SCHOOLS' BREAK-UP.

Evening Star, Issue 10502, 21 December 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

SCHOOLS' BREAK-UP.

BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL. At the Boys’ High School break-up on Wednesday Mr J. F. M. Fraser in the course of his speech said that during his term of chairmanship of the Board of Governors he had made it a practice to mingle freely with the boj s as far as a somewhat busy man could find time to do so, and he thought he hod been able to see a great deal of them. He would like to sty to the parents that he, could conscientiously say that in his opinion the school never stood so high in point of tone and general etiquette and gentlemanly conduct as it did at present,—(Applause.) He desired to assure parents that he did not think there was a school or college in the colony that stood ahead iof the Dunedin High School in that very important respect.—(Applause.) The Bkotor (Mr A. Wilson) mentioned when the prizes for shooting were about to be presented that Colonel Webb had reported that he hod had great satisfaction in noticing the marked improvement the corps had shown in its drill_ during the past twelve months. The readiness with which the cadets Lad turned out and taken their places with the adult corps at the Queen’s Jubilee and later on, on the 9ch November, for a field day. Colonel Webb sail, deserved recognition and commendation. Colonel Webb also said that many of the sergeants were sharp and keen, and he hoped that when they left the high School they would join some one of the adult corps. Such a report as that reflected great credit on Captain Broad’s management of the corps.—(Applause.) The Chairman (Mr W. D. Milne), as one who took an interest in volunteering, supplemented Mr Wilson’s remarks by saying that one of the most important forms of the amusement or dis--oipllnoof the boys—it was more important as discipline—should be their connection with the cadet corps. The Otago High School Cadets ought to be the smartest drilled corps in the district—they used to be—and the High School boys should make up their minds to know what they ought to do, and when they did turn out, to show the other corps how the work ought to be done.

The Rector said, with reference to the winnersjof the Chamber of Commerce medals for English and arithmetic, that the junior medallist (W. Linton) was a boy who did not belong to Otago, but came from Palmerston North, as tho holder of a scholarship under the Wanganui Education Board, and he was very glad to see that the boy was putting his scholarship to some good use. The senior medallist (J. Lang) was the dux of last ytar, who, having won his duxship a year earlier than it was usually held by boys from the Education Board schools, had wisely determined to have another year at the school rather than go straight to the University. Whether the boy stood high or low in the competition then being held for University scholarships, he (Mr Wilson) had no hesitation in saying that he was a very much better scholar now than at the corresponding time last year, when he was dux of the school. There was no doubt that in time he would make a scholar, and he (the rector) only hoped he would remember that there were other things than scholarship. There was one thing othor than scholarship which he already posseßßed, and the speaker hoped he would always possess it, and that was modesty. —(Applause.) Mr G. L. Denniston presented the medals offered by the Chamber of Commerce, and having done so said: It is customary for the president of the Chamber of Commerce to say a few words on this occasion. I know that the boys will be glad to know that I do not intend to mak« what may be called a speech. This is the fourth time that it has become my duty to attend here as president of the Chamber of Commerce, for the purpose of presenting the medals given by the Chamber as prizes for English and arithmetic. .Now, there is no emolument attached to the position of pr«ident of the Chamber of Commerce, but there are certain privileges, and thero is none I esteem so highly as that of being nresent on this occasion, and taking a small part in this auspicious ceremony. I just wish to utter one thought and leave it with you. I want to make you understand how rich you are in the one possession of something that "is inestimable and that money cannot buy, and I am afraid that people at your time of life hardly appreciate its value, and will not until you are older. I was talking one day to a gentleman in this town, whom you all know, and is very well off. He i 3 not an old man, but he would admit ho has topped the hill, and is on the downward slope, and he said to mo : "I would give all my property, my money, and my business, and all I have to be twenty-one again." He was exaotly expressing the sentiments, although I don't think he knew it, of that gentle American humorist, Dr Oliver Wendell Holmes, who says in one of his oharming little poeni3:

