PRESENTATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15397, 14 July 1914, Page 3

PRESENTATION.

AT FAI'RLIE SCHOOL. (FnoM Ont Own Correspondent.) On Thursday afternoon the pupils of the-Faii-lie Publ'.c School dispersed for :i throe weeks' holiday. but before doing .so they assembled in the large infant room to make a, presentation ;'o their popular intant mistress. Miss Giny., who :s leaving the school to take up a position in the. Lytteitou District .H'gh School. There was a very full attendance of pupils, and a fair n !• her of parents wore also present. Mr C. J. Talbot., chairman of the school committee, presided, and the pupils opened proceedings by giving a few recitations and, musical items. Minn, and Annie Gardiner played a pianoforte duct acceptably, and the senior girls gave a good rendering of the song '-Village Blacksmith.'' Recitations were given by Enrie Black and Eisie Johnson. The chairman then stated lvis pica-' sure at seeing so many present to give Miss Gray a good send off, though they were all sorry to Jose her. Shell nd" done splendid work in the school, both sc-hohistioally and socially. By giving- the infant pupils a thoroughly iirm griii of the'r work she bad done much, to assure the success of tbe school in the higher s-andards. The committee was especially grateful to her for the capable way in which sbo bad helped to get up entertainments in aid of school funds Nothing seemed to be too much trouble for her, and she never seemed to get tired. AL'er 'congratulating the children on their strong healthy appearance, tbe chairman asked the pupils to make their presentation to th-oii- departing m'stress. Ann'a Gardiner stepped forward, and delivered an -excellently worded address which had the merit of being composed by tho pupils themselves. It conveyed to Miss Gray their appreciation of the hard work she had dons "on their behalf, and' best wishes were expressed for Miss Gray's future. Special thanks were accorded for' the way in which Miss Gray bad superintended tbe hmcl'.ieon arrangements during the winter and for the work she bad done in eou-r-.eetion with her se'f-imposod position of librarian. Miss Gray was then precalled with a. s'ivcr mounted manicure sot, accompanied by pn ilhuu'natcd address prepared by some of the senior pupils. -Miss Gray, in a neat speech, thanked the children for their handsome gifts, and for the appreciation and good wishes tendered her. She did not like leavmg Fail-lie, but thought it was beta-r for her to be nearer her home- in Christ church. .She' was sure, however, that she would never have a p'.easauter time than she had experienced in Fairiie. and she would certainly never have better children to- teach. She hrd been always glad to help the committee in any way possible, and was pleased to have been of service. She wished them aIL a bright future. Air Clarke, the headmaster of tho school endorsed the good things that bad been sad about Miss' Gray., and sa : d ho was sorry to lose her. The pupils, when tCiey reached the upper standards would, with bimscllf, the more fully appreciate the good work M : ss Gray had dons in the lower standards. There might be cleverer children than those in the Fairlie school', but it would be hard to find a better -behaved lot. The parents and children then adjourned to the technical rooms where afternoon tea was dispers?el under the supervision of Mrs Clarke, and M ; sscs Kennedy and McIntyre. Cheers were given for Miss Gray, and the. chairman, and tho op-pc-j-ttmitvl wasM'itken of personally saying good-bye to' her.-