ONEHUNGA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4827, 7 May 1877, Page 3

ONEHUNGA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

The annual examination and exhibition at the Onehunga Catholic Schools opened in the Boys' School on Wednesday, the 2nd instant, by a searching examination o£ the boys, in the presence of the Itev. Father Fynes, V.G., the Rev. Father i'aul, Mr. J. Sullivan, and a number of the parents and friends of the pupils. The day was very fine, and the boys seemed overflowing with health and spirits. It was known that :■. gold watch presented by Mr. Sullivan, three valuable prizes given by Mr. James Mclntyre, and a gold pen and penholder from Mr. fole, were to be competed for. To win the gold watch, a boy must take first place in the school for two consecutive years, and the first r igagement for it was just about to be tough . -Mr. Mclntyre's gifts were to be awarded to the three boys who took first place in reading and writing in their respective classes. The expected disposal of these prizes, in addition to those usually allotted to the school, created more than ordinary excitement among the scholars, and the master to secure an impartial distribution called in external aid. Mr. Cronin, of Otahuhn, a trained teacher from home, was accordingly invited to attend, and take part in the examinations. This gentleman examined the senior class in arithmetic, gometry and algebra, and expressed himself well pleased with the result. Mr. Honan examined the junior classes, and they showed great expertness and intelligence in answerfiif. The writing was then exhibited, and the books were carefully written and in good condition. In this branch there was a close contest between Joseph Cullen and James Leahy. The exercise books were next handed round for inspection, and were very good, containing original letters, exercises in parsing, maps neatly drawn, sums carefully worked, specimens of book-keeping, and invitations. There were various recitations, but " The old clock on the stairs," by J. Leahy, and "The Charge tithe Light Brigade," by J. Cullen, were ihe best. One of the pupils here stepped forward aud read, irith * clear voice and correct expression, the following address : — " To the Rev. Father I'aul, Cathclic Pastor and Manager of the Onehunga Catholic Schools: Kev. and beloved Father,—We, the pupils of .St. Mary's Boys' School, beg leave to tender you our most cordial and respectful thanks for the uniform and paternal solicitude you have always displayed in providing for our educational wants. We feel justly proud of our handsome new school which has been reared up by your zeal for our comfort, and which, while reflecting lustre on your devotion to the cause of Christian education, adds to the architeatural beauty oi our town. But the crowning act of your kindness consists in providing the splendid aud well-finished fly-pole, on which daily, after the fatigues of our school duties, we refresh the faculties of the mind, and develop tho3e of the body. We feel happy in beiiio uuder the charge of such a good shepherd, who provides for the little ones of his flock with such tender care. In conclusion, we beg to say that your constant desire to mak'j our school life happy—to scatter flowers oil the path of learning for us—shall be ever gratefully remembered by us ; and that in after life when we are grown npwe shall frequentlyand fondly lookback to our school and school days, and the most venerated figure in the retrospective picture will be that of our dear, beloved pastor, the Bev. Father Paul, on whom we pray •Almighty God to bestow his choicest blessings.—(Signed on behalf of the pupils) J. Leahy, J. Cullen." The Rev. Father Paul, who seemed to have been taken very much by surprue at this spontaneous expression of thanks, replied in a few wellchosen and appropriate words. Then the distribution of prizes commenced, the watch being taken by J. Leahy for the present year, aud to be held by him till next year, when, if won again, it becomes his property. Mr. Mclntyre's ciiief prize fell to J. Cullen, and his second to R. Lundon. F. Cullen carried oil' the gold pen presented by Mr. Tulo. All the other pupils got something in the order of their merit, and all seemed happy and contented. The Kev. Father l-'yues oppressed himself highly pleased with the result of the day's proceedings. He ccnipliinented the pupils on their correct answering ; the good pastor, the Kev. Father Paul, on his successful efforts in the cause of education, and the master on the efficient state of his school. Three cheers from the toys, at the request of the rev. speaker, for those good benefactors who had presented prizes to the school, brought the day's proceedings to a close. THE COIiVEXT SCHOOLS. The following day (the 3rd instant) was Appointed for the examination of the young j ladies attending these favourite schools in ; their various lessons, and for the exhibition °f those high attainments in music, drawing, fancy work, and singing—accomplishments which are so successfully cultivated by the good Sisters, aud which form an attractive teature in the educational course of their schools. The day was propitious, and a great number of parents and. visitors, intruding a good many ladies and gentleman from Auckland, were present. The fine spacious hall in which the exhibition took place was well filled, and when the young ' ad >' pupils marched in at the appointed how, dressed in white blue, they looked