Oh for an hour of youthful joy— Give back my twentieth spring. I’d rather laugh a bright-haired boy Than reign a grey-beard king. This rich possession, then, \i youth. I would beseech you to value it, for you only have it once. Preserve it, preserve its purity, its buoyancy, its freshness, and its hope, and remember it is impossible to have a boy’s heart long years after a beard is on your chin. I very heartily wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and an abundant enjoy ment of your holidays.—(Applause.) The Rector, in replying on behalf of the staff to the vote of thanks proposed by Mr D. Bobbie, said:—ln reply to the kind words that have been said about the staff, perhaps the most pertinent thing that I can say is that we have done our beat, and I am quite sure that my colleagues deserve all that has been said about them, I cannot say less than that, and if I detained you for an hour I could say no more. I do not know it I may bo permitted to say a word or two on this occasion about myself personally.— (Applause.) As you all know, at the time I undertook the management of this school the Board offered me a furlough for six months in consideration of what they were pleased to regard as my services to the Girls’ School.— (Applause.) This holiday I contemplate taking now, and therefore I shall be away from the school for a few months of next year. I hope, however, that this may not be altogether unprofitable to the school and therefore to the community, for I look to return to Dunedin with a sharper edge than at present I am conscious of possessing. I do not travel with my eyes shut, and therefore I hope to.be able to make myself more useful by being away for a month or two than if I stayed hero. Without claiming for a moment to be refined gold, or even silver, I think I may claim to be semceable iron—(hear, hear)—and you know that iron if it remains too long in one place takes on rnst. A portion of my very considerable "encrustation I hope to rub off in the next few months by the attrition of travel, and I go with the more comfort in the knowledge that it is proposed to put the helm in the meantime in the very capable hands of my colleague, Mr Watson— (loud __ applause)—and also in the assurance, or rather the knowledge, that my other colleagues will do all that is in their power to make his task of government as light as possible. To those boys whom I shall not see again as pupils of the school I can only wish all sorts of happy things, and more particularly that they may become good and useful men, and not be loafers on the face of the earth. I suppose yon all know that “ loafer ” is derived from a German word meaning " to run,” and they appear to be so named because they are never seen running.—(Laughter.) A kafer is «ne who goes up and down on the face of the earth avoiding as much as possible doing any useful work or honest play. I hope that no one of yon, after leaving school, will como under this reproach. To those boys whom I hops to see again—and I trust there will be a large number of them—l give the same advice, to be careful not to become a loafer on the earth either in work or in play. Now, I wish you all a very happy holiday.—(Loud applause.) GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL. The distribution of prizes took place at noon on Wednesday in the presence of a large concourse of people. Mr J. M. Ritchie occupied the chair, and among those present were the Revs. J. A. Fenton, J. Hinton, and Porter, Professor Shand, Messrs D. Borne, J. F. M. Fraser, and A. Wilson. Mr Fbasep, chairman of High Schools’ Board of Governors, read apologies from the following gentlemen, who were unable to be present: Dr Oolquhoun, Archdeacon Edwards, Dr Barnett, the Rev. Mr Cameron, Mr J. H. Chapman, Mr M'Nicoll, and Mr G. Gray Russell. Mr Fraser then proceeded to address those present. He said Mr Russell had only arrived from Europe that morning, and was therefore unable to attend. Mr Russell was one of the mo-t generous and truest friends of the school, and he (the speaker) felt sure that the girls would accord him by acclamation a very hearty welcome on his return from Europe. —(Loud applause.) On behalf of the Board he should like to say a few words, seeing that there were so many parents present. In the first place, the Board had had two years’ experience of the work of the lady principal, and they were so highly gratified with every portion of it that they recognised they had made a most valuable selection, and one that had tended greatly to the well-doing of tho school. He very gladly paid that tribute on behalf of the Board. There was one other matter in reference to the school. The school in point of attendance was holding its own that was to say, the attendance was not decreasing in numbers. At the same time, the Board could not disguise from themselves the fact that at no period in the history of the school had there been such strong competition as there was at present. Therefore, in face of that fact, the school was holding its own, which was a very high tribute to the school—(applause)—and one of which the staff 'of the school should be highly gratified. He

