THREE KINGS WESLEYAN COLLEGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5635, 8 December 1879, Page 6

THREE KINGS WESLEYAN COLLEGE.

According to announcement the annual examination was held on Thursday, 2Gth November, at the above institution, and, notwithstanding the heavy rain which fell during the day, there was a fair gathering. Amongst those present we noticed the Rev. Messrs. Morley, Bud lie, Ball, Schnackenhurg, Liw, Hammond, Witkin, Bond, Abernethy, Webb, Robertson, tsilt, Brooke, and Kameka; Messrs. Arthur, McMaster, Allen, Griffiths, McDowell, Brakenrig, and Rose; Mesdames Morley, Bull, McMaster, T. Buddie, and Cotterell; and Misses Lawry (2). The Rev. Mr. Morley, President of the Conference, conducted the proceedings, which were opened by the native students singing "Hallelujah, 'tis done!" Miss Buddie presided at the harmonium, after which the liev. Mr. Robertson led in prayer. " Ouly an armour-bearer," was then sung by the native boys. The principal, the Rev. Mr. Buddie, put them through an English reading lesson, taken from the " Ltoyal Reader, No. 5." The reading was in Ingglish. The enunciation and pronounciatiou was exceedingly good. The younger boys then read, " Uncle Robert's Pium-Pud-ding" in English. Mr. Morley examined in spelling—suah words as " breakfast , ," "machines," "materia'," &c, being readily .•pelt, and the meanings of them given. One of the English students, Mr. Martin, conducted the examination in English grammar, which reflected great credit on the native lads, showing an acquaintance with the different pirts of speech and their relative uses which would put many white atudeutp, with greater pretensions, to the blush. Kereama Tawhia (commonly known as Moses) son of Mr. Mohi Tawhai, M. H. K., th'-n sung a solo, "Please, give me a Penny," accompanied on the harmonium by Miss Buddie. The distinctness with which each word was uttered, aud the tasto and expression with which the whole song was rendered, took the audience by surprise;. Mr. Pinfold, another English student, was the examiner in arithmetic, in which the boys showed great proficiency, repeating the tables of weights aud measures, aud work ing out sums in compound multiplication and fractions. Tawhai then read "Little Jim," a very touching piece, and in such a manner as to call down tlie house with enthusiastic applause. "The Prodigal Child" \va3 then sung. Their knowledge of geography was proved to be very thorough by the ready answers given to a great number of questions propounded by Mr. Slade, an English student. Rev. Mr. Watkin tested their acquaintance with the local geography by questioning them very fully upon the principal features of New Zealand, from (Jape Maria Van Dieman to Inversargill, all his questions meeting with ready and accurate replicß. Rev. Mr. Bull examined them on the second catechism, and the most difficult questions were correctly answered, the Bibleproof texts being faultlessly given. A marvellous acquaintance with Scripture was exhibited under a searching and racy examination by tlio Kev. Mr. Watkin. Tawhai played a solo on the harmonium in most accurate time, which was loudly applauded. Revs. Morley, Webb, and Bull, and Mr. McMaster, in a few well chosen remarks, then ex pressed their extreme surprise and gratirica tion they had realised throughout the proceedings, and complimented the principal and assistants upon the thoroughness with which the work of tho school was evidently performed. Rev. Rameka, formerly a student there, then gave an addre-s in Maori, interpreted by Mr. Schuackenberg, in which he took occasion to express his gratitude for what he had learnt, and his great joy that the boys were getting on so well with English ; they would soon become pake has. Tho room was most tastefully decorated with evergreens and flowers, and prcientcd a cheerful aud comfortable aspect. "Joy Hells" was sung by the students, and the Benediction was pronouueed. Tho visitors then adjourned for tea. After which they returned to town, followed with three cheers, but through a heavy downpour of rain, which, however, did not in any manner tend to " wash away" the recollections of a most pleasurable aud instructive gathering. Tho reading and singing in the English language by native boys was a striking feature, tho whole proceedings being conducted in that language.