SCHOOL VACATIONS.

Mataura Ensign, 19 December 1913, Page 7

SCHOOL VACATIONS.

. ? GORE. The annual "break-up" of the Gore Public School took plaice in the Gore •Town Hall yesterday afternoon, when ithe building was crowded to the doors t>y the pupils and their parents. Mr A. Martin (chairman of the committee) presided, and in his opening address referred to the satisfactory work of -the school. There had been several drawbacks during the year, the principal of which were due to the effects of the flood. A good deal of sickness prevailed among the children subsequent to the flood, and the average attendance had been reduced thereby to 320. During the quarter just ended the average attendance had increased to 421 out of a roll number 467. The increased attendance enabled the school to have another teacher added to the staff. Miss Howes (infant mistress) had been granted leave of absence for the* -"ear, and her' place had been ably filled by ■ Miss Webber. Miss Wilson (fourth as- - sistant) had obtained nine months' I leave of absence owing to illness. The work of the school could be judged by the number of pupils who gained > proficiency certificates, there not being . a single failure. The work of tie com- . mittee during the year had been of the usual routine nature but a step in ad-: vance had been made when the com-, mittee persuaded the Education .Board; to moke provision for more efficient! sanitary arrangements in connection with the school, which would " tie carried out during the The, tone of the school! had oeen good and the r-elation- . ahip between the headmaster and staff f and committee was most cordial. The speaker apologised for the absence of • his worafnp the Mayor (Mr D. McE.R. Bowler (chairman of i '-the HigJPSchool Board of Governors) .and Mr Wm. Macalister (of the Southland Education Board). ; ' Mr John Mac Gibbon (representing vthe Education Board) gave a brief congratulatory address. He said he was • pleased to see so many children present • and gave some practical advica on ; ( punctuality, diligence and respect to 'the teachers. Mr Joseph Hunter (rector of the Gore High School) urged upon the children • cultivation of discipline and self-con-trol. By exercising these qualities they Sould be better able to stand against te many temptations that would beset - them when they went out from school - 4 to figKt the battle of life in the world. -(fcTLue thing characteristic of those of the jfmlore School pupils who came to the iaffigfc School was their good manners 'nana respect for discipline. fiev. 6. Hervey, after a few humor- • our remarks, urged the pupils to still greater diligence in their school work, and agid that if they worked hard they would come out on top in the end. Mr Goldin<* (headmaster) expressed . his thanks to the committee and teaching staff for the assistance rendered him in his work. They had (he said) ' experienced a strenuous lame dealing with the after-effects of the flood and chanj3fT of teachers and illness. Still he was well satisfied with the all-round work of - the school. As an instance ■of this -he mentioned that the dux boy who gtuned hj- proficiency certificate w'i&HS out of * possible 80 we in- *»Eb previous year the figure 4 tare & and 80 respectively, r, During the proceedings the Misses Mona WaHia atid Ulu Hancock rendered recitations very acceptably. ■The chairman then distributed the announced that the holidays , extended te the first Tuesday in February, 1914, and that the date of the school-excursion to Riverton would be annotineed later on. Hearty cheers were given for the . staff. The following is the

