EDUCATIONAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 298, 23 December 1897, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL.

The first local examinations in music on behalf of the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy of Music, London, were held on Dec. 6, Mr C. Lee Williams, Mus. Bac., officiating as examiner, and Herr Carl Scbmitt as Hon. Secretary. The following is the preliminary reports of the" results :—Senior gradeTheory of Music, pass certificates, Jessie May Adams and Francis A. Holinden. Pianoforte playing, pass certificates, Jessie M. Adams and 'Emily Brabant. _ Violin playing, pass certificate, Sybil Lewis.

A private cablegiam was received on Dec. 20 stating that at the Trinity College, London, local practical examinations held in October (in tbe pianoforte playing division) all the candidates who were sent up by Mr W. 11. Webbe and his assistant, Miss M. Spooner, were successful in passing. The names of the pupils were:— Senior division (pass), Miss E. Maclaurin ; junior division (honoijrs), Miss F. Garlick ; junior division (pass), Misses M. Cole, J. 'Teasedale and Mr T. C. Timms; primary division, Misses G. Spooner, M. Scott and R. Cousins. At the recent theoretical examinations there was only one failure out ot ten of Mrs Webbe:s pupils who entered.

The annual Conference of the Te Aute College Students' Association, held at Gisborne, was well attended, Archdeacon Samuel Williams presiding. A number of papers have been read dealing with various phases of Maori life, and showing where reforms are needed. Resolutions were passed emphasising the neces-iiy of the local option vote being extended to the Maoris, the neglected state of Maori children, and the necessity of imparting to them religions instruction, urging the introduction of the Bible into the Maori schools, and with respect to the laud question, that it is desirable that the portions of Maori land most suitable for settlement and cultivation should be reserved as tiie inalienable possession of the Maori race. The report stated that the objects of the Association had been considerably forwarded though a great deal of the work had consisted in preparing the ground and sowing 3eed.