AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

BOARD OF EDUCATION SENIOR -'■ ' SCHOLARSHIPS. . .The presentation of certificates to the win-, ners of the Board of Education senior scholarships, as well as the certificates of proficiency, took place at noon in the main hall of the Grammar School yesterday, all the pupils, masters, and ; mistresses being present. '■ ■'"." - The headmaster intimated to the chairman (Sir Maurice O'Rorke) the object of assembling the pupils. The Chairman briefly addressed the girls and boys before presenting the certificates. He said he did not come there that day to proclaim the Easter holidays, as they were so few that they did not need much notice, but before proceeding with the presentation of the certificates, he wished to observe that, owing to the distinctions won by pupils of the school, a Tuesday—would be added to the holidays. Three junior university scholarships were won by pupils of the school at the last examination, Miss I. Robertson coming out at the top of all the candidates, and the lad, N. H. Prior, and Miss H. N. Northcroft, being the two other scholarship winners. In addition to this, the same Miss I. Robertson obtained the first place at the recent Civil Service examination. In consideration of these distinctions an. additional holiday would be according to established usage given at Easter. ' He would now compliment the winners of the Board of Education senior scholarships, and the winners ■of 'the certificatesof ' proficiency, oh their successes. 1 They reflected credit, not only on the talents and industry of themselves as-. pupils of the school, but also.on its masters and mistresses for having discerned the capabilities of their pupils, and so cultivated their talents as to enable them to be victors at the examination. In looking over the list of winners put into his hand, he was glad to see how well the girls passed the ordeal of the examination. Of the 11 scholars six were girls; of the eight holders of certificates of proficiency four were girls. Speaking on this subject, and seeing how well the girls acquitted themselves in intellectual competition with the boys, he could not turn his mind away from the great wrong that is done to female students of the old universities of Oxford and Cambridge, which obstinately refuse to grant degrees to women, even though they pass the degree examination with the highest honours. He might take advantage of the moment to express the gratification he always felt when the Board of Education presented to the Grammar School Board the list of the winners of their junior scholarships and boys under 14. It was especially gratifying to him when these these little scholars came from remote districtsthe back blocks, as they were termed, such as Whakatane, Tauranga, Bay of Islands, Maungatawhiri, Waikato. It showed them that education was being spread broadcast'throughout the province, and it was greatly to the credit of the Auckland Board of Education that whenever a knot of 10 or 12 settlers planted themselves in the wilds of the country, the schoolmaster or schoolmistress at once put in an appearance. He might almost put it the other way, that wherever the Board of Education established a school, settlement at once began to flow there. It might be said he introduced this matter of little children under 14 coming from a distance, to get at his favourite subject of establishing a boardinghouse in connection with the Grammar School. He did not deny it. He wanted to awaken the Auckland Grammar School Board to the necessities of the case—to the necessity of providing for the Avants.of country settlers. He did not despair of yet seeing such a boardinghouse, and these littlescholars of 14 years of age comfortably housed in it. .He did not ask the headmaster to make any special report on the winners of the senior scholarships and certificates of proficiency. -He took for granted they were divided into three classes—the good, the better, and the best. . Sir Maurice said he would now ask the headmaster,' to call up one by one, to the. platform,.those who are entitled to certificates, and afterwards he would like to-be introduced to the recent winners of the Williamson scholarships and junior foundation scholarships. The following were then presented to the .chairman, and received their certificates'•— Board of Education senior • scholars: Edward Caradus, Anne E. Ironside, George W. McClure, Athol F. Howarth. Eleanor C. Gideon, Emily M. Adams, Robert R. Bell, Alma A. Welham, ■ Glawdys Kirkham, Ida L. Madden. Solomon N. Ziman (absent). Holders of certificates of proficiency: Jessie E. Warren, James T. Bishop, Jessie C. Wootten, Frederic N. Abercromqie, Grace V. Edenborough, Frederick C. Webb, Claude B. Tudehope, Mignionette Bridson. • • The following junior foundation scholars were then introduced: —H. R. Kirkcr, Miss E. Dyer, Miss G. S. Thomson, P. S. Bridson, •A. W. Gray, A. N. Mills. The following Williamson scholars : N. R. Northcroft, L. Ziman, Miss S. L. Carter.

Sir Maurice O'Rorke then wished the masters and mistresses, the girls and the boys, pleasant Easter holidays, and a return to the school on Wednesday next, to resume their studies with renewed vigour.