THE NELSON COLLEGE.

Colonist, Volume XVII, Issue 1852, 22 December 1874, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE NELSON COLLEGE.

The annual distribution of prizes in connection with the above institution took place on Dec. 11." A large number of tho bojs' parents and friends were present, and several of our leading citizens. His Honor the Superintendent presided: . At half past two o'clock his Honor called upon the Eev. Mr. Poole, the examiner, to read his report, which was as follows :— " Nelson College, December 11, 1874, "TO THK QOTEENOBS-Ol? NEISON COMJEGB. " G-entlemen —I have the honor to inform you that I have-completed the examination of the different departments into which, tho College is divided, and have to report as follows : — ' " English and Classics. " The list of author's that tue Head Maeter requested mo to examine in, were Sliakespeare, and Archbishoo Trench's work on English, Tacitus, Cicero, Lucretius, Virgil, Dr. • Smith's Principia Latina, parts 1., IL, IV., with prose composition from English into Latin, Sophocles, Initia Grseca, Pcntes Clnssici, the Student's Hume, and Morley's History of English Literature. I found the English, as tested by answers feo several questiona/as well as reproductions and translations, as satisfactory as 1 could wish. All the exercises were written in a good clear hand, and arranged in a business-like form. As I read over the productions for the sate of the information required, I detected but few mistakes in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Among3t the papers of the pupils who had been at the College for some years there, was an entire absence of anything like a grammatical blunder. ''.' " The_system of preparing a play of Shakespeare or a portion of some other -work of genius is ve?y wqrthy of notice, leading, as it will no doubt do, to habits of historical and philological criticism, without which our noble English literature cannot be well understood and appreciated. " The , answers of Thompson were particularly sood,Jor although he did not do as; much as Barhicoat and Harkuess (i), he displayed a decided talent foTTliis particular kind of knowledge. i In the Middle School, ,the compositions of B\ H. Richmond were remarkable for their elegance and neatness. A. C. Richmond's exercise asa reprqduction was very neat.and accurate for a boy : Qf his age. ': " Latin and Greek are not the most popular studies' of the present generation, and: every classical master has to contend, against the utilitarian objections to what are erroneously called ' dead, languages.' Ab long as this .spirit continues, and,the school time, which in foriger days was given to construing and learning off by heart lines of the ancient .poets^ is appropriated to more modern subjects, .we cannot reasonably expect a very high standard of scholarship. The proficiency of some of the senior.boys is sufficient proof that the classical teacher, has been doing his ■duty, and that Nelson College will be. able to maintain, its name, notwithstanding continual draughtsof our most promising lads for the Civil service.and other offices. Barnicoat, 0. F. Richmond,, and Atkinson (i) are good in Classics ; and I find that Harkness, Sadd, and Thompson have made steady improvement during the last twelve months*., :<;■ ■ ' '

