TE AWAMUTU. PRESENTATION TO MR BENGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1807, 5 February 1884, Page 2

TE A WAMUTU. PRESENTATION TO MR BENGE.

The residents of Te Awamulu met in the Public Hall on Friday evening to present Mr Benge with an illuminated addie-s and puise of sovereigns, as a slight token of their regard and esteem. It was with feeling-, of smc-ie regiet that people heaid of Ilis deputuiv, honi among u», and his many fnends decided to give e^pressloll to their iegard for him ; accordingly they met m the lull foi th.it purpose. Mr J. H. Mandeuo, one ')f the c >iumi-sioners, occupied t w chdir. Ho baid, "They met for a very painful duty : to say good-bye to Mr JBoii'^e, and though they regietted his dep'iiture, and could not but feel the loss the disti ict sustained, they were pleased at his getting such well-deserved promotion. Few men could do as he did : live four years m a place without making an enemy. There was not a single individual in the place who did not experience a feeling of 1 egret and sorrow on this occasion. A pi oof of his efficiency was the promotion he leceived." Mr Mandeno then called on Mr Winstone to read and piesent the address. Mr Winstoue, after a few eulogistic remarks, asked those present to cast their minds back to the time before Mr Benge took ehaige of the school. It was then at a very low standard in educational matters, neglected and despised, looked down upon by everyone. Mr Benge, however, soon altered the state of affair.-,, he set himself /ealou>ly and vigoiously to woik, and by ■us skill and energy raised the school to its piesent. high standaid of excellence. The average of pupils who had passed the standards was as high as in any school in the country. He then read the following addie&s :

lo AiitUD HwntocK Hi'vgk, Esq., Head Master 'le Awamutu District bchool. Dear Sir, — We, the undersigned, commissioneis for the Te Aw.imutu >>< hool District, on behait of the parents of children attending your school, feel that we cannot allow you to leave this place, where you have laboured so long, without expressing our deep sense of the obligations we arc under to you for the zealous and enthusiastic manner in whii h jou have laboured for tlu- welfare of our < hildrcn Dm ing the four years you ha\e been here >ou have completely changed the character of the school and the whole tone of the juvenile population of the district : you ha\c made the school a model of order and propriety, to that it is spoken of far and near as. being all that a school ought to be, and you have inspired our children with an emulation and love of learning, such as none but .in enthusiastic teacher could lme imparted Not only in the school but in all public matters we have found jou at all times to be foremost in seeking to advance the 'n-teu'-ts of the place As a neighbour and a fuend we believe that it will be very hard to supply your place. Your gentlemanly deportment and general disposition have made you a universal favourite. While regretti.ig our loss in jour removal, we cannot but rejoice in jour promotion, knowing that >ou have so well deserved it. We hope that it will prove but a step to still further advancement. \Ve assure jou that jomself and Mrs Benge will take with jou our warmest wishes for your future happiness, and \u» now ask jou to accept the accompanying: purse of sovereigns as a small expression ot the feelings with which we regard jou. — We are, dear sit, jours vrj sincerclj-, I^W^om? 0 ! Commissioners On behalf of the residents of the Te Awamutu School District. Mr Bengp, who was deeply moved by this .sinmtiincou-, expveviiou of kmdnc&f and goodwill, leplied in suitable teims, and ovpiobscd the legiet with which he mj\ ci'ed l)i» connection with Te Awaintitu. The meeting, which w.is a most enthusiastic one, after giving cheeis for Mi and Mrs Benge, bioke up.

IUIhCE/XVXfcOl'ft!. What I'm the matter u ith the " Old lady of Wyndham stiect i "' Tho pooi old thing has taken mortal offence at the appointment to the l)e\enpoit .school. She say-> "Te Awamutu is one of the smallest country schools in the rlivtiict."' Now this is a delibei ate mis-statement of facts. Te Awamutu 1^ the laigest and most important conntiy school in Waikato, and for one laiger couutiy school in the Auckland piovmce, theie aie five smallei. The statement is so much the leveise of tiuthful that I imagine *he "old lady' must ha\ c got her intoi niation from one of her local con espondents. It i^ of a piece with the news that geneially appeals from Waikato. The "old lady" ib gning stumg evidence of senility and decveptitude ; she lacks the independence and vigoiu of hci youth. Such unblushing statements, or rather mis-statements, should not be allowed to go uncontiadicted. The appointment to the Dovenpoit school was made by the committee, and the inspector could only accede to their w ish ; he had nothing w hatei or to do w ith the matter. The mci c fact of Mi Benge coming from a countiy distuct school is not any evidence of his inability to manage a huge school such as the one as Devenpoit. The fact is, some one has tiodden on the "old lady's" pet coin, and put her in an initable mood. .How about tho Pair telegram.' That was rather an unpleasant episode. Tho only leliable information from this district which evei appeals in the Heiald is taken fiom the columns of Tho Waikato Tunes. As long as that is the case no one can com plain, but when their contiibutois deliberately uncut news, it is time to protest. Till: VKOrObEI) TOWN IUisI'MCT. The lesidents of this place aie to be congiatulated on their good sense in taking steps to have this gazetted a town district. Ouiiatesare paid into the Council tieabury, mid that is the last we see of them ; our loads are neglected, and no satisfaction is vouchsafed us in the matter. If the council were abolished, wo would never ha\e thought of se\ering our connection with the Kangiaotna Highway Di-,tnct. County councils ai c at best but a useless and cumbersome form of <TOvennnent, ami the ratepayeis aie beginning to view the situation in the .same light, and the sooner they are abolished the better it will be for the pockets of the ratepayers,— Own Correspondent. )