(the speaker) would now vacate the chair, and give place to Mr J. M. Ritchie, who had-a peculiar claim upon both Bchoola. In the first place he himself had alwayß been a very warm supporter of the school, and in the second place ths girls had always found a warm and very sympatic friend in Mrs Ritchie.—(Applause.) The Board owed a very deep debt of gratitude to Mr 3 Kitchie.— (Loud applause.) Mr Ritchie", w'ao was loudly applauded, said first of all he would refer to the principal's report for the year's work, and he was very pleased to say that, so far as tho report itself was concerned, a great part of it was occupied by Mis 3 Marchant in remarks not fully confined to scholastic work. He thought it was a very good omen, and a very satisfactory thiig, to find that in Bliss Marchant'a report there was first of all reference to studio work and drawing, and then gymnastic work, swimming, all kinds of sport, singiDg, sewing, and other things. Ho was inclined to believe that all those different descriptions of work were probably quite as important a3 the school work dealt with in the prizelist, which was of a very heavy and important character indeed. As they knew, education at Homo was being diverted toward* athletics aud all kinds of work which improved the body as much as that which dealt with mental exercises. He thought athletics was a very important thing for boys; but it was doubly important for girls, who were apt while growing to be too easily sent back by having too much mental exertion, too much brain work, and too much stooping over desk?, thereby making them round-shouldered and preventing that bloom coming into the face which should be there at all times He thought it important that the branch of education advocated by him should bj taken up by all the gitls. He was very pleased to read the paragraph about the sports—(hear, hear)—and he hoped that those girl 3 who had not competed would go in for it next year. He hooed that they would all encourage it, for it would do them more good than they thought. Ho was not quite sure if it had not a very good effect on their brain work also. Physical labor enabled them to do their work much better. During his recent visits Home he had noticed a very great change in the appearance of the girls thero. In LonJon,_for instance, he was astonished to see the girls' faces so much sunburnt. It showed that they were not afraid of the fresh air and sunshine. They walked with a swing that was quite new to him. It was a swing from the waist, instead of a pitter-pattering from the knee3.—(Laughter and applause.) He ventured to say that if those girls had pulled up their sleives their arms would have been as brown as their faces. He Faw the Queen whose face looked as if it had been in constant contact with the air and sunshine ; shs looked as healthy as possible. He saw Mis 3 Marchant suggested that probably a medical as well as a literary test would be a good thing to have enforced in connection with competitions for scholastic honors. Ho thought it would certainly bj a tpleudid thing if it could be enforced. It seemed to him a mistake that girls should enter a school like thi3 one and 75 per cent, of them Bhould say to themselves "My object is a scholarship, or some scholastic distinction." It wa3 a very proper thing that that should ba in the minds of a great- many, but he thought it should be strictly governed by the circumstances of each case. According to their present system of education it was almost essential that a different courso should be pursued from that which he advocated. They now were passing f roma limitedstateof education into a state of universal education, and while reforms were going on there mrwt be disadvantages. However, he hoped what he had stated would bo kept before those connected with those matters, and that it would be found beyond all question that severe competitions Bhould be restricted and confined to those who had a fair chance of success or moderate success. They should be regulated in accordance with the health mental capabilities of the pupils. Ho did not think competitions for the sake of competitions did any good at all. He knew quite well that there was a great deal to be said on the other side. So far as the girls were concerned, he wished to guard himself against being opposed to what might be called girls' or women b rights. He did not wish it to be inferred that girls had not as much right to those things as boys, but he thought there Bhould bo some other regulation or some other government than theiewas in the case of boys. He could fairly say that the record of MiBS Marchant and her assistants was highly satisfactory, and he was very glad to hear from Mr Fraser that the Board held such a high opinion of Miss Marcbaat.—(Loud applause.) Mr Ritchie then proceeded to distribute the prizes.

The dux of the school (Susannah C. C. M'Knight) was accorded a great ovation on comiDg forward for her gold mecial. Mr RITCHIE remaiked that Miss M'Knight had established something like a record, for she was first in English, first in French, first in Latin, first in mathematics, and first in science. He did not know what else she could be first in.

