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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5664, 24 October 1889, Page 2

"Pio-Nio v. Pbizes" ie the burning question before the Napier Sohool Committee, and which has been reserved for decision at the next meeting of that body. What there is in a pic-nic to recommend it we are at a loss to conceive. At the I'est it is an uncomfortable way of taking a meal under the trees, by the aide of a running brook, a sort of playing' at camping out; but at the worst it is a rough-and-tumble scramble for " grub" on the Recreation Ground. And it is this last which is proposed as refreshment after labor for one thousand children at the break-up for the Christmas holidays. We fancy the children and parents will say, "It is not good enough." Whatever may be said against the old-fashion plan of rewarding the brightest pupils by the gift of a prize, this much is certain, that the hope of' suoh reward stimulates the dull, and spurs the smart to greater effort. In_ this town the plan has been to spend a considerable amount in the purchase of prizes, the money for the most part being raised by the pupils and teachers themselves by the performance of a cantata. The rehearsals and the performance afford unalloyed pleasure to all concerned, and the prize distribution is a gala day in school life. We hardly think that the children will take any interest in getting up a performance to find money for a pio-nic, for the loss of prizes can never be compensated by a jam tart.