DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES AT ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 771, 10 December 1886, Page 14

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES AT ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE.

The distribution of prizes to the students of St Patrick’s College by Bishop Redwood took place atthe College last night week. For the past week the boys have been subjected to a rigorous and searching examination, and last night week was the time fixed when their labors were to be crowned. The occasion was celebrated by a vocal and instrumental entertainment, to which the parents and friends of the. boys were invited. The opening of the concert was fixed for halfpast 7, and at 7 o’clock the large schoolroom, in which it took place, was filled to the utmost, even standing room being at a premium. The stage and hall were tastefully decorated with ferns and nikau palms, flowers and laurel leaves being hung in graceful festoons all round. Amongst the clergymen, some of whom had come from a great distance to be present on the occasion, were the following : —The College Professors, including the Very Rev F. L. Watters, S.M., D.D. (Rector), Rev T. Devoy, S.M. (ViceRector and Procurator), Rev A. Braxmeiei', S. M., M. A. (Jeff.), Rev N. T. Carolan, S.M., Rer N. Marnane, S.M., Rev W. D. Goggan, S.M., Mr M. J. O’Sullivan, Bishop Redwood, S.M., D.D., Rev Fathers Sauzeau, S. ML, McNamara, McKenna, Kerrigan, Moore, Kirk, Patterson, Lane, and Melon. The visitors present were the following :—The Hon E. Richardson and Mrs Richardson, the Hon P. A. Buckley and Mr 3 Buckley, Mr and Mrs J. Mackay, aud Dr Cahill. The concert, the programme of which wa3 as follows, was a genuine musical treat, and, when it is considered that it was given solely by the pupils, it must be admitted that it was’highly creditable both to the boys, their masters, and professors, and the institution to which they belong. Special mention should be made of the following branches : —Firstly, the vocal part of the programme, which was under the superintendence of the Rev Father Carolan, professor of vocal music in the College. Songs, glees, part songs, &c., were given with an attention to time and expression hardly credible in so young a body of performers. Next, the drawing and painting. The studies of the boys in thir: art have been conducted by the Rev Father Braxmeier, and there can only be one opinion about the matter. The specimens which were hung around the walls do credit both to pupils and master. The bands, both brass (under Mr S.' Cimino) and string (under Mr T. Trowell), also speak well for the industry of the boys and the untiring zeal of the teachers. The performances of the brass band, which has been iu existence not quite a year, were a subject of general admiration. The following programme was carried out, the applause being frequent and enthusiastic : —Valae, “ Britannia,” College brass band ; overture, “ La Couronne d’Or,” College string band; recitation, “The Raven,” Master Charles Mandl; glee, “Dnlce Domum,” College •choir ; duet . (piano), “The Gipsy Countess” Masters S. Cimino and E. Kimbell; solo (violin), “The Minßtrel Boy,” Master J. Mcllroy ; recitation, ‘-'The Sack of Baltimore,” Master S. Barrett; glee, “The Gipsy Chorus,” College choir; waltzes “Princess Alexandra,” College string band ; duet (piano), “ Selections, La Traviata,”-Masters J. Roche, andH. Houldsworth; recitation, “The Gnipen,” Master

