Untitled

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8273, 20 September 1888, Page 2

A Card.— Aa important discovery is announced ia the Paris Figaro, o£ a valuable remedy for nervous debility, physical exhaustion, and kindred compluints. The discovery waß made by a missionary in Old Mexico ; it caved him from a miserable existence and premature decay. The Rev. Joseph Holnios, Bloomsbury Mansions, Blcomsbury Square, London, W. 0., will send the prescription, free of obarge, oa receipt of a self addressed itampea oavelgpo. Mention, this paper.

TESTIMONIAL TO MR J. O. ADAMS. Mb J. C. Adams, formerly of New Plymouth, but of 'ate years at Riverton, has accepted an appointment at Waimate, for which place be left on September 1, Tho Western Star, in referring to his leaving tbe district says : — Tho departure of xMr J. O. Adam.', B. A., who has for more than five years fillet! the position of Rector of the Riverton Hi<?h School, calls for more than a passiu; notice. Mr Adnms ia an educator aail worker in the trua sense of Ihe won!, iu^ during his resWenco here, while devotin< his great' abilities and energies unceasingly in adminkterin^ ovei' the school, has foil ml time, and has always been foremost ia any movement having for its object the intellectual improvement o£ tbe ptople as a whole. It is of course in connection with bis scholastic dutie s that Mr Adams has come most prominently before the public, and the wonderful success the Rivertoa School has attained under his headinaßterehip is shown by the steady increase in the percentage of passes gained. For a school the size of the local one the percentage has always been high, but it remained for Mr Adams to bring it to that state of efficiency that it gained the enviable distinction of taking tho first place amon < the larger schools. Ia 1883, the year in which Mr Adams assumed control, tho percentage of passes reaohed 807 — tbie. it must be remarked, was a deciease of 5 per cent, from the previous year, add it is to be accounted for from the fact that for some months the school was without a head master. In 1884 the percentage rose to 85"9 ; the following year it stood at 87*4 ; in 1886 another forward step wat made, the percentage rising to 90. the highest the school had up to that time attained, but last year the passes gaiued reached 945 per cent, which, as we before remarked, is the highest number of paßses, ao far at all events as Otago is concerned, o£ any except the very'small schools. No fewer than seven scholarships have been securad by pupils from the Riverton school since Mr Adams' tenure oE office, and each time one or other of the candidates that went up for examination came out at tbe bead of the list. His rolatiois with the staff and scholars have been o£ tho most pleasing nature, and one and all found in the rector a true friend — one whom they could look up to, and one whom they could always rely on to give them advice and assistance. In church matters Mr Adams always took the greatest interest, and for the [ last four and half years has acted as layreader ia St. Mary's Church. The congregation bafl beea kept together by his fostering care, and it is not saying too much when we remark that his loss will be irreparable. At tho evening sorvice on Sunday last he made feeling reference to his impending departure, and the congregation, a very large on, nhared fully with tho Speaker the pangs of parting. Mr Adams is President of tbe Mutual Improvement Association, and much of the undoubted success that has attended the Association is due in no small measure to the worthy President. Ia other socinl movements be has ever given his advice and assistance. Among athletic circles, Mr Adams will be equally missed. He id a thorough believer ia physical as well as mental training-, and although, owing to his multifarious duties, it was only on rare occasions he could take the field to do battle for his country in the cricket or football field, he did much to coach young players in all athletic sports. Mr Adams leaves on Saturday for tbe new sphere of bis operations at Waimnte, and we are only giving expressioa to the universal feeling of our little community when we wish him, his wifo ani family every possible euccetia. On his tendering his resignation as President of tho Riverton Mutual Improvement Association, the Vice-President (Mr. Tarlton) nnd Mr. McHutchinßon both expressed their regret at Mr. Adams' departure, and Mr. G. Roed said, " No one had left a better record as an educationalist and social m.m thin Mr. Adans." Mr. J. P. Young said ho hud been commissioned by a number of friends outei.le tho Association to present Mr. Adams with a token of their esteem, and had grout pleasure in presenting him with a purse of sovp'reieins, wherewith to purchnse some work or works in remembrance of Riverton some work that hfl would keep to his rlyiru day, and when he looked into it, it alight bring up the remembrance of his friends here. On behalf of the subscribers ho would wiih Mr Adams, Mrs. Adams ani the family every success, and health and happiness ia their aew sphere. The following testimoaial accompanied the pnrßo of sovereigns :— " We, the undersigned, your fellow residents in Rirerton, desire to express our sincere regret at your departure from amongst us. We feel sure that the uniform zoal displayed by you in the performance o£ your duty, and the lively interest taken by you in many public and social matters will win for you the respect and esteem o£ those atroug whom your lot wi 1 be cast. Wo request your acceptance of the aocompauy- | ing slight token of our regard, together with best wishes for your future success and happiness." Mr Artains, who was much affected, thanked them for the kind manner they had spoken to hin^, and said be should look back with great pleasure to the five years' sojourn aiion^ them. On the Friday previous the Star says: — "Although Mr Adams has been the recipient of manytokensoE rogard-t during the last few days there could bo no moro speaking testimony as to the regard in whioh ho is hoW. than thosceno wituessod whpn he was taking farewell of his pupils on Friday afternoon. When addressing the children Mr Adams completely broke down aad tor somo little time was quite unable to proceed, oni the children and Btnff were so visibly nffooted, that we are afraid his speech, one of the moat eloquent we have heard him make, was somewhat lost. A mire touching hoene we have seldom beheld."