The Rev. Mr Porter proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Board of Governors, the lady principal and teaching staff, and Mr Ritchie for presiding. The speaker said the Board of Governors were all gentlemen occupying high and honorable positions, and he was quite sure that they had discharged their duties faithfully. He was very pleased to hear Mr Fraser say that the Board were satisfied with the choice that they made two years ago in appointing Miss Marobant lad} - principal.—(Loud applause.) He could assure the Board that their opinion tallied completely with the opinion of those friends outside the school. He listened with great p’casure indeed to the chairman’s address. It was something out of the ordinary, and on that account fresh and quite up to date. He entirely agreed with Mr Ritchie about the appearance of the girls at Home. A very great improvement had taken place in their appearance during the last few year?, and he thought that was to bs accounted tor by their going in for gymnastic exercises and athletics of all kinds. He was quite sure the thairman’s address would do much good. The motion was carried by acclamation. Miss Maeohant, in returning thanks, said the.parents of the pupils had helped her in every way since she took over the school, and she_ wished to convey her thanks to them for their encouragement, She also wished to thank the teachers who helped her with the sports. Sho would like to see a little more public spirit amongst the girls, who had to be led. The teachers had to make all tho arrangements for the sports. The girls seemed to have no idea of what to do, and next year she would like to have elder girls in charge, as they had in the boys’ schools. She would put the elder girls in charge of certain duties, and they would, she thought, encourage that public spirit they liked to see in their schools. The boys had many associations in which they led one another. Girls and women hitherto had been content to be led. She would like to see the g : rls lead and not bo led, so that they would not have the disgraceful scenes, they had read about at public meetings in New Zealand. She did not blame her learned sex. It was want of training, and she thought that training should begin in the girls’ schools. She knew that the girls would thank them in time for the gymnastic and athletic work.—(Loud applause.) Mr Fraser and Mr Ritchie also briefly returned thanks, after which everybody rose and sang 1 God save the Queen.’ MOSGIBL SCHOOL. The break-up of the school and distribution of prizes took place in the Volunteer Hall on Thursday in presence of a large number of parents and others, Mr Inglia (chairman of School Committee) being in the chair. Several musical were given by the school children, after which the prizes and attmdanco certificates were distributed by the Rev. J. M. M’Kerrow, the Rev. F. W. Porehara, and the chairman. A travelling bag and silver-mounted walking stick were presented by the pupils and teachers of the school to Mr Douglas W. Kennedy (whose time as pupil-teacher has just expired) as an expression of their respect and good wishes. The staff of the school are; Mr D. MacLeod (head-master), Mr Marshall and Mr Kennedy (pupil-teachers), Miss Scott (mistress), Miss Taylo-, and Miss Ross. The following is the prize-list:— Standard VII.— Reading, Peter Brown ; writing, Alex. Harper; drawing, Agnes Renton; arithmetic, James Birtles ; composition, John Young; Latin, Mary Nichol; algebra, Mary Nichol and David Hodges ; Euclid, Henry Collie. Standard Vl.—Reading, Robert Elder; writing, Isa Wilson ; drawing, Peter Young; arithmetic. Wm. Wilson; composition, Nellie Broadley and Frank Lewitt; sewing, Lily Sinclair; knitting, Bella Brown and Ruby Allan; darning, Isa Wilson.

Standard V.—Reading, Hope Hodges ; writing, Marion Murdoch ; drawing, Frank Young ; arithmetic, Ernest Bathurst; composition, Jessie Wilson ; sewinc, Marion Murdoch; knitting, Mary Stephens and Jane Campbell; darning, Mabel Prentice.

Standard IV.—Reading, Bella M'Kenzie; writing, David Thomson; drawing, Christopher Aitken ; arithmetic, Maggie Leask ; composition, William Kirk; sewing, Mary Ann Dodd; knitting, Annie Mackie and Maggie Cuddie; darning, Barbara Meharry. Standard 111. —Reading, Georce Hendry and Violet Leary ; arithmetic. Ernest Pullan; writing, James Nichol; drawing, Ernest Young; composition, Jean Algie ; sewing, Euphemia Kirk; knitting, Grace Moffat. Standard ll.—Reading, Rose Bathurst; writing, David Oughten and Craigie Renton; drawing, Lily M'Leod; arithmetic, Bella Miller i sewing, Alice Young; knitting,-Rose Pickering. Standard I.—Reading, Alice Hendry; writing, Louisa Hendry and George Scott; dtawing, Henry Guy: William Scott and Louisa Hendry; sewing, Mary M'Lellan; knitting, Jessie Owens. Domestic economy, Kate Gordon.

