CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' SCHOOL.

Evening Star, Issue 7799, 21 December 1888, Page 2

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' SCHOOL.

The annual distribution of prizes in connection with the Christian Brothers' School (St. Joseph's) took place in the Choral Hall last evening. There was a large attendance of parents and friends. Bishop Moran presided, and among those present were Fathers O'Donnell and Vereker and the newly - elected Mayor of Dunedin. Sir Robert Stout sent an apology for his absence. The prize-giving was preceded by a somewhat lengthy programme of singing and recitations by the boys. Prominent among these performances was the simultaneous reciting by some twenty-five or thirty youngsters belonging to the elocution class of a selection setting forth the purpose of creation and the love of God. Brother T. K. Hughes, principal of the school, gave the cue to the various movements from his stand in the centre of the hall; but so wolldrillcd were the boys that they apparently had no need to rely on this aid. They were letter-perfect in their recitation, and wero in complete unison as regards the pitch of the voices, the gestures, and the pronunciation of the words. The effect was as striking as it was novel. In a few prefatory remarks Brother Hughes explained that this system of, reciting was first brought into use in 1719 by the founder of the Order of Christian Brothers, and the claim that it was the invention of a Melbourne man was therefore spurious. The other recitations were of the ordinary style, but it is not too much to say that they were delivered with unusual correctness and intelligence, some of the smaller boys .evincing unexpected gifts in this branch of their studies. The scene from ' Richard lII.' was taken part in by Masters W. Connor, J. Cautwell, N. Maloney, E. O'Neill, and E. Duffey, and right well did the young students acquit thomselves without the suspicion of prompting. Other recitations that were particularly well received by the audience were,' A Leap for Life," by Master J. Cantwel'l; ' Fontenoy,' by Master Duffey, who has a splendid voice for so small a boy; 'Holly and Ivy,' by Master A. Hall ; the quarrel scene from 'Douglas,' by Masters J. Delaney, E. Duffey, and J. Cantwell; and a scene from 'William Tell,' in which the part of Albert was capitally taken by a midget named D. Buckley. A band of singers known as the Young Cecilians rendered several choruses' in good style, and solos were allotted to Masters F. Murphy, G. Pearson, and N. Maloney. An interesting leature of ijhe programme was the reciting competition botweeh Masters F. Murphy and J. Buckley, between whom the judges atthe school were unable to decide. The piece chosen was a selection from a Nationalist speech, and the competitors so thoroughly entered into the spirit of the thing that the audience applauded impartially. It was, however, mnderstood that Master Murphy gained the' prize, though he had not much to spare. One of the most interesting items on the programme was the performance by the gymnastic class of caliathenic wand exercises to music, in i which Professor Oscar David's system was demonstrated to be most useful for straightening up and strengthening the muscles and sinews. Heer Schweerß acted as accompanist during the evening. Brother Hughes made a short speech, thanking the Bishop and clergy for their attention'to the Bchool, and the various contributors to the prize fund, and Bishop Moran then proceeded to distribute the prizes to the two upper 1 classes, those of the lower school having been previously distributed. In doing so, the Bishop said he thought they ought not to separate without a hearty vote of thanks to the Brothers for their indefatigable efforts during the year. The success of ,the school and of that entertainment was chiefly due to their exertions and industry, and 'few not actually engaged in the work of education could realise the amount of labor required to conduct a school so satisfactorily. He referred in terms of praise to the educational progress made, and to the moral tone of the school, of which they had reason to be proud. It _ was a school which, seeing its efforts were directed not onlyito the literary but the moral teaching of the fihild'reh', was 6f advantage to the whole community ; and he was glad to say that many outside their'own ■congregation were wise and generous enough to-reoognise this and support it.—(Applause.) The following is the ' PRIfIE LIST. Civil Service Classi—First in English, John; MeeMa; 'first in arithmetic, James Farrell;] first in iSualid, William Morkane. •' Sixth Or«flp. -vSenior division Best all] round, Eugene X jO/Ncill, Arthur J. Hall,, silver modal; general ejjflollence, James P. Delany; prize for English, Ernest J. Pbilpjj arithmetic, Francis G, Murphy; Christianj iJoctriue, JohnGeerin; reading, John Buckley. ; Junior division—Attention to home lessons, T. Connellan; SueJW, Joseph Oantwell; arithmetic, John Conner: voeal music, Nicholas. Maioaoy; history andpiysics, David Laughland j reading, Francis Delany and Michael O'Connor. ~«.». Fifth Grade.—Besi&JJ round—Alfred Griffin, Charles Wilkins, Thomas Bussey. Special excellence-Francis Heley, Jokn'Delahunty,; and William Connor; Christian doctrine, James j Hughes; writing, Joseph Drumm; home lessans, Patrick O'Neill, Georgo Pearaon. ' Fourth Grade.—Senior division—Best all, round, J. Rodgeral, G. East 2; writing, J. ( Woods 1, Jil. Kilmartin 2; arithmetic, P. Wbitty; most progress, A. Smith; reading,, E. M'Oormi'ck; proficiency in fourth grade, J.. Casey, H. Day, W, .Garyey, M. O'Rourke.! Junior division— Christian .doctrine, Frank Wood*; English composition, Richard! Cotter; arithmetic, Edward Wilkins;; geography, John Drurom; reading, Andrew! Murray; Eaglish composition, Charles Day; Christian doctrine, Ed»ard Kennedy; arith-; metic, William Brown; drawing, John Fagan; grammar, Albert Hughes; writing, Thomas, Jones; reading, Patrick Mahoney; mapping, W. Oahill; attendance, John M'Quillan; arithmetic, Thomas Bennett; home lessons, Edward: Treacy.'

3ppoial Prizes. Horn* lessona, Riohard Cotter; good conduct, Peter Drumiii. Third grade.—Senior division—Christian doctrine, Hugh Miles; arithmetic, Frank M'Kay ; Christian doctrine, Alfred Trinder ; arithmetic, George Stronach ; reading, Stephen Bemich ; writing, Patriate Duffey ; improvement, Maurice furtou. Junior division —Richard Pearson, Daniel Buckley, John Black, J. Grimaldia, W. Hannigan, T. Grimaldia, J. Listoi), J. Fitzpatrick, B. Clarke, E. Keating, George p elson, H, Humphrey, M. Knyes, W. Dunford, F, Dunford, M. Meenan, J. Newman, R. Wilson, T. Stewart, T. Kilcoyne, K. Taylor, George Hesford, J. O'Brien, F. Hannigan. Special Prizeß. —Awarded to &. Bush, J. Grimaldia, and T. Dunford, for neat execution of home exercises and general improvement. Home lessons —M, Keyes, M. Meenan. J. O. O'Brien, 'J'. Kilcoyne, and R. Wilson. Writing —Joe Burke and J. Hallinan. Regular attendance— G. Hesford and W. Dunford. A number of boys in the junior classroom also obtained prizes fiom the Right Rev. Bishop Moran, in addition to those named above. The special prizes presented by the H.A.C.B. Society were for—(1) Regular attendance and good conduct combined, Eugene O'Neill (present every day school was held for the past two years); (2) Christian doctrine, Arthur Hall, Eugene O'Neill (equal).