AUCKLAND SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7106, 26 August 1884, Page 6

AUCKLAND SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION.

Fob some weeks part a large number of the young people in the schools oonneoted with theAuokland Bunday.sohool Union in the town and suburbs hare been assiduously preparing (or • Scriptara examination (the aeoond of Ita kind held by thia Union). Stoholara from nearly forty of the sohools had announced their intention to oompete. The examination was held on the 19th inst. To bring the advantages of the plan within the reach of aa many ae possible, the Union arranged for centres for examination at Otara (Otahuhu), Onehaoga, North Shore, Monnt Albert, Remuera, Patnell, and Fontonby. For scholars in town the examination waa conduotsd at three central school*—Bereafordatreet Congregational, St. Jamee'a Preabyterian, and Pitt-street Wesley an. Competitors were plaoed in three olaaaea —junior*, nnder 12 years of age; middle division, 12 to 16; and seniors, for those over 16. The anbject waa "The Early Life of David," on whioh an examination haa just been oondnoted in England by the parent Sunday-school Union. The questions prepared by the English examiners were sent oat in a sealed packet, and used here. The time allowed the competitors for writing the answeis waa two boars, no book or reference being permitted. The Union s«nt its own ofiioers to oondaot the examination at the several "centres," in conjunction with the teachers of the several schools, and the most elaborate precautions were taken to ensure absolute fairness in the whole competition. The Revs. C. Carter, J. McKenzie Frassr, and J. Potter have consented to act as adjudicators here on the papers aent in by the yoong people. As is usual in snch cases, < • considerable number of those who at first entered their names oould not screw ap courage at the laat to present themselves for examination; still, a good number went through the ordeal. The numbers who entered and were examined in the whole of the district were as follows :— Ftnlor division: Entsrsd, 170 Examined, 81 lflddl* division : KnUrsd, 450 Bunlnid, 254 Junior division : Entered. 277 Examined, 144 ToUll 877 47i The Union will be giving prizes of books to the most successful in eaoh division, and " pasa certificates " to eac|i competitor who makes above a certain percentage of marks. We understand that various sohools have also promised prizes to those of their own scholara who made the highest marks. The whole examination was conducted with perfect succsss. The teaohers in the various schools say that the stimulus given to their scholars in the preparation for the examination has grsatly increased the interest of the young people in school duties ; and now all those interested will be looking forward with keen interest to the report of the examiners, whose task in weighing tho merits of so many papers is no light on*. The value of thus encouraging- the young people in ths thorough study of the Bible cannot be overestimated.