SCHOOL VACATIONS.

WAIMATE DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL (From Our Own Correspondent.) The annual prize distribution of the Waimate District High School was held in the Oddfellows' Hall last evening. Mr Cochrane, Chairman of the School Committee, presided, and there were on the platform his Worship the Mayor (Mr Francis), Mr Jas. Sinclair (Chairman of the High School Board) and Mrs Sinclair, Mr WI M;- Hamilton (Chairman of the Education Board), the members of the Waimate Ministers' Associa-. tion, and members of. tile School Committee. •"-;--■ ' . The Chairman, in opening the, proceedings thanked the .public: for the contirincd interest taken in school matters. All: would be pleased!.to .know that tn § school liad'again maintained its very high position in all scholastic matters. The staff were to lie congratulated on the result of their efforts, and the Committee wished to particularly thank Mr Pitcaithly, who combined great organisirtg arid ability with academical erudition of a high orders for the very excellent results achieved under his rectorship. Fortunately during the past year the district had been free from any serious epidemic, and the attendance had not only been well maintained but in the infant room there had not been sufficient accommodation for increased' attendance; however it was hoped that the- endeavor being made to get the Department to provide additional room would be successful. He had great pleasure in calling on Mrs J. Sinclair to present the prizes. It is due to the Prize Selection Committee to state that the books . presented as prizes were not only numerous but of more than usual value, and altogether a very fine collection. The following is the prize list: -—Standard I. —

Merit.—Boys: Turner Smith and Baden Hawkins (equal) 1, Lawrence Howard and Harold Kirb'v (equal) 2, Bertie Wills 3. Girls:.May Adams 1, Beatrice O'Brien 2, Annie Allan 3. Attendance —Boys: Bertie Wills, Baden Hawkins. Girls: May Adams, Annie Allan, Hazel Butcher. Specials (industry and general pro gress)—Boys: Jack Torlesse, Rab Piteaithlv, Fleming Miller. Girls: Gladys Brinkman, Flora Boyd, Mildred Henry. Drawing—Gordon Morrison. Writing—Willie Hicks. Sewing—Annie Allan 1, May Adams 2. —Standard II. — ■" Attendance—Girls: Janet Allan, Annie Inkster, Mabel Keen, Vera Smith, Bernice Shackleton. Boys: Jack Cox, Horatio dimming, Geoffrey Lindsay. Merit—Girls: Mabel Keen 1, Daisy Bell 2, Margaret Morrison 3, Grace Manchester 4, Bernice Shackleton 5, Janet Allan f5. Boys: David White 1; Rolflo Lee 2, Wm. Batchelor 3. Special (merit): Jno. Stewart, George Joyce, Harold Prue, Hector Henry. Sewing—Vera Smith 1, Gracie Manchester 2. Specials: Irene Cordner and Myrtle Berry. Steady progress (special)— Kathleen

Long-distance nttendance*-Ce c 'l Harrison, Herbert Harrison.

ni.— ; Merit —Bovs: Bertie Melton 1, Ronald M'Donald and William "Phillips (equal) 2, William Coli.ee 3. Girls: Thelnia Hicks and Bessie Kane (equal) 1, Olive Richards 2, Maude White 3. Attendance —Boys: Tom Eade, Walter Howard, Ronald M'Donald, Laurence Nash, William Phillips. Girls: Gladys Batchelor, Mary Corctner, Thelma Hicks, Bertha Hitchens, Ada Jackson, Bessie Kane. Special prizes—Good behaviour: Jessie Hawkins. Industry and progress: Jessie Paul, Eunice Hutt, Cuthbert Paul. .

.Drawing.and painting—John Mumford. '.■...;'. Writing (Mr Manchester's special) — Vera Hurn. Sewing—Mary Cordner 1, Frances Manchester and Ada Jackson (equal) 2. Mrs.'.Adam's special: Thelma Hicks. —Standard IV.— Attendance —Girls: Irene Butcher, Bertha Smith, Ethel Cox, Colenso Walker. Boys: Charles Allfrey, Willie Hume, Clifford Jones, Frederick Keen, Willie M'Pherson, Ernest Wills. Merit —Girls: Jidna Hosking 1, Ruth Hawkins aud Colenso Walker (equal) 2, Alice Eade 3, Kate Wilds 4. Boys: Willie Hume 1, Cecil Penney 2, Clifford Jones 3, Charles Allfrey 4. Specials—Progress: Muriel Quinn. Composition: Austin Sargent. Sewing—lrene Butcher 1, Amy Blamires 2. —Standard V. — Merit—Girls: Marion Bell 1, Isa Lindsay 2, Margaret Akhurst and Marjorie Barclay (equal) 3. Boys: Roriald Shackelton 1, Frank Haymen 2, Herbert Bennington 3. Attendance —Girls: Jessie Kane, Margaret Keen, Nellie Werges, Isa Lindsay. Mona Jones, Evelyn Howard. Boys: Frank Haymen, Ronald Shackelton, Herbert Bishop. Drawing—Jessie Smith. Industry—Archie Hamilton and John Sinclair.

