PRESENTATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3746, 4 October 1886, Page 3

PRESENTATION.

Sinco the teachers under the South Canterbury Board of Education first heard that . their Inspector, Dr. Anderson, wns about to j leave them, they at onco determined that he ! should not go away without taking with him ! some mark of the esteem m which thej- held him, and some souvenir to remind him of the two years he had moved about among the teachers of South Canterbury. Tl o teachers held meetings and decided to present the Doctor with an address, which wns presented nt the Bonrd room, Slain school, on Saturday afternoon. Shortly nfter 1 o'clock the teachers began to assemble, and nt 1.30, the hour used for commencing the proceedings, fully thirty ladies nnd gentlemen wero present. Mr Wood, head master of tho Timnru Main School, nnd President of tho South Canterbury Educational Institute, then rose, and said they had met together for a purposo well known to all — to present their Inspector (Dr. Anderson) with an address previous to his removal to North Canterbury, whero he was to occupy a position Bimilar to that just vacated by hira m Soutii Canterbury. Dr. Anderson was receiving well deserved promotion, and tho teachers assembled were fully alive to the fact that his removal would be a loss to this educational district. Daring the Doctor's 2 years residenco hero teachors had learned to like him very much indeed j he had as inspector at examinations tried to put himself alongside of tho teachers ; had evinced great interest m their work ; had sympathised with them, and had set thorn a high aim. Tho teachers had heartily seconded all his efforts to improve school-work, and had dono all thoy could to pleaso their inspector. Tbo teachers felt his going away so soon very much, and deaired beforo he took lus- departuro to express tlieir regret, to also congratulate him on his new appointment, nnd to wish him every success m his new sphere of labour, whero he (Mr Wood) hoped Dr Anderson would soon be as universally likod as ho was m South Canterbury. (Loud Applause.) Beforo tho address was read Mr Thompson, hend master of tho Pleasant Point School, spoke of the sterling worth of Dr Anderson, and of tho high opinion all tho teachors held of him. They found him a thorough gentleman, and that ho carried out his duties as nn inspector m the most conscientious mnnner. Mr Thompson hoped Dr Anderson would meet with every success, nnd on behalf of self nnd fellow teachers tendered best wishes. (Applause.) Tlio secretary (Mr R. M. Lning, M.A.) to the Tenchers' Institute, then read the following address : — " To W. J. Anderson, Esq., M.A., L.L.D., " Inspector of Schools, North Canterbury. " The teachors of tho education district of South Canterbury have much pleasuro m acquainting you, on your departuro for North Canterbury, of the high esteem m which you nro held by them. They desiro nlso to testify to the efficient. 7::instnking manner m which you havo performed the responsible duties of Inspector whilst m their midst, and to express an unanimous appreciation of your strict impartiality m a difficult aud oftentimes trying position. They must nlso thnnk you for tho kind sympathy shown towards nil their efforts for tho advancement of tlieir schools. While feeling their loss nt your rcmovnl, they cannot but bo gratified at your promotion to a more extended sphere of usefulness, nnd henrtily assure you of their best wishes for your futuro welfare. " Jon* Wood, President, S.C.E.I. "Robem M. Laing, Secretary. The address, which was beautifully framed m guilt fancy moulding, and was prettily illuminated by Mr Geo. W. Wade, of Timaru, was then handed to Dr Anderson amid loud applause from the ladies nnd gentlemen present. Dr Anderson, m reply, thinkod tho teachers most heartily for the address just given, wherein wns sot forth Ihe feelings of them all towards him. Ho praised the teachers forthe earnest work they had dono under him, and said that although ho was going to a much larger district than that of Soutii Canterbury, he did not think he would there meet with more earnest teachers than thoso he wns then addressing. He had come among them two years ago ; hnd experienced vory much since then ; and had ever done his Vest m the ondeavour to get the school work done properly and thoroughly. He had to sincerely thank teachers for their assistance, for any success achievod had m a groat measure been owing to thorn. Ho had also learnt something from thorn, as when ho first camo his experience m school work was of not too wide a character. He was glad, therefore, that they bad afforded him an opportunity of

expressing his thanks to them. Thoy aill knew that an luspcetor's duties were not always po, ular olios, but he roust say . that throughout the whol-. if his time hero j any strictures ho had passed had not caused j the teachers lo neglect doing Iheir duty to the [ best of their ability. He had given praise ! where it was deserved j nt times ho had been compelled, rightly or wrongly, to criticise certain school work, but had taken caro when doing tho latter to sco that it wns entirely devoid of a personal feeling. Dr Anderson onco moro thanked them very much indeed for their present, which ho assured them would always hnvo n place of honour iv hii study. (Applause.) Tho meeting then terminated, all shaking bands with Dr Anderson before finally separating.