SOCIAL TO MR C. A. RICHARDS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 7, 14 June 1895, Page 15

SOCIAL TO MR C. A. RICHARDS.

(Nelson Mail, Msy 23.) At the Forester's Ball las': evening a very successful reunion took place, when the old boys of 3fc Mary's School met to welcome and honour their old teacher, Mr O. A. Richards. Mr John Graham occupied the chair, and the Very Eev Father Mahoney the vie -chair. After ai interval for refreshments, tha chairman proposed tbe toaßt of the evening, the health of thsir old echoohi^ster, Mr O. A. Richards. It w.a a pleaaura to saa that gentleman amongst them that evening, after an absence of seventeen years, and it was nlso gratifying to notice cue i"a large gathering of old pupils. A con* siderablo percentage of Mr Richards' scholars had mado names for themeelvoa in the battle of life. They knew it for a fact that he was a good teacher, and in tbe early days when, thsre ware few good teachtus, and education waa difficult to obtain, the indebtedness of pupil 10 teacher for sound instruction was more marked than ife is at the present time. The beilth of Mr Richards was enthusiastically drunk, with musical hoaours acd demonstrative enthusiasm. Mr Alfred Harley, as the oldest boy present, said that he could recall with affectionate regard the days of St Mary's, and he was glad to see their old teacher honoured. Amongst the prominent men who had coma from Sfc Mary's Sohool he could meation his Grace Archbishop Redwood, and the Hon J. Garrard of New Sonth Wales. In acknowledging the toast, Mr Richards said his heart waa too full to permit him to give adequate expression to his feelings. No pleasure could be greater to him, than to meet the old boys under such circumstances after an abaance of aevontjen years. He had mot Nelson boys all over New Zialand, and with the spirit of self-reliance he hoped that Nelsonians would continuo to keep to the fore. Mr 0. A. Richards proposed success to Sfc Mary's school, and in alluding to the o'd limes wheu tha building waa half church and half schoolroom, said that he hoped the age of son? would soon give further permanence to such aa excellent in&'.iiutioa. The Very Rev Father Mahoney responded in a capital speech.