" In the lower classes they all gave evidence-that great pains bad been" bestowed upon them, and that .the most approved books were used by the pupils.: "The, History seemed to have been: very fairly studied.' Harkness (i), C. F. Richmond, and Sadd did their papers, very well, and I can conscientiously recommend Harkness (i) for the Stafford, with some regret that there are not three instead of only one I History Scholarship, as the two last-mentioned boys I have done very wel) in thi3 special branch of learning. 1 Tlie addition of Morley is- a novelty, but_ onewhjch j I regard as most important. I can see in this particular how that Nelson College is adapting itself to the progress of education thac is taking place in the Mother Country and elsewhere. .' . . '• Barnicoat (l) has obtained the highest place in Classics, his aggregate 'marks placing him in. the first place of merit, but as he will have also the Mathematical, which he cannot hold by, the rules of the institution, I recommend him for Jbhe Colonel Richmond's Scholarship, which I understand is not only the most Valuable of the vacant ones, but was given for general proficiency. . The Classical will, therefore, fall to another most deserving youth—Richmond^)., .'Atkinson (i) will be worthy,of the Newcotne." He is aVsingulurly,advanced.boy for his age, being under 12, and yet not very far below the highest'scholar. , Harkne-s (i) -1, wpuld like to hold the Fell. He is third in Classics, and. second in Mathe-. matics, surpassed only by .Barnicoat. This, will leave the first .Mathematical open for a most deserving boy, whom I have presently to mention. -In the Middle School, the Secrond.Classical is ; confined to boys under'l2, and aB. Wither (i) is qualified,! have great pleasure in recommending him for that honor. , , = ; ; i " The Third Classical, for boys under 12, ha 3 been won by F. W. Richmond (IV), whose, Latin exercise and yiyd.voce examination.made him decidedly the, ■first amongst the boys "of that tender age., , ■;- .-,. ''The Reading: prizes, in- the opinion.of .Dr. .Boor "and! my self,fell to—lst, Harkness (I); 2nd, Harkness (xi)'s 3rd, A. Kiichmond. there iwereothec good , dreaders, but these were decidedly the best.. . \ . "The Mathematical Report. "Thei subjects'^ this departmißnt, as forwarded to me by the iMa^hematicalmaster were Arithmetic general for the highest division, arid special for the lower. Euclid/Wr. 1, 2, 3, <£ 6,; 11, AlgebVa^; Trigonometry Plane, Conic"Sections/; Statics, ancl'Dynamics1, with. Physical Gt-ei graphy. In Arithmetic''the boys .were. quite:equal to those' of 'former 'years';! ' The'most' distinguished were ':"&. *IL' Bullard,' Harkness p^, Barnicoat, Sadd, Firth, -Myers; O'Connor, Harkness (li)y and F. H. Richmond. . This seems a mpstfayor;ite study 'here, and thei general proficiency is"qmte; surprising.' ' • ■ ;'.''■. ' w -■; , "jßuclid is also well taught. The youngerTboys did their propositions very satisfactorily. . Barnicoat and Harkness (i) were able tb\write out ill'the;problems and iwoiild have finished the/paper, if I" had notsefc'a difficult one. in the 11th beyond the rangeof; their rending.'; The accomplishments of Atkinson'(i)'in the Science of Demonstration are an exception to the generally acknowledged statement that boys of tender, a^e are not fit persons for'such abstruse studies. V ° "In Algebra,- several boys who have not been mentioned, deserve honorary mention; viz: Hodgson; Watt (i), G.T. Richmond/and,/Bullard. All the boys seemed to have had "great practice 'iriV working this 'subject'and it was with great pleasure that I saw: a riaper with, by no mean's' easy questions, on the whole; completely'mastered'by Barnicoat, who was closely followed by several others. .'; - "Trigonometry was well done by eight out of the eleven boyswho brought it up. ■' ; .... . i; ''PhjsicalGeography, another of the favorite studies in the' College, was generally good and the younger boys in the 'Lower School under the care of;Mr il'Neale answered well in a vivd voce examination. A prize given for thia subject will .fall- to JV H. "Kichmdnd, whiles other deserving names will ..have this Bubjeofc -as a very important element in their aggregatefor general proficiency. ':'',"'. "Conic "Sections, Statics, and Dynamics are studied' ' by"Barrriebat and 'Harkneis (i). The subjects are all well illustrated in the books used iri the school, dnd the results show" that thero is a mode' of.'teaching' which brings the highest iVlathematical theories and problems .within the ; comprehension of young, minds. - " The rSch.blarships'for Q-6neral Proficiency in this ; department will be given as follows :—The first^^ will be takeh.byEirtb, as reither Barnicoafc nor Harkness (i) can hold' it. His aggregate marks placed" hitn in'the third place of merit. The sec-ohd ' Mathematical will be given to ""Harkness (ir) whose proficiency was highly satisfactory. The thirdvwill be awttrded'to Hartmann (n). lam happy to conclude with' remarking on the inorease of the number bfpupilsj'and the excellent discipline that is still kepfcup; * '■" ■■•■•.!•■:■■••■ '■■..'','.,, ./., :, ; "The newboys whom I did noi; see here Jasfc, year ' are worthy additions to our diasaes,' and' hav"e, 'by :~ their good oonduct," won my esteemj and I hope I may be able, on'some.other occasion, to speak of their progrees under the/dpl^ tuition that.is afforded tHem I • in this'placei -: 'Ji '"' '"'"' ' '-"-"■■ /' ■'"'" '/':'- "/'" ■- ', .'I ■ ;i ; " I remain, &c, '<[.■'■'' " l tßmusb'EQoin!!,M.&.., Examiner."

. His Honob eaid : Ladies and Q-entlemen, —I haye been called upon rather unexpectedly -to take the part I am now taking, in these proceedings, and on that account I must be excused from making anything like a prepared speech npon the benefits of education in general, and the advantages offered.by this College in particular, which on these occasions is-customary ; but I am inclined to think that the report that \ro haye just heard read may exceedingly well take the place of any stereotyped remarks of that character which might be made. I think that the report shows plainly that many of these exhortations in favor of inoreased exertions on the part of masters and increased application on the part of pupil?, which are so frequently offered, would be altogether uncalled for, and. I think it is an established fact that this College has maintained, and n» all probability' will continue to maintain, that high place it lias taken amongst the higher educational establialnnontfi ia the Colony- I eanaofe halp "referring to the late competition for scholarships for the University of New Zealand, aud to the position this College held there—a position certainly not inferior to that of any gther similar institution in the Colony, and looking to the small numbers which this building contains, we may take it that the Nelson College took the very first place ■in .that competition in the whole of the Colony. It is, 1 think, a subject for great congratulation both tq.this.1 College and to the higher educational establishments in this Colony that the University has now beep put on a better footing than has hitherto been the? case. I do hope to see the time when this institution, and others of asimilar character, will no longer be nSerely affiliated branches of the University, but will as. Colleges form a part of that' University as a directing and examining body.- That I think iB a matter for. future consideration, but it is one to which we should all look forward as capable of giving very greatly increased efficiency to the higher education throughout the Colony. I will not detain you any longer, but will ask Mr.. Simmons to read the. list.of prize, winners, (Applause.) ~~, , / ■vo«'- ---% Mr Simmons spoke of the bad pronunciation ; of. boys who attended the College, even some of those : who belonged to the most highly refined families. He asked every parent to pay attention to his son's pronounciation. He then read .the. following prize : list, the Superintendent . presenting the prizes..• The prize list is as under:—- y .■■■-. . ~ . ■■ - ,; • ■ .. . Scholarships. ~, . . ■.

