SCHOOLS BREAK-UP.

Evening Star, Issue 13001, 21 December 1906, Page 6

SCHOOLS BREAK-UP.

PORT CHALMERS DISTRICT HIGH. Lart night tho prize-giving ceremony in connection with the sunior classes of the District High School, Port Chalmers, took place in the Garrison Hall, when, there wan a largo attendance of parents and fnaide. Mr J. M'Lachlaa, chairman of the School Comaiitiee, presided, and among those also present were Messrs E. G. Alien, M.H.R., J. MML Captain Dodds, the Kev. K." 0. Tenneot, Mr Beanie (the- rector), and Mrs Stevenson (the mayoress). The Chairman said that, on behalf of his Committee, ho was pleased to see sucb a large attendance, and toohserve so many parents present at tho aunwal break-up of the school, which in iteelf showed tho interest they took in such matters. He referred U> the changes in the staff of the school during the year. The dux this year was David Miller, of Seacliff. This was by no means tho first time the prize had gone out of Port Chalmers; in fact, during the last frvo years it had gone north no few?r than, three tirtKfi. During the year privileges had been granted to tlie vuriou-j religious deiwrninurions to have Bib'c classes in the' morning from. 8.30 to 9 on Mondays, Wednesday.",, and l<Vidaya. So far only K-n-igu ftteen had availed himself of tho "privilege, ;uid tho result hud been highly t-ttisf-tctory. Other denominations intended starting when the school resumed after tho holidays. Tho technical school had doiio good work during the year, both in the woodwork arid cookery elapses, and Croat praise was due to Mias Orkney and Mr J. H. Gray for tho resnlfß obtained. Then tho cadets had excelled themselves in prize-taking. In the comj>etition for best ehot in the No. 1 Battalion .Serjeant Hammond had secured tile first, prize, and Corporal Aiidersc.il had. been adjudged th» best rignnllor in the three . bat tah'orta ; whi.e ilu> cadets had won the competition for the b"st ten shots from any school, for the shield presented by the Government Considering tlaat they liad only been in existence for t!rre*> year.**, lie thought they would agree with him that it taid been the lot of few schools to take cuch u. prominent place in. t-licye matrero. The thanks of the Goninrittee wen* due to Mr J. H. Gray (first ussvranM for I hi- suecre.* of the cade' corps in shooting, and to Surgoant Montgomery (Port (Tbabnrrs NavaLs) for tl>e tuition he had given them in the .signalling class.. Tho Committee regretted that the r:mge would not be- available for tinfuture, and tlirtt another ntir would have to hj ■ procured, but felt- sure'that if any asfisiaiire w;i.s K/jt'ired the jioople of Port Chalmers would give .it most readily. The school roll was a* follows: First quarter. 459: second. .quarter. 459; third quarter, 453: fourth quarter. 444. In conclusion. Mr M'l-achia.n, on behalf of his ComnijUce. wished to thank the r<x-txrr for the ai-tive interest he had displayed in all matters in connection with the, school, arid the m-aik-.nt improvement shown in regard to" tho examination during the last. yiar. aJ-so to die other t«a<her« for rIK-rr atlent-ivencKK and narnrstness in (heir work.

Ibpn followed ' I'm going back to Pixie,' •sung hy .Miss Phyllis lloskins, after-which .Mrs Stevenson, tljc mayoress, presented the attendance prizes for the First and Second .Standards. Addrer.sco were giTen by A?r K. (f: Alien. M.H.H., and the- ]!«•. K. O. 'l'cnnenf.. in (he evening. Captain Dodds. in tlw course'of an interesting speech, said ho felt gratified that thi« Kxetutive of the Otago branch of the Navy League hnd requested him •«. present the prizes for .shooting ami signalling. (.Tnfortunately, and apart" from the school children, there were very few members of the league. The present l*>dv had Lheir centre in i/ondon. and Irranches all ov»r the'EniJ>ire. and their primary ohjed was Hrrtam'fi naval supremacy. Supposing that Kngtand had the finest. army in the world f;>r deferding iter shores, if the navy were defeated she would be practically starved into surrender in less than three weeks. It was. therefore, to out rank and file that we must look for the future maintenance of the Kmpire. and consequently the League in (Titration took every opportunity of instilling into tho minds of the children true, patriotism. From time to time tl»ey arranged to have lectures, and also lantern lectures. Again, the cadet corps were> a great institution. Ho wondered if the parents reeognised the manifest asset which the country was establishing through tlie training of the cadets. Such a question was mainly problematical. Tho lads, he might remark, had been taught military drill, and h»d a. thorough knowledge of the uso of firearms. Annually thoy were passing 5,000 through tho volunteer corps. Tt w;w true that the. average volunteer lost his individn.il enthusiasm after two or three years; nevertheless, in. that time tliov hiwi t,bo v*rrifcy of "the maim that implied obedience to the orders of their seniors in rank was the main issue. Mr .Tohn Mill then conveyed a vote of thnnks to the chairman. Tho prizo-list found- on page 2.

