SCHOLASTIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLII, Issue 4328, 26 December 1874, Page 2

SCHOLASTIC.

WOODEND. The annual distribution of priree in the Woodend district school took place on Thun* day morning. Several of the parents and friends of toe children were present, also several memben of the school committee. The prises were given in accordance with the result of the examination held some weeks ago by the Inspector, Mr Bsstoll. Those for sewing were awarded according to the decision of Mesdames Ivens, Little, and Salkeld, who kindly undertook the duties of examination in that department. Their report of the work done by the girls was most flattering, reflecting great credit on the sewing mistress, Miss Fee. The following is the list of priies First class—Mary Zwibriiok, Ist} Selina Horton, 2nd j Martha Judson, 3rd; Joseph Wooding, 4th. Second class--James Judson, Ist; James Salkeld, 2nd j George Booth, 3rd; Rebecca Norton, 4th.

Third class—Joseph Salkeid, Ist ; Grace Farrell, 2nd ; Joseph Stevens, 3rd ; William Little, 4th. Fourth class—George Judson, Ist; John Hewitt, 2nd ; Edward Edlin, 3rd; Margaret Lorrimer, 4th. Fifth class—Mark Morris, Ist; H. W. Judson, 2nd; J. Rudd, 3rd; Alfred Bramloy, 4th. The fourth prises in coch class were given not to those who stood fourth in the examination, but to those who had just moved up from a lower class.

Sewing.—lst Division—Mary Zwibriiok.lst; Selina Norton, 2nd. 2nd Division—Phcebe Brown, Ist; Eleanor, Keeper, 2nd. The committee then proceeded to award four prises to that number of children who had taken the best care of their books, Sco., during the past year, omitting those who had alreadygained prises. These prises fell to Arthur Bromley, John Howell, Bon. Witham, and Sarah Marshall. . . Mr Atkinson, at the request of the chairman, Mr Norton (who is suffering from mness), gave a short and very appropriate address to the children, abounding >» good advice. , . . Before dismissing the school, the chairman,

a^lye . M T l f ,fcof the committee and friend* very oomplimentary terms eT . reat eetisfaction they all h\k Wd br.knew of the district generally with pronwnui state of the school and of the ‘children. He was desired w ccmvev tOdchers the thanks of the committee for great care and pains bestowed anon rorf He wished then, all a mas, and hoped that they would enjoy the holiday they had so well earned. replied in feeling terms on behalf of himself add militants, acknowledgiriglhe great kindness and consideration they had invariably met with from all in the district And hoped the harmony and good feeling would Continue. ~

The school has greatly increased during th» past year, nearly 150 children being now in attendance. '

TEMPLETON,

The annual school children’s treat was held on Wednesday last at the school-room. Dunng the afternoon various amusements * such as running, jumping, fe , were indulged’ in by the children, prizes being given by Mr Bailey, the fShairman of the school committee. The table* were liberally furnished ‘ by Mesdame* Bailey, Marsh, and Maddigmi, s»< sisted by several other ladies in the to which ample justice was done by the young folks, who appeared to thoroughly eriioj themselves.

In the evening a concert was held in tW school (which, by-the-by, is really a splendid building-‘-one of the best in the outlying districts), when aveiy attractive programme was gone through. ‘ Mr S. Bailey, chairman of the school committee, on taking the chair, said—-Before going on with the programme, he ( had a very pleasing, yet rather an unpleasant duty to perform. They were all well aware that their master, Mr Morgan, was about to leave them. He was extremely sorry that they were losing Mr Morgan, for he f bad, during* the term of : his office (now nearly eight years), carried on the scholastic duties with great efficiency. When he said, this, he wae sura ‘he was expressing the opinion of the Committee,. and he believed a large majority of the btfflSeholders in the district. Wlien Mr Morgarl' took the school, nearly eight years ago; there were only 13 children attending, and now there were considerably ovet 100 children, itoany coming a long distance and from other school districts. Hr Morgan bad brought the school to a.'high state of discipline, and he hoped the parent* would continue to send their children regularly and punctually, as unless this were done good discipline could not be maintained. (Cheers.) He hoped they would receive their new master belter than they appeared to be receiving their old one at Papanui, for so long as a district was not unanimous and palled together, they are not likely to keep a good master. He had been a long time upon the school committee; they had always been unanimous and he believed that was the reason why thay bad been able to obtain the services of such an efficient master. He believed that the sole cause of Mr Morgan leaving them was to better himself by taking a larger school. The chairman then presented Air Morgan with % handsome inkstand and a purse of sovereigns, and said it was not from the' committee, but the whole district. It was pot presented for its intrinsic value, but as a token of esteem and goodwill which the district evinced towards both Mr and Mrs Morgan. (Loud cheers.) He hoped the district to which he was going would be able to appreciate his services a 8 well As they had been appreciated at Templeton. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) The Rev Mr Paige called upon them to give three hearty cheers for Mrs Morgan, which was vociferously responded to. Mr Morgan said he stood before them in rather a peculiar position. He could not express iu words what be felt by receiving such a handsome present. He was sincerely grateful for the manner in which he had always been treated since he came to the district, and be felt a considerable amount of diffidence in leaving, his sole reason for which was that Mrs Morgan should not be in school, and he could not do this unless he bettered himself. When he came to the school, nearly eight years ago, there were 11 children, now there were 147 on the register, (Cheers.) He was not going to take all this credit upon himself, because the new Education Ordinance had very materially assisted the cans© of education, and the population in the district had very largely increased. He had on© word to say to the children ; that was to be truthful. His first class were nearly all learning, and their new master would have rather uphill work for a time, but the right metal was in the younger ones to make them as good a first class as any that had Seen in the school. (Cheers.) He would conclude by again thanking them for the presentation and would wish them God speed. (Applause.) The chairman said they had now a long programme to go through, which was as follows —Piano solo, Mrs Paige; glee Mrs -Pave., Miss Prebble, Messrs Comerford and Prebble; reading, “ My experience of a baby,” Mr F.G. Stedman; song, “ Pilot,” Mr Morgan ; reading, “ Mrs Brown’s French Milliner.” Mr N. Phillips; glee, Mrs Paige, Miss Pr> bble, Messrs Comerford and Prebble; song, ‘'Christchurch Policeman," Mr Main; reading, from Mark Twain, “ How I edited an Agricultural Newspaper,” Mr Anson; piano solo. Mrs Paige; reading, “Handy Andy,” Mr Morgan; reading, Mr J. J.. Elwin; song, “Kiss me, mother, ere I die,” Mr Comerford. This concluded the programme, which, judging from tha applause each piece received, was well appreciated. The chairman said he wished to move a hearty vote of thanks to the ladies aud gentlemen who had entertained them with music and reading# that evening. (Cheers.) Mr Paige said he would like to add to the chairman’s rote, and include the ladies who had given them such a good tea. Ho would also like to move a vote of thanks to their chairman, not, as is commonly done as chairman, but as a real good and true style ot an English gentleman; they could not ao bettor th*n follow in the footsteps of their worthy chairman. ... a Mr Bailey briefly returned thanks, and the National Anthem brought • pleasant evening to a close. *