POPULAR INFANT MISTRESS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1931, Page 8

POPULAR INFANT MISTRESS

MIDHIRST FAREWELLS TEACHER.

PRESENTATION TO MISS PALMER

In the presence of the pupils, members of the staff and about 40 parents and friends, Miss Palmer, infant mistress at the Midhirst school, who is leaving on transfer to Okaiawa, was tendered a farewell afternoon and presented with a gift. Mr. R. J. Laird, chairman of the committee, presided, and associated with him were Mrs. Laird and Mr. J. McAllister, a member of the Taranaki Education Board.

Prior to the singing of songs by the pupils, accompanied by Miss L. Lawn, little Maire Bunninig presented Miss Palmer with a bouquet. During the afternoon Mrs. Lai:d contributed a humorous elocutionary item, and Miss Noeline Howard gave a violin solo accompanied by her sister, Nancy. The chairman, on behalf of the committee, thanked Miss Palmer for the patient and efficient- manner in which she had carried out her duties, “The presence of so many parents, is, in itself, sufficient testimony of the esteem in which Miss Palmer is held.” he»said. HEADMASTER’S TRIBUTE. “No one is more sorry than myself to lose so valuable an infant mistress,” said the headmaster (Mr. W. Anderson). He added that it was a line thing for a headmaster of any school to know that his infant department was in thoroughly capable hands. Miss Palmer’s association with the school had extended over four years, and. during that time she had shown a keen interest, not only in her own classes, but also in the children generally. Her place would be hard to fill. Mr. McAllister made the presentation of a leather hand-bag containing a sum of money. This he did on behalf of the parents, the children and the staff. Mr. McAllister said all would agrete that it was a hard-thing to have to say goodbye to those whom they held in esteem, and it was particularly so on occasions such as the present, where the relations between the one going and those remaining had been so cordial. Life, said Mr. McAllister, was made up of Hail! -.and Farewell! In Miss Palmer's case, he was glad to know she was being transferred to a higher grade school, and he congratulated her upon her promotion. Turning to the boys and girls, .he said that his school days were in the days of the reign of the big stick. Now, however, the object of teachers was to make the children happy and comfortable while being tauglff. In this respect Miss Palmer had succeeded in a very marked degree. In reply, Miss Palmer said she would like to take the opportunity to express appreciation of the action of parents in assisting her in her work by their attitude at home. It was a great help to a teacher to have such hearty co-opera-tion from the parents of her charges. As the attendance was of such a representative nature, an informal discussion was subsequently entered into dealing with ways and means of promoting a social function to assist the committee’s funds, the headmaster explaining how the withdrawal of the Government subsidy had affected their position at Midhirst. '

TRANSFER TO ROYAL OAK.

MR. AND MRS. MATHER HONOURED

The Pembroke Road hall was crowded by settlers and friends to bid farewell to Mr. and. Mrs. G. Mather, who are leaving the district. The dance music was provided by Vinsen’e Ambassador Band,. extras being played by Mrs. Kear and Miss Davidson. Items were given by Miss Hope Grant, Miss Gadsby, Miss Myra Wilson, Miss V. Sheehan, Mr. Graeme-Holder and Mr. -A. O’Sullivan. The accompaniments were played by Mrs. Kear.

After supper Mr. Aldridge called upon Mr. McCracken, chairman of the dairy company, to make a presentation on behalf of the settlers of the district. Mr. McCracken said Mr. Mather had been. in . the district seven years, and Mrs. Mather practically all her life, and all were very sorry to lose them. Mr. Mather had been first assistant at the factory for seven years, and had been a hard worker. Everyone appreciated what he had done. Mr. Mather had improved from casual to first assistant, and had now gained a position as manager. Mr. Baker, manager of the Pembroke Road factory, said-. Mr. Mather had been apoint cd manager of the Royal Oak factory. Though he was sorry to lose Mr. Mather’s services, as he had been working with him for over seven years, he was pleased to see one of his men raised to the position of manager. He knew that Mr. Mather would make a very successful manager. Mr. McCracken, on behalf of the settlers of the Pembroke district, presented Mr. and Mrs. Mather with a silver tea set and an oak tray suitably inscribed. Mr. Mather said he regretted very much leaving the district, where he had made so many friends, but seeing that it was promotion, he felt that he should accept it. For the seven .years he had been there he had always tried to do his best and would continue to do so at Royal Oak.