THE AUCKLAND COLLEGE AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.—PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 2908, 24 May 1873, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND COLLEGE AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.—PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.

s The prizes competed for by the scholars of i tho Auckland College and Grammar School were distributed yesterday afternoon bv his e Honor the Superintendent, in tho new Music i. Hall, Symouds-street. Tho scholars were t seated in the body of the hall, and tho ladies t and gentlemen, about GO iu number, who had 1 come to witness the presentation, occupied the side seats of the building. His Honor the Superintendent; J. C. Firth, Esq.; Col. Haultain, and the masters of the Grammar School, occupied the platform.—Mr. Mcßae, j the head schoolmaster, stated that his Honor tho Superintendent, at the request of tho 1 Board of Education, would distribute the prizes.—llis Honor Mr. Gillies addressed those present. Ho said : Mr. Mcßae, ladies, and gentlemen, and young gentlemen of the Auckland Grammar School, for I trust you either tire, or are g"iug, to be young gentlemen in the truest sense of the word, —I have to express my gratification nt being placed in the position to-day, of distributing tho prizes

to those boys in the Grammar School who have deserved them—those who have been first in their respective classes. It gives me | gratification to fill this position ; for although I am getting grey, I can remember when I was a boy, and how proud I was when I received a prize. And although lam aware that now-a-days there are many who think that it is wrong to invoke the spirit of competition iu boys, I confess I am not one of those, nnd have 110 sympathy with them. I feel that the principle of invoking a con test of the powors, both iu boys and men, is really a great engine in the hands of those who have to make this world go ahead ns best tliey can. Therefore, I feel particularly pleased in performing tin's olliee. In looking over this class-list, I have been rather struck by some things which it would be well if you boys, and your parents, too, would think over. One "tiling is that, although it has been taken as an adage tha', in order to be greiit in anythiujr, you must coufino yourself to it, in this prize-list I find a refutatijn to that adage ; for those who take first prize in any ono study are also good in a great great many other- 1 . Out of the 29 prizes, I there are 110 less than seven boys who take

two first prizes in d liferent studies. Twothirds of the Ist class prize boys are either second or third in the other studies, and only one-third of the boys who took prizes are not in the other studies, and there is only one boy out of the six placed in mathematics that is not. in anything else. These are curious facts, which I would ask parents to think over, because I think that some general principle with regard to the education of our children is involved, which might tend to lead us to put them to study to the greatest advantage. Another curious fact is, that history aud geography seem to go together. Out of 17 hoys in history and geography, ten of them are iu both. The same appears in the study of Latin I'.nd French : the capacity for acquiring languages seems to go together. But in the case of mathematics and Latin there is only one boy 1 out of the five who excels in either of these

I two branches who does not excel in a good many other studies. In distributing these [ prizes, I may say that it is only to those who j are highest in their classes that, prizes tire awarded, but I hope that those boys who do not receive any prizes will not give up the idea of getting prizes hereafter. Such should not be the ease. For instance, I see two boys here who have distinguished themselves honorably in thice dilferent subjects, and although they have not obtained prizes, I shall be much surprised if they do not get prizes next year. His Honor made a few further remarks to encourage the boys in the pursuit of their studies, and then presented the prizes with appropriate aud encouraging comments. The prizes were very valuable and well selected books of history, poetry, and general literature. The following is the prize list. :—Latin : Ist class, K. H. .Rattray; 2nd class, S. Herepath ; 3rd class, F. King; -lth class, W. Dignin; sth class, H. Hall. English History : Ist class, J. Beveridge ; 2nd class, R. H. Reid ; 3rd class, W. H. Fuller; 4;h class, A. ilclutosh ; sth class, F. Peachy ; 6tli class, T. Killoyle. Geographv : Ist class, T. ifacky J 2ud class, A. Tavlor; 3rd class, W. 11. Fuller; -I'll class, A. -Mcintosh ; sth class, H. Hall ; 6th class, G. Oox. Grammar : E. Cuthbertsan and R. Nral. Reading: G. Cox. Dictation: 11. Elkin. Mathematics : Ist class—lst division, K. If. Rattray ; 2nd division, H. A. Keesing; 2nd class, R, H. Reid and E. J. JlcFariand; 3rd class, B. Cass ; 4th class (arithmetic), A. Buchanan ;'ot h class (ditto), C. Clayton; fith class (ditto). S. P. Howard. Fren :h : Ist class, P. Holt'; 2n l class, S Herepath; 3rd class, 8. H*. Smith. Writing: 3rd class, H. iLDavy; 4th class, \V. Brown ; sth class, W. Kind'; 6th class, F. Burt!. Botany : Ist prize, Jieesing ; 2nd prize, Ivirk. A special prize was awarded to Robert for general progress. ITr. iirth said : I have been requested to say a few words to the scholars, and tliev shall be but a fnv. Boys, you who are boys to- lay in a short time you will become men, and what you do in the next few years will'have much to do with what you are when you are men—when you will be amongst the workers and the rulers of this youn« count rv I wish you well.—Three cheers were gi Yen for his Honor the Superintendent, and three for tho masters of the Coliege and Grammar School.