YEAR IN RETROSPECT

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 69, 14 December 1933, Page 7

YEAR IN RETROSPECT

St, Patrick’s College Activities PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY The end of another successful year in the history of St, Patrick’s College was' marked by the annual presentation of prizes by his Grace Archbishop Redwood at a ceremony at the college yesterday afternoon. ' ■ In addition to 'his' Grace; visitors present Included Monsignor Connolly, Rev.-Father McGlone, Rev. Father Nolan, Rev. Father McGrath, Rev. Father Carmine, Rev. Father Milligan, S.M., Rev. Father Evatt, Rev. Father Dowling. S.M., rector of Silverstream College, and the Rev. Father O’Connell, S.M. . “The Father of the College.” The presence at the ceremony of his drace Archbishop Redwood, said the 1 Very 'Rev. Father A. J. Cullen, S.M., B.Sc., the rector of the college, was a token of the interest he had always taken in the college. Its history was closely interwoven with his Grace’s own life history; he had been its father, its sorrows had been his sorrows, and its joys his joys. It was he who had (Conceived the idea of the college, and it was his brain and energy which had brought it into effect. ", In the name of the college the. rector congratulated his Grace on achieving,; in February, the sixtieth year of his consecration in the episcopate, and hoped he would look forward to and be present at the golden jubilee of the college which would take place one year later. “The number of secondary students attending St. Patrick’s College this year is 177,” said the Very Rev. Father Cullen in his annual report. “This compares favourably with the numbers of the two previous years of the college’s existence as. a day school. We are : happy to be able to report a full year in sporting activities; this in spite of the- many difficulties that we have to contend with, such as our limited playing ,area and our situation in the centre of; the city. A fair share of success in games came our way. Prominence to Commerce. “During the year we have made a definite move . toward giving greater prominence to the commercial side of the college. For 1934 a syllabus of work has been drawn up that : will place dur commercial studies on an equal footing with, the classical. This change in our programme of work is made necessary by the fact that a large number of bur,boys must seek employment, after their school is finished, in office work. Moreover, there is a fair proportion of students whose minds are not fitted for the purely academic side of college studies. A matriculation is not within the scope of their ability. Bookkeeping, shorthand and typewriting, will' give full opportunity for the development of their practical natural gifts. “The results of our recent scholarship examination are as follow:— Archbishop O'Shea’s scholarship was won by John Allen, of the Marist Brothers’ School, Tasman Street; the Skerrett scholarship by Bernard Flower, Marist Brothers’ School, Hawke-, stone Street; the O’Kane’s scholarship’ by Patrick Lavin, Tasman Street; the Sacred Heart Parish scholarship by Bernard Hughes, Hawkestone Street; the Newtown Parish scholarship by Emmett McGuire, Tasman Street; and the St. Patrick’s College scholarship to Kevin Jansen, Tasman Street. All these scholarships provide free tuition for two years.” His Grace said that he had always taken a great interest in the college. He had been only 34 years of age when he had become Bishop of Wellington; he was then the youngest in the world, and now he was the oldest.. After outlining the establishment and history of the college, he emphasised that the education of Catholic youths was one which should find their, first thoughts. Not only was it necessary to fit youths for careers, but also to fit them for the higher world. The boys were exceedingly fortunate in the educational facilities they possessed, and the parents should appreciate the advantage which their sons had. The prizes were only the emblem of a higher prize. Awards and Prizes. The awards and prizes for the year were as follow:-— . Blue Medal (gold,, medal. presented by his Grace Archbishop Redwood for general proficiency, in studies, sports, school ■ spirit and influence): Thomas Parsonage. Dux of school (gold medal presented by his Grace Archbishop O’Shea): Ivan Fisher. Christian doctrine, senior forms (gold medal presented by Old Boys’ Association): Desmond Hogan. Form's.—General excellence (gold medal presented, together with first prizes for other forms except 4a. by Mr. Bernard McCarthy)) John Smith, 1; Desmond Hogan, 2; Cyril O’Connor,- 3.- Next'in merit, David O’Neill and Noel Doohan. ■Form 5 Remove.—Christian doctrine: Thomas Coulter. General excellence: John j King, 1: John Fox. 2;-Dominic Smith, 3. Next in merit: Robert O’Flaherty and Thomas McDonald. '' Form 4a.—Christian", doctrine:' Francis McEnroe. General excellence (Melville Crombie Remembrance Prize): Laurence Cameron, 1; John Noble-Beasley. 2; Gerard Blake,‘3. Next In merit: Charles Mulcahy and John McWilliams. Form. 4b.—Christian doctrine:' Francis Barnao. General excellence:- William Frost, 1; John Byrne, 2; Patrick Aylett, 3. Next- in -merit: Gerald Russell and Francis Barnao. Form 3a. —Christian doctrine: Patrick Sheerin. General excellence: John Parker, 1;- John .O’Shea, 2:. Bernard Twomey, 3. Next In merit: Patrick Sheerin and Brian Pope. ’ . Form 3b.—Christian -doctrine:- Dawson Cunningham. General excellence: Dudley Sinclair, 1: Francis Garty. 2; Anthony McLaughlin, 3. Next In merit: Jack Scott and Terence McSweeney. Senior prize for oratory: Thomas Parsonage. Junior prize for oratory: Neville Welsh.