Progress, Joseph Beck. Diligence, Joan' c Bagrie, 0. Maude. Progress, Beanie ( Stewart. Drill, Sergeant Cleine, Cor- j poral Buchanan. 1 STANDARD V. J Dux —Boys: Frank Ray 1, Alan ] Fergusson, 2. Girls: Margaret McLeod 1, Grace Slocombe 2. < Atttendiance —First-class: Grace Slocombe, Grace Johnston, Thelma Maude, Eva) Briggs, Roy Cullen, James Christie. Second class attendance: John 1 Mason, Leslie Bowmar, Annie Craig, Walter Robertson, Albert Stevenson. Reading: William Boraman. Spelling: Dorothy Robson. 'Writing: Kathleen Wright. Arithmetic: William Boraman. Drawing: Roy Cullen. Composition: William Gray and Ruth Blaikie. Sewing: Eva Briggs. Progress: Clarice Partington. STANDARD IV. General Proficiency—Boys: James Peterson 1, Rpy Christie 2. Girls 1 : Catherine Doull 1, Florrie Cleine 2. Special Prizes—Sewing: Agnes Thomson. Writing: Gladys Coomer. Attendance.—First-class certificates and prizes: Matthew Hunter, Maxwell Collett, Lance Martin, Ralph Shave, William Corbett, James Mcintosh, Allan Mcintosh, Arthur Kingdom, Arthur Morton, Ivy Allott, Maggie Martin, : Florrie Cleine, Ethel Watt. Second; class: Jack Willis, David Stevenson, j Redvers Perkins, Alex. Sheed, Louise, I Wright, Ella Baldey, Catherine Doull, j , Nina May, Lily Duncan, Marjorie i Wingfield. STANDARD 111. General Proficiency—Boys: Bert Gray 1, Thomas Kirkwood 2. Girls: Adele Hunter 1, Louisa, Richards 2. * Attendance—First class: William Hodgetts, Douglas Low, Gordon Hicks, William Paterson, Kitty Corbett, Jane Mcßobie, Edith Baldey, Adele Hunter. Second class: Norman Kirk, Irene White, Willa W T illis, Marion Cruick- ; shank, Sarah Robertson, Doris Smythe. Special Prizes—Diligence: Eric Taylor. Brushwork. Bella Scott. Sewing: Kitty Corbett. STANDARD 11. Class Prizes—General proficiencyBoys: Harold Todd 1, Adolph Oettli and Edwin Kirby (equal) 2. Girls: May Dickie 1, Margaret Mcßobie 2. Special Prizes —Writing: Keith Murray. Drawing and brushwork: George Wilson, Violet Gibson. Sewing: Christina Wallis. Attendance Certificates and Prizes— First class: Harry Johnston, Robe it ' Mdntosh, Hugh Peterson, Ivan Cruickshank, Lance Taylor, William Sim, Dora Perks, May Dickie, Chrissie Wallis, Margaret Mcßobie, Kitty Martin, John Geisig, George Cruickshank. Second class: Clive Stewart, Norman McKinna, Marion Thomson, Lena Johnson. STANDARD I. Dux—Boys: Alister McCorkindale 1, Gordon Watt 2. Girls: Ella Hinchey and Violet O'Brien (equal). Snecial Prizes —Good conduct —Girls: Mavis Thomson. Boy 6: William McLean, Sewing and attendance: EhzaI beth Sim 1, Phyllis Saunders 2. Arithmetic: Violet Trussler 1, Thomas Gray 2. Reading: Ella Burns. Spelling: Violet Burgess. Writing: Russell Robertson. Drawing. Hazel Webber l,^ Irvine Kerr 2. Brushwork: Irene Hey--1 wood 1, Minnie Richards 2. Recitation: 1 Vera Green I,.lsabel Kerr 2. ' Attendance Prizes —First class: Bertie Hodgetts, Charles Hodgette, Wil--1 liam Wallis, Elizabeth Corbett, Flor- ■ enoe Corbett, Annie Gray, Elizabeth Sim, Myrtle Stephenson. PRIMER CLASSES. Primer IV.—Attendance: Alex. Dickie, Alan Falconer, Frances Wright. , Reading: Lily Berry, Rita Whittingham Ena Murray. Arithmetic: Alan , Campbell. Writing: James Burrowes, Irene Nichol. Drawing: James McLennan, Ella Duncan. Poetry : Bessie Price. Herbert Trusler. Conduct: Wilbert Williamson, Vera Turnbull, Bessie Murray. Progress: Arnold Maude, Esca Clayton, Gordon Thomson, Arthur Robertson, James Bishop, Leah Clayton. Annie Shanks, Lilla Faitt, Pearl White George Anderson, Clifford Thompson, Bertie Thomson. Bessie i Doull. Iris Adams. Primer 111. Attendance: Myrtle , Peterson, Andrew Mcßobie, Jeannefcte Kerr (consolation). Read . ing: George Peterson, Dorothy - Wallis, Gordon Speden, Hazel Stark. , Numbers: Lewis Stevenson, Iris 5 ■ Hav, Winnie Cullen. Writing: Violet , . Pollock. Bruce Waft. Figures: Joseph , Morton, George Adams, Adelaide Mat- . thews. Drawing: Douglas McCorkin-