FOEBXIRT, In yesterday's issue we conld only print the prize-list. There was no room for .anything else. We now supplementthat by a few lines about the proceed iirpa at the broak-np. Mr Peter Johnston (chwrmaji of the- Committee)' presided. The Rev. E. Mackie and the Kev. E. I*. Woodhmise presented the prizes in Standard Vll. In Riving the dux modal to Gladys Stonehanr it was intimated that RitaMorrjson was only seven marks behind in a. total of 600. Short" addresses were given by the Revs. Messrs Mackie, Woodhonse, and Katon, and by Messrs Smith, Stone, and Steele, and at intervals dnring the priae distribution songs and recitations -were piven by the pupils. The report, as read by the chairman, L stated thai the rejrnlar and systematic training in gymnastics was makinc itself felt in the

[peciaHy of the girk. The team of girls who took part at the school championships meeting in the : free exercises competition, went through the exercises in a manner that reflected credit on the staff. A special effort had been made during the year to strengthen the teaching in Standard VII., ami a papfl teacher had been appointed to assist the head-master and first assistant. Mrs Roberts** French class ffiM iwt-ady by but by pupils from iieiglAormg schools. | The Society far Prevention of Craeliy to Animals offered two prizes far the best | two essays, and these were won by Gladys 1 Stoneham and Allan Anerajethy. A sej coed cadet company had been formed raider the taptaiucy of Mr Bortbwick. No. 1 company continad to do exoefieni wade under Captain lamer. In the shooting ocenpetition for the prizes offered by the warebouaeiutwi to tbe best shot in No. 3 battalion A. one <rf the boys in No. 1 oompanv, had" come wcrmd, being only one point 'behind (ito wiisaeT. In the bugling competition far prises offered by the Navy. League James Ferguson, another of their boys, was second.' Dazing the year the cricket and football teams had a, successful season. The swimming dnb had again been fortunate in being coached by Mr J lhoißaor>,~ane««»f.ahe--popu teacher?. LJHTH VALLEY. Hie oimnzl break-Tip took place-yester-day afternoon. A number of the parents and friends of the children weio present. Mr Henderson, secretary of the School Committee acted as chairman, and presented the prizes. A ebort programme of songs, recitations, etc, was gone through. Quite an exciting feature wm the "Long Tot" competitions, the winners displaying great speed and accuracy. Special prizes -were donated by Mr Harbour for attendance. Miss Hendereon for sewmg (two). Sirs Skey silver thimbte for sewing, and Mr KennHtz medal for dux. Tie-following is the prize-list:— Standard W. DaridsoDi; arithmetic, W. Davidson; long tots, L. Henderson ; shewing, M. Fmnerty -; attendance, W. Davidson. Standard VT.—Dux of school. Robert Sheriff; general merit. W. Murphy. Standard V.—General merit, Susan Harris 1, E. Sherriff Z; English, Florence Moore; rrttendance, Sosan Harrur; sewing, Susan Harris; long tots. Susan Harris. Standard IV.—General merit, E. Harbour 1, Agnes Finncrty and George Kraierty 2; long tots, George- Firmcrty ; sewing. Minnie Donaldson. Standard HL—General merit,-Kevin Harbour 1. George Booth 2.; long tots, Kevin Harbour; sewing, Itnby Lciwboo ; attendance, Freda Jefferson. Standard n. General merit, Denis Murphy 1. John Butler $; speUmg, Florence Hitchcock 1; attendance, Alexander BootK. Standard I. General merit, Robert Murpby 1. .Tames Booth 2-; attendance, William Harris; sewing.. Mary Hnpt. Glass 3: General merit, Kdward Roeie L, Edward Bosk> 2. Class 2-. General merit, Rotrina .Davidson 1. Rubina Bosie 2; sewing, Bnbina Rose. Class 1: General merit. Arthur Booth 1. Best, writer in school. Annie Fhmcrty, George- Donaldson.