WAKARI. Addresses were delivered at the break-up on Friday by Messrs Aitken (chairman of School Committee), Kemnitz (Mayor of Roslyn), Passmore, and Falconer. ' Mr Kemnitz presented the mistress (Miss Christie), on behalf of the pupils, with two volumes of Byron’s and Shelley’s works as a token of their esteem. Prize-list:—

Duxes of school. Mattie Paterson (silver medal) and Norah Sullivan (Mr Kemnitz's silver medal). Dux of Standard VII. (B)-BeEsie Wright (Mr Tilbum's silver medal). Standard Vl.—Fred Cubitt 1, Maggie Paterson and Christina Wyse (equal) 2. Standard V.—Lily Sherritt 1, Hannah M'Cabe and Willie Bain (equal) 2. Standard IV. (A)— Jessie Sherriff 1, Maggie Howie 2; (B)-Mary Waldie 1, Jack Campbell 2. Standard lll.—lsa Blackwood 1, Sarah Gordon Standard ll.—Mary Paterson 1, Francis Greenslade 2.

SttmJard I. —Gordon Paterson 1, Jessie Cameron and Maggie Bennett (equal) 2. P. 1: Mabel Phillips 1. P. 2: Olive Paterson 1, Lizzie Bennett 2. P. 3: Bertie Wright 1, Gordon Mowat 3.

Prizes.—Sewing Christina Morrison, Katie Passmore, Ethel Arlidge, Edith Hoare, Bella Hornal, and Jennie Paterson. DrawingJames Passmore, Andrew Morrison, Harry Greenslade, Mimi Wood, Walter Kedzlie, and Willie Lobb. Writing—Sophia Campbell, Sydney Wood, and Grace Betteridge. Gymnastics— Jeanie Cameron, Amy Wright, David Gordon, and Henry Laing. Bookkeeping Helen Wright. Neatest exercise book—Nicholas Burke. Composition—Willie Wright.

RAYENSBOURNE. Mr Jack presided at the break-up on Friday, and prizes were presented as follows : Infants.—First class—Ada Hoff, Nellie Larnach, Lily Barker, May Cotnir, William L. Mahs, Mungo Hutton, Edwin Christensen, Hugh Fox, Alexander Gillies. • Second class Oscar Wilson. Lizzie French. Standard I.—First class—Mary Gallon, Jeannie Grant, Agnes Henderson, Margaret Fernie, Tom Gray, William Hoff. Second class—Bella Christensen, Barbara Tait, Annie Reeves, Leslie Kellet, John Newman, Franklin W. Duncaa. Standard ll.—First class—Tom French, Charles Waghorn, Willie Barker, Charles Connor, Wm. Muirhead, Tom Fox. Second class Rita M Callum, Lavinia Gregory, Frank Olsen, Robert Baird, James Newman, George Kellet. Standard lll.—First class, Florence E. Tait, Emma Fox, Martha Hutton, Jane Hutton, Chas. P. Cairney, Alfred Grant, Norman Gillies, Robert Henderson. Second class—Alice Gallon, Thomas Baird, James Connor, Ernest Rough. Standard IV. First class Bessie Grant, Dorothy Gale, Catherine Larnach, Joseph Pearson, Ernest Ross, Charles Sankey, John Skene. Second class—Malcolm Forrester, Edgar Wilson, Nellie Minn.

Standard V.—First class—Alma Mabel Ross, Louisa E. Tait, Thomas Cairney, James Fernie, Alfred Callon. Second class—William G. Gale, John Muirhead, Arthur Tait, David Allan Minn. Standard Vl. First class—lsa Nimmo Gillie?, Nellie Muirhead, Edith May Blackie, Jane C. Duncan, John K. Wilson, Thomas Henderson. Second c'as —Mary E. Reid, Robert Collins. Standard Vll.—Second class—Walter Blackii?. First class certificates 47, second class 28; total, (5.

