ANNUAL PRIZE-GIVING

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 68, 13 December 1938, Page 7

ANNUAL PRIZE-GIVING

St. Patrick’s College,

Silverstream

MINISTER’S COMPLIMENTS

‘■Character, about which tve hear so much, is built up by the exercise or ue ordinary everyday virtues ot lite, obedience, honesty in thought, word atm action, an all-embracing chaiitj , ) the fulfilment of the duties of a Christian citizen,” said the Very Rev. J. JKennedy, MuV.. rector of St. latncKs College, Silver-stream, in his annual report at the prize-giving ceremony a the college yesterday. These virtues lie spoke of were summed up thus, satu Father Kennedy, by the Apostle of tae Gentiles, "Render to all men their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom: fear to whom teat , honour to whom honour. Owe no man anything but to love one another, rot he that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law.” There was a large attendance ot clergy, parents of pupils, old boys and friends of the college. The Vicar-Gen-eral of the archdiocese of Wellington. Very Rev. Monsignor Connolly, presented the prizes. The Minister of Education, Mr. F ra ser, the mayor of upper Hutt, Mr. I’. Robertson, and.other representative citizens, were present. Father Kennedy welcomed Monsignor Connolly, whose interest in education, he said, had always been an inspiration to those in charge of the college. The absence of Archbishop O’Shea, the indefatigable champion of Catholic education, was regretted. The college congratulated his Grace on the attainment of the silver jubilee of his Episcopate and hoped that his visit to Europe and America would be productive of much good for New Zealand. Mr. Fraser, as Minister of Education, had done outstanding work for the rising generation of New Zealanders, and his encouragement and interest had been long appreciated. The college had the utmost confidence in Mr. Iraser in the difficult task ahead of him—the reform of the educational system. College Ideals.

“From the beginning the college has endeavoured to train the boys in knowledge and character to face life s complex problems, not merely to prepare them to take their places in some profession or trade,” said Father Kennedy. “We have tried to form the character so that the boy has the power and strength of will to do what he knows to be right for himself, his home, family and fatherland." In the words of a former rector, ‘the purpose of our education is this: to open the boy's mind, ever so little, to knowledge—to show him where to find it; to teach him to admire it, to desire it with all his powers, not. to hate it because it is part of an examination syllabus; to place in his hands the golden key wherewith he may open the palaces of the particular form of knowledge be wants later, when he understands life.’” , They included in this—first, religious knowledge, the knowledge of God the Creator, or the origin, purpose and end of human life and then all forms of other knowledge that were good. The next purpose was to train his will—the will to learn and the will to “live his knowledge—religious and secular. With these were included the training of the natural virtues, the training to society, to citizenship, in the duties pertaining to each. This was their purpose. The problem of the training of the young was a problem of nature perfected by’ grace. x God’s gifts, both natural and supernatural, were entrusted to teachers in an undeveloped condition. They might be used, abused or not used at all. The value of any gift, however brilliant, depended upon the character, not the character upon the gift. Concluding, Father Kennedy said that an old boy recently wrote back to the college a valued appreciation of the spirit of St. Patrick’s. “The principles instilled by the masters,” he bad written, “made it possible to solve problems which required moral guidance. The spirit of St. Patrick’s can, does,’ and always will, guide its students on the right path from the day they walk through the college gates to take their place in the world.” , “Prize for All Pupils.” There wag a prize everyone could win; it was the most valuable and available to each pupil, said Monsignor Connolly in congratulating the prizewinners on their success and the nonprizewinners on the appreciative manner in which they had received the announcement of the success of their fellow scholars. This prize, he said, was that of the development of mind and body to enable the pupil to fill his place worthily in the citizenship of this life and that of the shaping of his soul to give him a lead on his way to the citizenship God has destined for him. Monsignor Connolly congratulated the college orchestra and choir, which, under Father C. F. Feebly, S.M., gave items.