Richmond Scholarship.^T-Barnicoat ... >■:■ :■■,; Newcdme Scholarship.—Atkinson : ' ' Stafford Scholarship—Harkness (i),. - Governors' Classical Scholarship—Richmond (I) Governors' Mathematical Scholarship—Firth ' Governors' Classical Scholarship, under 14— '■. Wither (i) ' , - Governors' Mathematical Scholarship, under 14— Harkness (n) Governors' Classical, under 12— F. .W. Richmond Governors' Mathematical, under 12—Hartmann (H) ... ■..■■•■-. :'■ -■■ PBIZEMEN.—-FIBST ROOM. Classical, Sadd,;- Mathematical, Watt (i) E«] no " • prize; English, Thompson , ; ;.; . Second Room. Classical. Badge -[a] ; Andrews; Mathematical, .'; ; .•;:. Walker. .' .;.•-.; ■ ■ ' : ■ ; Second Division—English, Longton. ■: "'.'.: •■' Thied Room. '- " "''.'"'". Classical; Bublrland (i) [a],; Simmons (n)> Mathe*'. , matical, Seymour (i) ' :} First Division—English, Mowat (i), '[a] ; M'Rae ; . • [a], no prize ' ' Second Division —English, Andrew (n) ; Arith- ; metic, Seymour (v) " French1, D. O'Connor. First' Division —Physical Geography, F. H. Richmond Second Division-^-PHysical Geography, Hutcheson (i) ' English Reading (First Room), Harkness (i) v ■•■•'■ (Secbnd Room), Harkness (n) \ „ ,-,'.■' (Third Rooms), Ist, Alf. Rich- ■ ;m'bnd ; 2nd/ Simmons . ; Extra English Prizes (Mr .Sinimona'recommends)/'. i Hodgson ; (Mr. Maekay reuommends) Atkini-

; , : ■ son (il). ' " ;'• ' ' '" " M!r.-■■Simmons said1 it Bad'given him: pleasure to' know that the boys had been exceedingly well' behaved,, during the past year, and ! he":- thanked them 'for' it." There ;had been nothing like 'punishment for bad beharioiny discipline had been maintained,'.and much praise was due to:the elder boys for'the "way-^th'ey | had carried on what he might call the traditions 'of the ■school. To the best of his knowledge the'boys'; had; certainly thehabits of gentlemen, and bethought' | thpir general good; conduce was due', as he had;; previously intimated, to the elder boys. ' ,It' was the , duty of the upper scholars to give a tone to the school, } for ithe masters could' not do' it. TheVefore, he thought that the best* thank's of the masters wire due to the npper boys of the school, an'd'he could not help saying that among 'the upper boys; James Barnicoat was one to whom he believed they owed,: perhaps ifc would be unjust to say the whole, but at any rate, very n?uch. He felt bound to say a'few word aon a subject to which Mr Poole had, referred. They could not keep up the character of the school against the heavy draught that was made upon' it for the Civil service.- Nothing was more painful to' him than to see a clever boy faken 'away from the College to join the ranks of that awful service. When •he was in Wellington some time ago^ he saw several boys in theG-overnment offices flattening their noses against the window panes. Ec thought it was wrong to take a clever boy, who might do'something for the good of his fellow-men, from school ia' order ' that'he might 'bo employed writing " I have ihe i honor to be, si^ ■ In'hisopinion it would be better for, boys to learn to be smiths and carpenters than to be taken from school at an early age and put in a' Government Office. IPor bis own parb he could not see why an educated and refined tradesman should' not be a gentleman. A man might-be poor, but he (Mr. Simmons)'had never yet heard anybody say that poverty was a bar to being a gentleman. Many people considered that when a man took his coat off to work he ceased to be a gentleman, but the people who thought 6.0 were.mistaken, and the time would come when the man who worked would be thought as much a gentleman as anybody else. Ib would depend upon a manVculture whethev he had a right | to the title. (Applause.) He congratulated the College and the boys upon their very great success. Whilst thanking the boys ' for their real hard work | he would also tender his thanks to Mr. Mackay, Mr.-i M'Neale, Dr. Boor, and Mr. Montalk, for' the zeal they had displayed, and above all he thanked the Q-overnors for the kind and generous manner in which they had backed every effort made in the interest of the College. Dr. Boor, who had examined the boys in Botany and Chemistry, came to the conclusion that none of them were worthy of a prize, and he thought they should thank him very much for having the courago to say so. It only remained for him to say thab the school would be re-opened on. the Ist-of February next, and he -wished. vtho boys ■eery Lappy holidays. (Applause.) His Honor called on ihe boys fcr three cheers for Mr. Simmons and the other masters, and the call was enthusiastically responded to. ' Cheers were also given fop Mr. Curtis and the Governor?, and the Ladies. Mr. Baeniooat in terms of praiae of the great skill and ability displayed by the examiner, the Rev. Mr. Poole. This terminated the proceedings.