PRESENTATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5843, 9 March 1906, Page 5

PRESENTATION.

MR GEORGE MACMORKAN. A presentation was made last night to Mr George MacMorrau, headmaster of the Terrace School, by pupils, ex-pupils, and friends, on the eve of his departure for the Old Country to-morrow on six months' leave of absence. There was a large gathering ot subscribers. Mr George Mce, chairman of tho hool Committee, presided. Members ot the committee and teaching staff were also present.

In making the presentation, a purse of seventy-five sovereigns, the chairman said it had been his lot to present many prizes and awards of merit at the Terrace School, but probably none of them were so richly deserved as the one he had the pleasure of presenting that night. (Applause.) Mr MaeMorran, who had had twenty years service at the Terrace School and twenty-five years altogether in the service of the Board, had been granted leave of absence which he purposed spending at Home, renewing the mendships, and no (the chairman) hoped, the health and strength, of his youth. He trusted he would come back renewed m both. (Applause.) The matter of this testimonial had been taken up by the old boys in the first instdnee. then by the staff, followed by liberal subscriptions by the pupils themselves, by parents, friends and others. He could hardly trust himself to speak of all the good work Mr MaeMorran had done at the ffihool. He (the chairman) had been more or less connected with it for twenty years, and hia children had good reason to be thankful for the education they had received there. He wished Mr MaeMorran God speed • upon his voyage, and a safe return to them. (Applause). The Rev Mr Van Staveren followed with a eulogy of Mr MaeMorran. He considered it was very creditable to the pupils and ex-pupils that they should coma forward and say they would do honour to their master. (Applause). On rising to respond, Mr MaeMorran was greeted with prolonged applause. He had, he said, on occasions been placed in certain positions of difficulty, but the difficulties of that position exceeded them all. t He thanked vary cordially all the subscribers to the testimonial. It was some twenty-two years since he first commenced‘duties at the Terraco School. Since then he had only been absent from duty one and a half days. During all those years he had calculated that five thousand to six thousand boys and girls had occupied seats in the Terrace school. If there were obligations to his staff and himself there were also obligations to those who had managed the school affairs.

Mr. Wilson made a brief speech on similar lines to the chairman, and the Proceedings terminated with the siugimr of “Auld Lang Syne."