Steady progress —Mark Fairgrieve, —Standard Vl. ;

Merit—Girls: Dora Hume 1, Grace Mimford 2, Frances O'Brien 3, Mabel Kilworth 4. Boys: Donald. Borrie 1, Stanley Jones 2, Arthur Bishop 3, Percy Storey 4. Attendance —Girls: Myrtle Butcher, Dora Hume, Ethel Jackson, Mabel Kilworth, Emily Lindsay, Grace Mumford, Irene Walker, Irene Wilsou. Boys: Arthur Bishop, Percy Storey, Fred Wooffindin.

Special prizes—Most industrious boy,not otherwise a prize-winner (Mr J. Williams' special): Thos. Hawkins. Neatness and industry: Irene Walker. Progress and industry: Molly Wain. Composition : Jenny Cochrane. Dux of primary school (Mr J. Black's special)— Dora Hume. —Junior High School.— Merit— Boys: John Dash 1, William Menzies 2, Clifford Inkster 3, David Hampton 4. Girls: Mabel Jackson (dux) I, Hilda Opie 2, Olive Milne 3, .Neita Nicol 4. Attendance—E'Jlen Hume, Mabel Jackson, Hilda Opie. Athletics— Piteaithly and Irwin Logan. Good conduct—Harry Jacobs, Ethel Adams, and Cissie Quiiin. Shooting—Pyko Benson. —Second Tear High.— Girls: Isabel Ferguson 1. General merit—Ruth Crawshaw and Eileen 'Kane. Steady progress—Ruby Hart. Boys: Jack Kane 1. General merit —Lyall Wills and E. Williams. Steady progress —Jack Council, James Stokes, and William Hay. —Advanced Grade. —

English—Marjorio (Joy. French and mathematics—llutli Hertslet.. —Matriculation Class.— Dux—Alice Borrie. Merit—Girls: W. Black. M. Ferguson and IT. Blight. Diligence and general progress— Girls: M. Hart and J3.-Cochrane. English—Hoys: B. Hay man. Mathematics—Boys: G. Bradshaw. Diligence and general progress —-Boys: M. Lynch. Attendance—Boys: 8., Hayman, J. Kane, A. Shackleton, H. Sevrey, L. Wills, E. Williams. Girls: W. Black, E. Crawshaw, M. Ferguson, M. Hart, E. Kane, L. Crawshaw, I. Ferguson. —Cookery.— High School—Practical: Ngaire Pitcaithly 1, Eileen Kane 2. Theoretical: Maitle Hart, Winnie Black and Alice Borrie (equal) 2. Standard VI. —Special: Myrtle Butcher (Ist practical and theoretical), Bella Campbell 2, Emily. Lindsay 3. Standard V. —Practical: Isa Lindsay 1, Mona Jones 2. Theoretical: Nellie ' Werges. —Shooting.—" Three specials presented by Mr Beckett: Ernest Williams ■■ 1, Michael Lynch 2, William Scott 3. —Specials.— Most polite and manly boy: G. Bradshaw. Most polite and lady-liko girl: W. Black. Best "sport": R. Hertslet. The following were donors of special prizes—Mesdames S. J. Adams, W. Hamilton, J. Sinclair, aucl "G. Manchester, Messrs J. Black, J.,.Borrie, N. Francis, W. Hamilton,*!. Sinclair, G. Manchester, J. Williams. - I During a break in the prize-giving Mr Hamilton addressed those present, speaking very highly of the work of the school and staff. ■ In regard to the want I

of accommodation the Inspecior-General was visiting Waimate to inquire into the matter, and it was reasonably expected that some improvement would be made

Mr Sinclair also spoke particularly in regard to the work of the upper school. Not only were the pupils successful in their examinations, but .anyone following the careers of ex-pupils would realise that as a result of their education they were better fitted to make their way in the world, and men holding high positions all over New Zealand received their early training in the Waimate High School. He would like to see the school forward the interests of agricultural education, and some day perhaps scholarships would be given at Waimate., tenable at Lincoln College. He congratulated the, staff on the position,

A Mr'Pitcaithly acknowledged the compliments tendered, . .and claimed thai, the major Apbrtiori 'of •■■ the; credit was due to his assistants;: ••'"'"■ ''-' L --'.; :'-,.