KINDERGARTEN SCHOOLS. On Friday afternoon the kindergarten school at Mornington conducted by the Misses Mollison broke up for the summer vacation, in the presence of a goodly number of parents and friends of the pupils. Several songs and recitations were rendered by individual children, and collectively they went through a number of action songs, drills, marches, and kindergarten games in a .manner creditable to their instructresses and enjoyable to those present. The Rev. E. J. Porter, who presented the prizes, in the course of a few remarks congratulated the Misses Mollison on the efficiency of the equipment of the school and on the progress the children had made during the year. Prizes were then presented to the following pupils for excellence in various subjects Lily May, Andrew Stock, Nelly Webb, Doris Ivey, Ida Secular, Ethel Horsburgh, Dora Morison, Brenda Stock, Stuart Scoular, Stuart M‘Donald, Eveline Porter, Angie Oswin, Augustus Oswin, and Annie Johnson. During the proceedings Miss Mollison was made the recipient of a carved photo frame, and Miss Barbara Mollison of a set of china ornaments, both presents being the gifts of the pupils.

On Wednesday afternoon the kindergarten department of the Arthur street school broke up, when there were a fair number of ladies and gentlemen present., The children went through a number of the ordinary lessons, and a'.so sang seveial choruses and gave some action songs, all of which were heartily applauded. The Chairman (Mr A. Struthers), on behalf of the Committee, said they had been very fortunate in securing Miss M'Dougal to take charge of this department; but he expressed regret, seeing the character of the education imparted, and seeing the fee charged was so very low—only 6d per week—that the kindergarten had not been more largely taken advantage of by the parents in the district. He expressed the hope that now the school was fairly established and properly Equipped, and with such an admirable teacher as Miss M'Dougal, the beginning of the year would see the tchool largely increased in numbers.

The following is the kindergarten prize-list in connection with the Dominican College : Preparatory Class A.—Clara Hughes, music and reading; Mary Murray, catechism and singing; Annie Rodgers, geography and comprehension; Ruby Dawson, needlework (plain); Mav Allen, drawing and model - making; Nellie" Smith, writing and neatness: Madge M'Donald, attendance and arithmetic; Winnie Power, recitation and drill; Mary Murphy, general improvement Preparatory Class B.—Mina Ward, arithmetic; Mary Callen, reading and politeness; Lizzie laylor, mental arithmetic; May Smith, spelling ; Gertrude Petre, comprehension and general improvement ; Margaret Gawn, writing and sineing; Mary A. Tobin, drawing and coloring; Ethel Salmon, recitation; Bertie Connor, catechism. First grade.—Eric Spain, mosaic work; Dolares M Donald, parquetry papers; Mercedes M'Donald, straw work.

Second grade.—Cassie Spain, embroidery and gift 10 ; Charlie Hill, mat embroidery and gift 14 • Alfred Seathby, stick designing and gift 11; Favid Fraser, word making (staffs), gift 7 ; Ethel Murry mat weaving and gift 4; Ivy M'Donald, perforating and gift 2 ; Mona Taylor, leatherette sewing. Third grade. Joe Salmon, pricking work; Percy Gpughlan, stick laying; Ernest Salmon, number building (slats); Ally Coughlan, forming letters (paper); Molly Coughlan, gift 1 and counting ; Gertrude Smith, needle threading; Gabriel Spain, counting (beads); Jack Fulton, basket making; Joe Petre, building (cubes).