Mr. Fraser congratulated the rector on the year’s achievements and on what had been accomplished by all connected with the college since its transference to Silverstream. He recalled that he had not heard a more enlightening address on education than that he had heard some years ago from the late Father Kyaii. When men and women were seen devoting their lives to the cause of education so that young people should not only excel in character, but lie able to carry out useful work in life, that work was worthy of examination. Because this college was an important one it made a great contribution not only to the cause of Cath’olic education but to education generally, and it was his duty, which he found-also a pleasure and privilege, to keep in touch with it. Monsignor Connolly presented the following prizes:— Diligence (Kennedy .Memorial .Medal), gold modal presented by Archbishop O’Shea: J. Armstrong. Good conduct (Redwood .Memorial .Medal): K. Kelly. Dux of the school (Gilbert .Memorial .Medal): K. Kelly. Christian doctrine .(Ryan Memorial Medal), gold medal presented by tile Very Rev. V. Geaney, 5.. M., provincial of the Marist Order: P. McCarthy. Form VI. General excellence (dux of the school)' K. Kelly; next in merit, D. Long. T. Moloney. Christian doctrine: J’. McCarthy; next in merit, T. Moloney, I’. Radomski. English literature (Watters Memorial): D. Long; next in merit. K. Herbert, K. Kelly. Essay (Keogh Memorial): I'. Moloney; next in merit, K. Kelly, K. Herbert. Latin (Bowden Memorial): K. Kelly; next In merit: T. Moloney. P. McCarthy. French (Hills Memorial): K. Kelly; next in merit, D. Long, T. Moloney. Mathematics (prize presented by G. Craig, Esq., LL.D.f: D. Long: next tn merit, I’. Radomski. B. Morgan. Science (Devoy Memorial), gold medal,: B. Morgan; next in merit, I’. Radomski, K. Kelly. History: K. Herbert; next in merit: P. McCarthy, D. Long. Upper Fifth Form. First aggregate: N. Delaney; second, J. Lawson; third, B. Hoare. Christian doctrine: .1. Orr; next in merit, B. Hoare, R. F. Bourke.

Form Va. First aggregate: J. D. Brosnan; second, O. D’Atli; third, J. Armstrong Christian doctrine: N. Bailey: uext 1« merit, J. Sloane, J. Armstrong. Fifth Ilomovo. First aggregate: K. Smith; second, J. Sweeney: third, D. Lamont.

Christian doctrine: D. Lamont: next in merit, K. Jones, T. Flood. Form IVa. First aggregate: T. Buckley; second, K. Lynch: third, F. McDonald. Christian doctrine: K. Lynch: next In merit. F. McDonald. T. Buckley. Form IVb. First aggregate: B. Martin; second. J Murphv; third. N. Mullin. Christian doctrine: E. Schumacher; next in merit. N. Mullin, .1. Connell. Form I Ha. First aggregate: J. Devoy; second, K. O’Brien; third, I). Dickson. Christian doctrine: R. Marriott; next >n merit. J. Devoy, Donovan and Dowling (ex aequo). Form 11 lb. First aggregate: ’J’. Newdale. Second: P. Addis. Third: It. Homan. Christian doctrine: T. Newdale; next in merit, I’. Addis, 0. Morris. Primary Division. A Division. —First aggregate: I’. Coulter. 'Second: B. Galvin, Third: I*. Sweetapple. Christian doctrine: B. Galvin; next in merit, Goulter, Darby. B Division.—Aggregate: F. Galvin. Agriculture Prizes (Dr. W. F. Kemp's Special Prize). Internal division: John Connell, 1: L, Gerke. 2; P. Byrne, 3. External division: John Hales, 1' D. Crowley. 2; It. Martin, 3. Oratory Prizes. Gallagher Cup for original orations; T. Moloney; next in merit, T. I’rendevllle, B Bourke. Chamness medal for Irish oratory: T. Flood; next in merit. B. Kennedy. J Lawson. ' Debating: Prizes, Senior: W. Kane, T. Moloney. Intermediate: W. Reader; next In< merit. Whincop, Lynch. Junior: B. Galvin; next in merit. L. Davey. D. Weatrupp. Muhlc Prizes. Piano-forte: E. McDonnell, B. Hoare, D. Dickson. Violin: N. Delaney, M. Donovan. Dancing Prizes. Ballroom dancing: J. Quirk. 1; R. O'Dowd, 2. Higher leaving certificated: K. Bourke, K. Herbert, K. Kelly, D. Long, P. McCarthy, K. McDonnell, T. Moloney, B. Morgan, p. Radomski, J. ■Steel. Scholarship Awards. College Scholarship of the annual value of 66 guineas, for four years: Arnold McKee, Marist Brothers School, Thorn don, Wellington. Kennedy Scholarship, of the annual value of £lO, for two yeara: Gordon Hyde, Ohlngaiti. , , The Emily Johnston Scientihc Scholarship, of the annual value of £6O, for two years: Kevin Lynch. Form IVa. Two Kathleen O’Keeffe Memorial Scholarships, of the annual value of £5O; Noel Delaney and Noel Bailey.