His Worship the Mayor, in; addressing the meeting, humorously .-suggested that Mr Pitcaithly. add to the:school subjects;the: "artiof/public speaking,!' and next, year they might see-; prizes given for this subject and the'children, could show the seniors how to address a prize-distribution meeting./ Mr Francis spoke on Navy Leagne; matters, and presented the ■-; prizes won in connection with 'the essay competition to J. Kane, M. Hart, arid .M. Jackson;" ~ The .Rev., J. Harris, On behalf of the Ministers' Association, spoke briefly and reported that the •: result of the Scripture examination was . very satisfactory. '.'"'" The following prizes were distributed for Scripture knowledge: < High School—Winnie Black, Mabel Jackson, Ruth Crawshaw.

Standard IV—Cecil Penney, Winnie Alfrey, Wm. M'Pherson, Ernest Wills. Standard lll—Bessie Kane, Olive Richards.

Standard ll—Dora. Hassall, Mary Morrison, Janet Allen.

Standard I—Gordon Morrison, Annie Allen.

WAIMATE PUBLIC SCHOOL

—lnfant Departments—-.

The annual prize-giving in connection with the i above took place yesterday(Wednesday)i" afternoon'"-'" Mr G. V. Cochrane, Chairman of -the: School Committee, presided and there was a good attendance of mothers and friends. After the children had gone through a number of action songs under'the ba-" ton of Miss Crawford and several of the mites had given recitations, the Chairman called upon Mrs W. "M. Hamilton to distribute the prizes. The following is the prize list: — ' —Class V.— ; Boys: L. Sargent 1. H. Hutt 2, A. Eathorne 3. Girls: Veda Melton and Mclba Wills 1, R. Fulton 2, T. Dugdale 3. ■..-.... —Class IV.— Boys: W. Wergis 1, V. Hayinan 2, W. dimming 3. Girls: Myrtle Smith-1. T. Inkster 2, M. Collett 3. • —Class 111. W. Hicks 1, Horace Searle 2. Frank Kelly 3, A. Hawkins 4. Girls: E. Penney 1, F. Ellis 2, J. Shevington 3, R. Nash 4. —Class 11. Boys: Gerald Barnard 1, Ray Grant 2,. Tohr Cochrane 3, Douglas Allan 4. Girls: G. Kennard 1, N. Childs 2: G. Pollard 3, M. Hurst 4. Attendance: C. Guthrie, Allan, H. Butcher. E. Kane, A. Jackson, C. Eade, L. Smith, G. Batchelor. Arithmetic: S. Manchester, R. Fagan, Reading: O. Barclay, R. Manchester, D. Manchester, D. Akhurst, L. Dash. Neatness: V. Duhstan, M. Rickman. ' Spelling: H. Dugdale,. M. Smith, M. Grant. - Long Distance; Hazel Scott, J. Bremner, L. Shefford, B. Brownlee, E. Atwill, T. Atewell, S. Harrison, C. Harrison, G. Bremner, . Ina Hardwick, E. Atewell, N. .Atewell. Industry: D. Hawkins, W. Willets, D. Joyce. L. Smith, A. Borrie, N. M'Kenzie, M. Boyd, J. Cochrane, L. M'Kerizie. Most Industrious Boy: Keith Denholme. After the distribution of prizes Miss Hunter, one of the most popular teachers in the infant department received several presentations from the teachers and pupils on the. occasion of her departure from Waimate to enter a training college. Mr Pitcaithly thanked the donors on behalf of Mi.ss Hunter.

His Worship the. Mayor was then called upon to address the children, which he did, expressing pleasure at seeing them once again and wishing them a pleasant holiday.

The Rev. C. Penney also spoke a few words.

Each of the children was presented with a text cardTm'belri'f of the Ministers' Association, and Mr G. V. Cochran,e made a very popular speech when he informed the children that he had heard such good repoi ts of them all that he had decided to give each one a packet of chocolates. The distribution of the Chaw ..liiii'p gift and the customary cheers closed the function.