MDLLE. DE SALAMOS’S SCHOOL. Last Tuesday was the break-up day at this school, and the prizes were delivered by Mr George Fenwick according to the following list:— Conduct prize.—Helene Fels and Mary De Beer. Class prize. Senior division Edith Pim. Junior division—Frances Melland. Preparatory class—Mary Pim. Examination prize. Senior division Edith Pim. Junior division—Frances Mellaud. Mathematics (Miss Smyth’s prize). Senior division Mary Mackenzie. Junior division— Frances Melland. French prize.-Senior—Mary Mackenzie 1, Edith Pim 2. Junior—Vera Chapman 1, Frances Melland 2. Preparatory—Hilda Chapman 1, Kate 1 els 2. Freehand and model drawing—Sheila Mackenzie. Reading (Judged by Mr Burton and Mr Whitson)—Sheila Mackenzie and Margaret Sale. Needlework.—Junior division Ettie Greenslade. Mrs Hosking’s prize—lsobel Pim. Preparatory class-Mary Pim. Composition—Mary Mackenzie. Excellence in class work—lsobel Pim. Excellence in examination (Miss Smyth’s prize)— Kathleen Ulrich. For English grammar and arithmetic Allison Bartleman. Writing (Mr Fenwick’s prizes)— Senior division, Helene Fels Junior division, Margaret Sale. CERTIFICATES. Senior Division.—Edith Pim: For arithmetic, Euclid, algebra, Latin. Mary Mackenzie: French, history, physical geography, science, English, Latin, German. Sheila Mackenzie: French, history, science, English literature, geography, algebra. Hester Melland: French, history, physical geogsaphy, science. English literature, arithmetic, algebra. Alice Woodhouse: Physical geography. French, algebra. Florence Butterworth; Physical geography. Mary Mellapd: Algebra. Helene Fels: English literature. Junior Division. Margaret Sale: English grammar, botany, composition, arithmetic, mental arithmetic. Kathleen Ulrich: Arithmetic, mental arithmetic, composition. Vera Chapman : English grammar, arithmetic, mental arithmetic. Sally Baker: Arithmetic, mental .arithmetic, algebra. Emily Fels: Roman history, geography. Ettie Greenslade ; Arithmetic, mental arithmetic. Ethel Grierson: Arithmetic, mental arithmetic. Dorothy Allen: Reading. Eileen Kerr: Roman history. Isobel Pim: English grammar. Violet Williams: Mental arithmetic. Cara Graham: Mental arithmetic. Frances Melland: Euclid. ST. HILDA COLLEGIATE SCHOOL. About fifty ladies and gentlemen were present at the above_ school on Saturday evening, when the prizes gained during the year were presented to the pupils. Specimens of needlework, pastel drawings, and kindergarten work, all creditable, were on view, several of the drawings (notably one by Miss K. Leary) being especially good. Those present were enabled to judge of the children's accomplishments by the manner in which they went through a programme comprising choruses, drills, piano solos, recitations, and the ‘Scfene de Rosaline,’ five pupils taking part in the latter, which was given in the French tongue. In these items the children gave abundant evidence of careful and skilful training, the French being spoken with ease, fluency, and an understanding seldom to be found inchildrenof tender years A report was read by Canon Richards, which stated, inter alia, that twentyfour new pupils had been enrolled during the year, ten of whom were boarders. At the request of the Vicar of St. Matthew’s the Sisters of the Church consented to undertake the management of the day school of that parish, and had spared Miss Ellison from St. Hilda’s to fill the post of head-mistress, for which posi

! tioa Bhe ,waß .eminently 'qualified;" She, ever,.continued, to. instruct;.; and her kindergarten clasß on .certain days. A special debt of gratitude waS due to the. warden of Selwyn College, who had again so kindly spared time eaoh week to give lectures td the elder girls on Church history ; to Miss M'Lean: 'o.- her great kindness in coming to assist with'her needlework olass ; to Miss Leary, for her ready and sympathetic help; and to the staff generally for their zealous and unselfish assistance throughout the year. Thanks were given to those who had so generously helped in the scatter of prizes—the Bishop, Miss Nevill, Mrs Martin, Mrs Roberts, Mrsßeimer, Mrs Coates, Misses Leary, Rehberg, and Ellison, Messrs Kelk, Carter, Briffaulf, Begg, and Braithwaite; also, Messrs Lilly, Shaw, jtnd the Dresden Piano Company for medals.

