COLUMBA COLLEGE

Evening Star, Issue 18627, 7 May 1924, Page 3

COLUMBA COLLEGE

NINTH ANNUAL REPORT. The ninth annual report of Columba College wa.s presented) to the Dunedin Presbyterv by the Rev. Professor Davies at the monthly meeting held yesterday morning. . The report stated, inter aha, that during the influenza epidemic many schools were closed for a period, but Columba mercifully escaped. The bracing air and the Bright sunshine of the Roslyn heights, combined with the comforts and cleanliness of the school homo tended to disperse all genns of disease. Although the hoard did not regard high percentages in public examinations as the sole test of education, they encouraged the pupils to enter Government and university examinations when advisable. In the matriculation, four had passed, and one passed the Public Service examination. 'Four passed the Government examination in shorthand and typing, and fourteen gained proficiency and four competency certificates. The chief inspector of schools (Mr T. R. Fleming) had spoken very highly of the standard of work done in' the college, and referred specially to the general tone and discipline, which he thought were excellent. In ransio sis pupils passed in Trinity College examinations, while two passed in the theory of music. Two ex-Colnmba girls had gained the distinction of being the first girls in Dunedin to gain fellowship diplomas. The proceedings for each day in tho college begin with ‘Scripture reading, and recitation. Daily instruction had also been given from the Old and New Testaments, while every girl was expected to memorise selected portions. Tho year 1925 was specally set apart by tho church as children’s year. A children’s exhibition was organised in Dunedin, the culminating event of which was undertaken by Columba girls, the presentation of Maeterlinck’s beautiful fairy play, ‘ The Bluebird.’ In sport, tho school held the premier position, in tho intersecondary Dunedin schools’ tennis matches, also the championship for hockey and net ball. The conditions that obtained in the college residence were all that could be desired for tho largo family of girls. The matron (Mrs Walsh), aided'by two house mistresses and the domestic staff, gave the utmostcare and attention to the details that promoted to a, marked degree the health and comfort of tho girls. There were eighty-two pupils in the secondary department, and ninety-five in the primary. The senior school included post matriculation and matriculation, Public Service, commercial, and domestic science pupils. Tho junior school included all pupils from the kindergarten to Standard VI. This year St. John’s Kindergarten and Junior School ha.d been incorporated with Columba College. Miss Gillies was mistress of the junior school (kindergarten to Standard II.). This large enrolment had made the question of increasing the accommodation most urgent. Tho board was giving earnest and careful attention to this matter, and hoped to take the necessary steps to relieve tho congestion as soon as possible. The board expressed its confidence in the wise and inspiring leadership of tho principal, whose strong Christian character was largely responsible for building up the college. (Miss Ross was very ably assisted by the matron (Mrs Walsh), who, by her careful management and sympathetic interest, had contributed much to the .success of the college. The Rev. W. R. Hutchison, and Messrs J. J. Clark and T. Mac Gibbon retired) by rotation from the board, and their reappointment was recommended. In submitting the report the Rev. Professor Davies said that next month the college would celebrate the tenth anniversary of its foundation, and already 150 ex-pupils had notified their intention of being present. The question of school accommodation was a serious one. It was largely a matter of finance. A building costing about £4,000 was needed to cope with tho demand for teaching accommoda-’ tion at the present time.

The Rev. Hector Maclean said he would like to see a financial statement included in future reports. The report was received and adopted.