dale, Joseph Murtay. Conduct; Isabel Campbell, Hazel Wilson. Poetry. Ulu Hancock. Progress: Cassie Murray, Maude Hay, Muriel Day, Mavis Briggs. j Vera Kirby, Howard Perkins, Howard I Sped en, Gordon Blaikie, Bruce Watt, 1 Norman Hamilton. Special Prize for Proficiency—Winnie Cullen. Primer II. —Special prizes—Numbers: lan Anderson. Reading: Colin Harper. Drawing: John Leishman and! Effie Stevenson. J'leures: Susie; Fal- 1 coner and Rupert Tutty. Writing: William Robertson, General progress: James Williamson. Neatness: Thomas Brandham. Diligence: Charlotte Robertson. Attendance (first class): Colin Harper, James Sim. Class prizes—Boys: Roland Berry, George Brown, Harry Brown, Bertie Burgess, Alex. Corbett, David Cunningham, Clifford Davis, Ed : ward Gilder, Percy Greig, Charles Haywood, Gordon Johnson, Alex. Keith, George McArtney, ihomas Paterson, Freddy Perks, Leslie Russell, James Sim, Leslie Taylor, Edgar Wail : s. Girls: Gladys Crawford, Ella Gormack, Frances Hodgetts, Edith Johnston, Freda McPherson, Jean Muir, Evelyn, Wallis, Mavis Ward, Doreen Faitt, Bari bar a Hancock.

Primer I.—Special prizes—Reading: Rae Turnbull, Writing: Doris Donaldson. Numbers: Clarence Greig. Figures: Harry Davis. Drawing: Margaret Gray, Progress: Lorna Foulston, Agnes McFarlane, Vera Smith, James Dickie. Good conduct. Doreen Muhto. Class prizes: Pearl Allott. Kathleen Adams, Mabel Brandham, Phyllis Crawford, Vera Cullen, Doris Donaldson, Jessie Ferguson, Lorna Grant, Alice Harland, Nancy Leishman, Margaret McLeod, Martha McCord, Theresa Conlon, Gladys Taylor, Edith Travis, Jean, Wiatsori, Olive jCruickshanks, Flora White, Violet Ryder, Edna Wilson, Alice Robertson, Maisie Stevenson, Hazel Gordon, Susan Kingdon. George Allott, Spencer Allott,, Edward Bacon, James Badman, Edney Briggs, Terrence Burrowes, Arthur Cuttriss, Ronald Collett, Robert Whitehead, Bertie Davis, Hector Gordon, Colin Falconer, James Gibson, Thomas Johnston, David MicKenzie, Robert McLean, Wilfred Mason, James Robertson, Bertie Wallis, Franz Sasse. Norman Ward, William Smyth, 'Gordon Stark, Bernard Tremaine, Archie Todd, Edgar Taylor, Jack Thompson, Neill Taylor, Robert Taylor, Freddie Thomson, Bruce White. The following gifts are acknowledged) : —Money from Mrs Arthur Wallis, Messrs G. J. Anderson, M.P., Brownlie, Wm. Johnson, Dickie, Golding, L. Fretwell and W. Robson; books from Mesdames Lovell (2), Bowler, Tayles, Maude, Cullen, Ferguson, Messrs Bowler, Stewart and Hunter; sweets from Messrs McDowall, Hargest, R. L. Christie, Brownlie, Gibbon and Co., Wright, Stephenson and Co., Southland Farmers' Co-operative Association,, Ltd. Mrs Perkins and Cullen; box of chocolates, Mr F. S. Graham.

