watch as a token of their esteem, and Mr Ballantyne, on b half of Miss Ballantyne, suitably respopded. Mr A. G. M'Kenzie aeked Mr Bal'an'yne to accept from the Public Library Ocmmittee a letter ease as a memento cf their appreciation of the many services rendered by him to the public library. Mr Btllan'yne, in responding, said that anything be had done for the libraiy had been a labour of love. He looked upon it as the du>.y cf a teacher to help to spread education. A very pleasant social was brought to a clcse wi'h a short dance.