PORT AHURIRI DISTRICT SCHOOL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9157, 18 December 1891, Page 3

PORT AHURIRI DISTRICT SCHOOL.

The nnnu.nl presentation of prizes in connection with tho Spit district school took place yesterday afternoon in the preseuca of a large number of tbe parents and friends of the children. The closbroom was tastefully decorated with flowers nnd evergreens, which served to remind the pupils— if such reminder were necessary— that the holiday season bud once more como ronnd, and that for tho

next few weeks they could lay aside their books and enjoy "themselves" after their own fashions, Mr R. Puflett, chairmnn of Ida se/iool committee, preSWed ; and Mr J. Prcbble, one of tbe committee, and Mr T. M'Carthy, the secretary, were also present, Before distributing the prizes Mr Puilett, In n few well-chosen remarks, alluded to tbe highly satisfactory position the school had attained dnring the past two yearo, both as regarded its efficiency and the average attendance, wliioli was to bo attributed to tho zeal and competency of their head-master, Mr Wolstenholme, nnd his staff of assistants. Before Mr Wolstenholiie took charge of the school the average attendance was 194, while the percentage of passes was 38 4 and the failures 31'J>. After tho present master had been in chargo for a year the average attendance increased to 272, whilo tbo per-cantage of passes rose to 51 '8 and tho failures receded to 14 - 0. This ynar showed a further improvement, for tho average attendance was 29,1, the per-ceutago of passes 637, and the failures 137, n state of affairs that ivllccted credit both upon tho teachers and tho pupil?. In his opinion the thanks of the committee nnd of the parents were due to Mr Wolstenholme and his staff for the highly satisfactory result of tho year's labor shown in tho Inspector's report, as thoy had all worked hard during tbe past twelve months to bring tho bchool to its present state of efficiency. Tho two pupil teachers, Miss Hpiller and Misa Goddard (who bad been trained in the school),, had proved themselves capnblo of imparting sound instruc tion, nnd V" was gkil to say that the lastnamed lady, who was tho only competitor from the school, was successful in her recent examination for a scholarship. Mr Puflett then with a few appropriate remarks presented the successful pupils with the rewards of their year's labor. During the afternoon tho pupils contributed a number of songs in an excellent manner, nnd these items were much appreciated and loudly applauded. After the prizes had been distributed the junior division of tho pupils were mode happy by a present of toys which had been thoughtfully provided by tbe committee. It is worthy of notice that the majority ot the first prizes were appropriated hy the girls', which point requires some oxplanation from those who believe that the nieutnl capacities of the rexea arc not equal. Tlie following is the prizo-list :- Attendance Prizes,— lnfants : Henry Krogh and Richard Hunt. Primer I. : Johuy M'Brydo. Primer 11. : Annie Boyd nnd Agatha Knov.les. Standard I. : Ernest llodckiuson and Bella Track. Standard II. : Lizzie Morrison, Duncan M'Rae, and John M'Kinley. Standard III. : Annie Sims, Emily Reward, and Blanche Beach. Standard IV. : Arthur M'Carthy, Archie Wilkio, Phtcbe Harper, and Willie Mitchell. Standard V, : Tom Boyd and Charles M'Bride. Standard VI. ; Phil Dolbel and Horace Fletcher. Proficiency.— Standard I. : 1 Fred Petersen, 2 Willie Saunders; 1 Helen Boyd, 2 Ads Mogridge, 3 Mary Benson, 4 Nellie Jensen. Standard II. : 1 Willie Tonkin, 2 Sftm Northe, Stan Spiller, nud Demetrius Soymour ; 1 Daisy Loskins, 2 Klleu Robertson and Ellon Stuart. Standard III. : 1 Herbert Spiller, 2 Barzillih Taylor ; 1 Beatrice Gitnblett, 2 Annie Simf, 3 Mabel Robson and Connie Creagb. Standard IV. : 1 John Tonkin, 2 Edmund Redwood, Erinc Prcbble and Harold Weaver; 1 Annie Mortensen, 2 Mabel Munro aud Phutbc Harper. Standard V. : 1 Willie Lyncb, 2 Loui* Krogh, 3 Charlie Plcsted and Bert Sannders ; 1 Mabel Heald, 2 Athena Seymour, 3 Ethol Beach. Standard VI. : Mark Rolls ; I'lo Goddard. Homo Work —Standard I. : 1 May Willey, 2 Tom ltbdward. Standard II. : 1 Henry Fulton, 2 Bertha Franklin, 3 Charles Galloway. Standard III. : David Denholm. Standard IV. : 1 Andrew Puflett, 2 Annio Morteuson, 3 Harry Rolls, 4 Bertha Taylor. Standard V. : 1 Ethol Beach, 2 Louia Krogh. Standard VI. : 1 Flo Goddard aud Mark Rolls. Mental Arithmetic— Standard V. : Bert Sauudcrs aud Mabel Heald. Stamlntd VI. : George Heald. Sewing.— f-tf.ndard 1 : 1 Susan Rolls (95) ; 2 Bella Weaver (90), Kate Denu (00), nnd llattie Pulletl (90). Standard If. ; Annie Puilett (100), Letlm Taylor (100), Ellen Bristow (100), 2 Nellio. M'Brydo (95). Standard 111. : 1 Annie Sprihgaay (100), 2 Connie Creagh (95), Ktliel Luciix (OS), Minnie Nelaon (!!,"">). Standard IV. : 1 Annie Mortensen (100), 2 Jenny Button (5)5), Maggie Nortbe (05). Standard V. : I Arthur Seymonr (100), 2 Ethel Beach (90). Special prizes, for esaay on "Temperauco 1 Kate Wilkie, 2 Bertha Taylor. Monitor's prize, Mark Roll*.