CHARLTON. The annual "break-up" ceremony of the Charlton School took place in the! •choolhouse yesterday. There was a good attendance of parents, and the chairman of the School Committee (Mr R, .Mcßride) presided. An apology for absence was received from Mr G. J. Anderson, M.P. The following programme was presented by the schoolchildren in an excellent mainner reflecting distinct credit upon the teacher (Miss Smith): — Chorus, schoolchildren; recitation, "A Grammatical Dispute," Master Geo. Mcßride; solo and chorus, "The Coach and Four," Master A. Ladbrook (soloist) ; action song, "A Little Mother," schoolgirls; dialogue, senior pupils ( ; action song, "Fan Drill," schoolgirls; Christinas acrostic, infant classes. Rey. .G. He'rvey, addressing the children, said he was pleased to'know that the school was "holding its own." -The partaken in the proceedings that day bv the children showed him that the girls especially would "hold their own." He was passing along a street at Gore the other day when, he heard at his hack the words, "Here, Jim, we want you up here!" and looking round he saw two men on the roof of a house calling to a man down below. "No," replied the latter; "come down here." That was the question—"up or down"— that the boys and girls would find was the one to be answered throughout life, and the answer depended a good deal upon their own energies. "When playing . cricket some boys would make a big score and others would be right at the bottom ; it was of no use complaining of the bat or the bowler or the pitch. Did they do their very best to try to BM

reach the top? If they wished to climb a mountain they must work and climb to the top eventually, alwave keeping it .a view. The farmer who put forth his best efforts succeeded, but after all it is not what we have; ite is what we-are, and if the boys and girls meant to be good men and women they must work for that end. The speaker concluded by hoping that the children would enjoy their holidays and return to school eager to learn all they could and thus fit themselves for high positions in life. Mr T. Mac Gibbon advised the children to study hard and make the best of their opportunities, and if they did not succeed at first to try again. He referred to the progress the school had made and said he was pleased to be present to renew old acquaintances. The school had a good teacher in Miss Smith, and it rested with the children to learn all they could and so fit themselves for their future positions in life. The speaker said he could remember when there was only one school in Ota go, and Southland had -none at all. In those days the population of Duned:n was 400; it was now 70,000. At the present time there were 150 schools in the Southland district alone. All this had happened within his memory. He trusted that the boy 6 and girls would prove worthy citizens of a good country, and concluded his remarks by giving the children a description of his recent trip to England. Mr H. Brierly (district missionary) said it was very nice to receive prizes which showed that the winners had labored with success. He appreciated the items that were given by the pupils, and urged them to aim high in life. The speaker referred to the Scott Polar expedition. and the many difficulties that brave party met with but they went on and on 'until thev reached the goal. Mr Brierly presented photos to the school of the late Captains Scott and Oates.

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The prizes were presented by Mr Thomas Mac Gibbon as follows:—Dux of the school: Percy Humphries. Standard V.: First prize ; Iris Sim; second, Leslie Anderson; third, John Kingdon. Standard IV.: First prize, George MoBride; second, Agnes Kilpatrick. Standard III.: First prize, Harold Tayles: second, Leslie Humphries. Standard II.: First prize, O. Buchanan; second, Alma Allan. Standard I.: First prize, James Sim • second, Roland Buchanan. In addition all the pupils of the pri-j mary classes received prizes. Special!' prizes—Progress: Albert Uadbrook, Singing: Etta Kilpatrick. Attendance— First class: Leslie Anderson, Albert Ladbrook and Geo. Mcßride. Second class: Percy Humphries, Iris Sim, \j&sJie Humphries and James Sim. 'Sewing (silver thimble, gift of Mrs Landels): Iris Sim. Agriculture: Leslie Humphries and Harold Tayles. Refreshments, supplied by the ladies, were dispensed, and before the close of the gathering votes of thanks were accorded the speakers, the prizegivers, the ladies and the chairman. The gathering dispersed after the singing of a Terse of the National Anth»m.