Bishop Nevill presented the prize', and in a fhott address said that he could quite perceive that the excellence of the work had not receded, but the opinions he had .formed 'at the commencement of the school as to its efficiency and as to the valuo of Its teaching had been rather enhanced than otherwise -from what he had heard and seen that night. Those who were competent to judge the Ficnch exercises must have concluded that the lady *at the head of that department not only bad efficiently discharged her dut'.er, but had gone beyond what could reasonably be expected of her.—(Applause.) Since his return from abroad he had received expressions of gratification from several of the parents as to the progress their children were making at the school. The following is the prize-list: -'' *

Form Vl.—Dux of school (gold medal), Daisy Astern; divinity, D. Aston; English. Dorothea Jiasther 1, Hilary Clulee 2; church history, D Aston; mathtmatics, D. Aston: languages and science, D. Aston. Fonn V.—Divinity, Laura Basstian; English, Ivy Allen; mathematics, I. Allen; science, J. Baker; church history, L.Basstian; languages,l. Allen; French (upper division), LoisChewinga; drawing, I. Allen.' - v ? or , m rV.-Holy Scripture, Louisa Gillies; English, Kitty Leary; mathematics, L. Gillies; drawing (pastels), K. Leary; French and Latin, K. Leary. c. .-■ ■- form 11. (Upper).—Divinity, Nora Coates; English, Dorothy Leary; French, Marjorie Davey. Form 11. (Lower Division).—Divinity, Maggie Short; English, Ann Richards; painting, Alice Richards.

Form I.—English, Margery Brooke. Infants. English, Liddon Richards; kindergarten, Ann Richards. Special Subjects.—Needlework: Blouse making, Laura Basstian; pinafore making, Louisa Gillies ; do Form 11., Dorothy Leary I, Adeline M'Master 2. Elocution, Kitty Leary. Calisthenics, Irene Baker. Music: Dresden Piano Company's silver medal, Kathleen Chewings; Miss Rehberg's prize, L. Basstian; Mr Begg's prize, Irene Baker; Mr Braithwaite's prize, Edith S. Black. Honor and conduct (Mr Lilly's silver medal). Louisa Gillies (by vote of school). Conduct (Lower School) May Wallace (Mr Shaw's medal); do First Form and Infant Class, Margery Brooke. House prizes • Conduct, Agues Thomson ; tidiness, L. Basstian. Improvement in examination work, Maude Deschler. Attendance medals: D. Aston, L. Uilhes, and K. Leary.

SACRED HEART SCHOOL, NORTH-EAST

VALLEY. Vacation was announced in this school on ■Wednesday last. Teresa Kilmarton received the medal as dux of the school from the hands of the Rev. Father Murphy. The medal, which is elegantly wrought in silver,, is the gift of the Rev. Father Lynch. HEBREW SCHOOL. The distribution of prizes awarded to the children attending the above school took place yesterday, Mr J, Hyman presiding. There was a large number of parents and friends present. After making a few remarks the chairman called on Dr Heinemann, who has the direction of tho classes, to read the report, which stated that the number of pupils was practically the same as last year. The attendance had been most satisfactory, some of the children having been present on every occasion. In exhorting the parents to send their children to the school regularly, the doctor impressed upon them the importance of religious instruction. There were some people even in their own community who thought that the study of Hebrew should be kept in the background, but it was the language which served as a means of uniting Jews all over the globe in one common bond of brotherhood. A short examination then took place, the real examination having been held the previous week, and Mr Hyman took the opportunity of expressing how highly pleased the Committee had felt with the result of that examination. He then presented tho prizes to the winners. The medal for general excellence had been won by A. Langley, but as the same pupil had received the medal two years ago, it was on this occasion awarded to the next best, Bertha Falok. Bertha Heinemann and Carrie Heinemann had won the first prizes for Hebrew in their respective classes, but as the doctor objects to giving prizes to his own children in any school which he directs they also went to the next best scholars. The following were the prizewinners Bertha Falck, A. Langley, Julius Falck, Daisy Hayman, Milly Langley, Kate Harris, May Hayman, Ivy Harris, Henry Hayman, and Joseph Morris. Mr B. Halienstein and Mr Theomin addressed the meeting, both alluding in eulogistic terras to the conscientious and painstaking work done by Dr Heinemann, to whom the children seemed deeply attached. Mr Theomin also expressed in kindly terms thanks to Miss Heinemann for voluntary services rendered, and this lady was the recipient of a handsome present from the Committee. After Dr Heinemann had shortly replied, the children gave him hearty cheers, and the ceremony ended_.