remarkably well, and ttao visitors were at once impressed with the superior merits of the system of teaching which produced such happy effects on their health, spirits, aud conduct. The following programme was then gone through with ease and precision, the playing aud answering frequently eliciting applause from the audience: Piano, 'A Te O Cam," Misses Dickey, Leahy, Carey, Underbill, Honau, Thorogood ; glee, "May Song;" address, Miss Donovan; piano, "Love not March," Misses Broadfoot, Bonner, and Leah}*, Miss Carey on harmonium ; catechism ; piano, " Morning Star Waltz," Misses Thorogood, Brm.l. foot, Worsp, Haus, Donovan, Mis" J. Carey on harmonium ; song ami choruses, "Children's Voices;" French dialogue, Misses Dickey aud Carey ; piano, "The Ida Schottit.che," Misses Leali3 T , Carey, Thorogood, Miss J. Carey ou harmonium. Third Class: Reading aud general questions ; piano, " Winter's Morn," Slissics Dickey, Bonner, Carey, Miss Broadfoot on harmonium. Second Class : Terrestrial globe; piano, "II Balcn del sno sorrisso," Misses Dickey and Carey. First Class: General history and celestial globo ; piano, grand fantasia, "Alice," Miss Dickey, First Class : Electricity. This lesson formed a very interesting feature of tho day's exhibition, it being illustrated by experiments on the electric battery. Piano, " L'entree du Village," Misses Dickey, Williams, Leahy, Broadfoot, Carey, Misa Bonner on harmonium. Drawing: In this department there were several pieces ou view which showed considerable talent, viz. : one by Miss Thorogood, subject, " Village Church;" " The Orphan's Dream," by Mis 3 Dickey. This picture repaesents au orphan asleep and an angel with outstretched wings watchiug over him. It was neatly framed, and as it hung on the wall many an eye turned on it in admiration. " A Swiss Village," by Miss Dickey; "Village Scene," by Miss Carey; "Mary, Queen of Scots," by Miss Jano Carey. French embroidery : Apiece entitled " Summer," by Miss Shaldrich ; "Alice," by Miss McMahan; " Fruit 3 and Flowers," by Miss Durham; " The Language of Flowers," by Miss Mahoney ; " The Peacock," a pieee of tufting, by Miss E. Codlin, were all exceedingly good. ST. JOSEPH'S SCHOOL. First Class : Catechism, arithmetic, Euglish history, chronology, and geography. Song, "Days of Childhood." Second Class : Grammar and general questions. Third Class : Reading, spelling, &c. Song. " Fabiola," a drama in five acts. God Save the Queen. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. Subjoined are the names of the prizetakers :— First Class :—Miss Bonner, premium for catechism, cross ; Miss Dickey, premium for conduct and drawing, writing-desk; Miss Broakfoot, premium for biography, album ; Miss Rigging, premium for parsing, book ; Miss Daly, premium for English history, album ; Miss MoMahon, premium for general improvement, Prayer-book. Second Class :—Miss Carey, premium for English grammar, blotter; Miss A. Donovan, premium for composition, workbox ; Miss J. Carey, premium for recitation, book ; Miss Thorogood, premium for music, blotter; M ; ss Bollard, premium for spelling, work-box; Miss Shaldrich,premium forfancy work, work-box ; Miss N. Underhill, premium for reading, work box ; Miss Durham, premium for geography, Prayer-book ; Miss E. Codlin, premium for writing, album ; Miss A. Dare, premium for neatness, handsome necklace ; Mis 3 Williams, premium for Roman history, work-box ; Miss B. Keehan, premium for encouragement, beads for ornament. Third Class :—Miss F. Lundon, premium for chronology, pair of vases ; Miss F. Carey, premium for general improvement, pair of vases ; Miss N. Lunden, premium for object lessons, cros3 and beads ; Miss Mulkere, premium for mental arithmetio, vases ; Miss A. Mnlkere, premium for general questions, work-box ; Miss Jessie Underhill, premium for politeness, basket ; Miss F. Dickey, premium for obedience, doll; Miss Worsp, second prize for writing, fancy basket ; Miss Ida Worsp, premium for sums, doll. The Rev. Father Fynes, V.G., after the distribution was over, delivered a neat speech, in which he congratulated tho Rev. Father Paul, the Good Sisters, and the parents on the flourishing state of their schools. He encouraged the children not to relax their efforts in the future, so that they would be able to give an equally good account of themselves next year.