ASHBURTON HIGH S HOOL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 7933, 15 December 1909, Page 3

ASHBURTON HIGH S HOOL.

ANNUAL BREAKING-UP

The annual distribution of prizes in connection with the Ashburton High [ School was made this afternoon in the school Assembly Hall, when there was a good attendance of ex-pupils and the general public. The chairman of the Board of Governors (Mr J. Tucker) presided, and Mr and Mrs John Griggiand the members of the teaching staffs were also on the platform. The chairman haying made a few introductory remarks, the School Song, composedly Mr C. F. Salmond, M.A., of Canterbury College, and an exmaster of the School, and set to music by Mr Llewellyn Owen, was sung by the pupils. HEADMASTER'S REPORT.

The Headmaster (Mr W. F. Watters, 8.A.) reported that the total enrolment of pupils for the year was' 124— 63 boys and 61 girls—of whom 34 boys and 32 girls entered for the first time. These figures were school records. Of the total roll, 33 boys and 20 girls come from outside a three-mile radius, from Dunsandel to Hinds, and from Springburn and Mount Somers to Longbeach, so that the school was fully representative of the AsnTrarton county. Of the 124 pupils, only seven paid fees, the remainder being; either Government free-place pupils or Board of Governors' free-place pupils. If the attendance increased proportionately next year,, an addition to the school teaching staff would be looked for.

Cheerful reference was made to the conduct and work of the pupils both inside and outside of the school, and the appointment of school prefects for both boys and girls was stated to have been an important factor in this connection. The attendance had been generally very good—noticeably so on the part of country pupils—and the health of the pupils had also been good, j The curriculum had been strengthened by the addition of classes in shorthand, physical instruction, music and painting. It was hoped that some arrangements might be made during the coming year whereby the commercial course might be strengthened by "the addition of typewriting. Owing to the wet autumn and spring, the swimming classes were unable to receive more than a very little instruction, but better things were looked for after the vacation.

In the public examinations held in December, 1908, six candidates (the total number presented) passed matriculation; one candidate gained the Education Board's senior scholarship; two passed the Junior Civil Service examination with credit, and ten secured ordinary passes; while one. passed the Senior Free-place examination. This year two candidates had been presented for the Junior University Scholarship examination, twelve for matriculation ,and 33 for the Junior Civil Service test,~ including seven for tho Education Board's Senior Scholarsnips. In this connection the report continued as follows: "It is probable that in future we>- shall present fewer candidates for the Civil Service examination, allowing them to iake advantage of the Departmental regulations by which senior free-places may be granted on the recommendation of the Principal ,in conjunction with inspection and examination of the pupils' j work by the officers of the Department. By this means the Civil Service examination may be taken after three years' work, with a better prospect of success in some cases.' In time it is hoped that this system will be extended so that admission to the University ma.v be gained not, as now, on the | matriculation examination, but on the record of four years' work in the secondary school." It was added that parents, on entering pupils, would do well to consult the staff as. to their wishes with; regard to the course they wished the pupils to follow, the disadvantages of oversight in this resnect being pointed out. The report also referred to tho visit of Dr Anderson (Assistant-Inspector-General) on June 9, 10 and 11, and at some length to the various school, institutions. The cadet corps was at its full official strength of 63, and its successes and those of its individual members, as already published in this paper from time' to time, were detailed. Much interest had been manifested by' the pupils in the.various school sports, and a fair amount'of success had been attained. The School Magazine—The Ashburtoniun —a copy of the December number of which was on the table that day, was, now a well-established publication, and would, its promoters were convinced, bo an increasingly imports ant factor in stimulating and. keeping alive the interest of both old and present pupils'in their school. The circulation amongst ex-pupils was increasing. The various classes in technical and. manual work were in excellent heart, and the school staff remained the same.

The Headmaster concluded by expressing. his thanks to the Board of Governors for their zealous attention tp school matters, and to his colleagues for their able assistance and devotion to their duties. (Applause.) Mr John Grigg, the Rev. Messrs H. E, Bollhouse, E. Whitehouse and G. B. | Inglis and Mr W. H. Collins all delivered short addresses, a fuller report of which will appear in our next issue. THE PRIZES were presented by Mrs John Grigg as follows :.■•.. • „■. Dux of- School. —Gladys McClurg. Form VI (upper).—All subjects—l .llauru Jones.

Form VI (lower). —Languages—Ivy ingby 1, Lizzie Kelly 2, Bessie Loy and Louie Burnard (equal) 3. Mathematics —E. Oliver 1, Ivy Digby 2, Lizzie Kelly 3. Science—lvy Digby 1, Hazel ..Watters 2. ■■; -:

■ Form V—Languages'—Hazel Watters l l G...Clark 2, C. Harold 3. Mathematics—Hazel Watters 1, C. Harold 2, H. ,G. Bell 3. .Science with Form VI.

i<'orm IV (Upper).—Languages—Hilda Smith 1, E. Withell 2, E. H. Senior 3. Mathematics—W. Watson 1, Hilda Smith 2, J. Allen 3. Science—E. H. Senior 1, Lucy Toner 2. Form prize (proxime accessit)-—Stanley McCallum. .-, Form IV (Lower) —Languages—Doris McClurg 1, C. Saunders 2, Nita TJrquhart 3. Mathematics—C. Williams 1, C. Sheat 2, Doris McClurg 3. Science—C. Sheat 1, Katie Jary 2. Commercial Subjects.—Book-keeping —Senior A., E. H. Senior; Senior 8., W. Watson; Junior A., O. Saunders; Junior 8., C. Sheat. Shorthand —A., Ivy Digby; 8., E. Withell, —Athletic and Shooting Prizes— Tennis.—Champion, Ivy Digby; run-ner-up, Hazel Watters. Fives. —Cup, J. Allen; singles (Mr J. V. De Beer's medal), J. Allen; (Mr W. F. Watters's medal), H. G. Boll; doubles, H. Richards and K. Rollitt.

Athletics —Senior rap, K. Riollitt (and special medal); trophies,. J. S. Church, Rauru Jones, L. Rountree, "VV. R. Bromner; junior cup, C. P. Turner; trophies, E. Wilson, K. Campbell, C. Williams.

Shooting.—Challenge cup and Mr M Stitt's medal, E. H. Senior; Mr H. M. Jones's trophy, It. J. McKenzie; M. It. Meecharrs trophy, E. Olliver.

At the conclusion the usual votes of thanks were proposed, honoured, and replied to, Mrs Grigg being heartily cheered, and tea was handed round by the girls of the school.