WAITAKI GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

North Otago Times, 5 December 1910, Page 1

WAITAKI GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

ART EXHIBITION AND SPORTS,

An interesting function associated with the dispersal of the,, pupils of the Girls' High School for the Christmas vacation took place on Saturday afterooon. This was the annual • exhibition of drawings and other art work in, combination with the annual sports of the,pupils. A great number of parents. and others availed themselves.'of the opportunity for showing their sympathy with and interest in the higher'education of 'girls, a , reasonable! estimate placing the attendance at fully 400. The ladies very naturally predominated, 'but a number of the sterner sex were : present, including several country teachers who were in town for the day. The art, exhibition, of course, claimed, priority of attention, and throughout the afternoon the large studio was thronged with people, who were liberal in their praise's of the work of the students. The large room was well furnished with drawings, and the effect was heightened by a judicious .introduction of.' flowers and foliage. For -trite most part the drawings were in crayon, gnd' these were restricted to drawing from models and casts and from still life. ' Included in the former category were drawings from some excellent casts selected in Rome ■by Miss Ferguson, the Lady Principal, during her visit last year. The reproductions of these, by.crayon were generally well done, the affect being nicely caught in shading, and the same may be said of the drawings from models ojmttiykintisi placed in a Variety of positions. The still life studies extended over a wide range, embracing the hinHan face and figure, animals, architecture, fruit and aquatic, and rural scenes, and in each direction some fluod work was readily oljservalble. Indeed tbera was not a really poor specimen in the whole collection, and that was remarkable seeing that the majority were produced by first year students and that,- the exhibition embraced the. whole of the year's'work and the year's work only. It was Quite evident that not only has Missi M'Oaw had under her guidance a good deal of latent .talent, antt.that the students have had in Miss M'Caw a painstaking and 'highly competent instructress. These faots arq made apparent by the progress made during the year by the senior students as well as by the advance of the juniors. A few nice water-color (drawings were included in the collection, the coloring being generally chaste. One of the most interesting features was the friezes' and panels produced by .several of the advanced pupils,, who were required to conceive their otn idesigJis. These displayed a' good,deal of taste and not a, little originality in design, and the character of the brush-work was re-, nr.ark.ably high; In this respect it is evident that under Miss M'Oaw's direction the school is being made to'fierve in some measure the function of a school design. Altogether, the exhibition well!-repaid the time spent in examining the work done by the pupils,

During the afternoon sports were carried out on the lawn and tennis courts, and th«se were watched by, ■ a large gathering. The brass band of the Waitakl Boys' High School enlivened the proceedings with some music, the band playing exceedingly well.for such an organisation, many of- whos.; component parts have not been long in training, Mr A. A. M'Kdnnoii, secretary to the Board; of Governors, 'acted as starter and general factotum, and several of the teachers were also active in ■getting off the various items.. Most of tee ■had, however, ibeeh reduced by-pri-jr competitions: to the finals,!, which were keenly contested. Afternoon tea was provided for all present, and the girls of tha school busied themselves., With delicate attentions totho guests. Thus,' under the influence of beautiful weather, a very, pleasant afternoon was spent. At the close of "the 'sports the prizes, were presented by Miss Ferguson,, the Lady Principal, the happy winners being as follows :

Egg and Spoon Race-R. Botting. Thread the.Needle Race-l' 1 . Fodie and M. Walter.

Three-legged Race—M. Beattie and A. Kent.'

Itace for Girl's over 15 ycars.-R. Botting. • Menagerie Race-I. Clark (black puppy)- ■ T Race for Girls under 15 years-L. Sinclair. Children's Race-Noeline Barrett 1, Esther' Botting 2,, Peggy Williamson 3, Willie-Sinclair 4. . 'Hoippil'igi 'and i Ejacklwafd Race—K Taylor. Balancing. Race-G. Yorke. . Obstacle Bicycle' Ride—B. Taylor. .Blindfold Race-F. Fodle. Tortoise Bicycle Race—L. Sinclair. OH Girls' Racel-Miis Piper. .