C. H. Harper ; fantasia, “Con Amore,” College brass band ; overture, “Tancredi,” Masters J. Kearsley and W. Haydon ; recitation, “The Field of Waterloo,” Master S. Mahoney ; glee, “All Among the Barley,” College choir; recitation, “The Death of Marmion,” Master J. Sheridan; March, “ Cornelius,” College string band. After the concert, the Bishop delivered the following address to the pupils .-—Before I have the pleasure of distributing to the successful and expectant students their wellearned premiums, I ask your indulgent attention for a few moments whilo I put briefly before you some thonghts which naturally rise to my mind on the present auspicious occasion. In the first place I heartily congratulate not only the fortunate prize-win-ners, but all the students, on the success which has attended St. Patrick’s College in every line throughout this first full scholastic year. You have spent, my dear students, a fruitful and happy year. Your distinguished Rector, and all his able and devoted staff of professors, give the best account of you. In general your tone, your diligence in study, your ardour and manly emulation on the playground, and in the football and cricket field, are the theme of their warmest praise ; while your attention to your religious duties has been all that could be desired. The progress you have made in music, drawing, and other accomplishments is conspicuous from what we have heard and seen this evening, aud great credit is due for this encouraging result to your able bandmaster and other teachers, who, I am sure, are proud of the proficiency you have attained in so short a time. Your examination has proved that your progress has not been less in the higher and more solid branches of education, such as English, Latin, Greek, mathematics, and science. Some of you are going in a few days to present yourselves for matriculation, and though, considering the very short time since the opening of this College, your attempt may perhaps seem somewhat precipitate, and your reliance on the old principle that “ fortune aids the brave ” —“ fortes fortuna jnvat ” rather overstrained, still your application to your studies has been so good that I confidently hope you will be fairly successful; and even were you not so, I know your courage too well to doubt that a first check would only nerve you to greater exertions, and ensure success on another trial. And now permit me to broaden out my view, and to take a survey of what has been done already, and what is intended to be done in this rising institution. Of course this first year has been one of organisation, and no easy task has it been to classify a set of boys of the most varied degrees of proficiency. However, order has been evolved out of chaos, everything is gradually sinking down to its proper level, and the machine begins to run smoothly and well. Next year a good start will be made under more favorable conditions. The educational aim of St. Patrick’s College is high and liberal. Our object is to make true and sterling men of you, men able to discharge fitly and nobly your office in this life, and prepare yourselves for the higher life of eternity. We intend to turn you out, as far as time and circumstances will allow, sound scholars aud good Christians. We never forget that in the child we have the man, and in the man the nation. Now; the child is developed into the complete man, when all his faculties are duly brought out, trained, strengthened, and polished. True education is the culture of the whole human individual; the mind by truth, the will by discipline, the heart by noble and unselfish pursuits, the imagination and taste by the contemplation, admiration, and imitation of the beautiful, the conscience by strict adhesion to duty under the light and with the help of Divine grace and all its wondrous and Godly appliances. Nor is the body neglected, though kept in rational subjection to the soul. Every limb is trained and strengthened, every sense improved : the eye, the hand, the ear, the whole physical frame is cultivated. The cricketlawn, the football field, the gymnasium have their proper and distinguished place in the training at St. Patrick’s. Then there is the social training you give each other, and, looking at the excellent tone prevailing in this College, such training is not the least valuable part of your education. You begin public life here on a small scale ; and your generous, manly, noble, and gentlemanly conduct toward each other now is an earnest of your dealings in after-life on the broader stage of the world, thus adding your ample share to the perfection and happiness of society. I hold in my hand the College annual calendar, and I earnestly invite parents and all persons who are interested in the cause of Catholic education throughout this Colony to peruse it attentively. It affords an excellent outline of the course of studies in this establishment —a course whose prominent feature is thoroughness and the absence—nay, the impossibility of “cram.” Any boy who goes through the well-graduated and progressive studies here laid down must receive a sound education. He will have time to digest the matters learnt; he will really know what he knows; he will have laid a solid and broad foundation for future improvement, and—what is of paramount importance—he will have strengthened his facnlties in a steady and normal manner. He will grow up a thriving, vigorous, healthy tree in congenial soil—not a forced hothouse plant unfit for exposure to the rude breath of the world. The first stage in our curriculum is a preparatory course, lasting, as a rule, one year, bat in some cases two. Then the student enters on the full classical course, usually comprising five classes, the last of which prepares him for matriculation in the University of New Zealand. Afterward he may read for his degree, or go through a course of philosophy, which will complete the formation of his mind and give him an intellectual outfit suitable to any career he may wish to embrace. For such students as do not need the classical course, the College provides a commercial course, junior and senior, which will fit them for mercantile pursuits or the kindred prbfessions. Meanwhile, the fine arts and accomplishments receive their due cultivation. Drawing, painting, music, calisthenics have each their proper place and time. This plan of studies, is, of course, open to maDy additions, alterations, and improvements ; but, such as it already stands, it will, I presume.

set forth in sufficiently, bold'relief the seriousness and soundness of aimed at in St. Patrick’s College; . On looking through this prize-list,, you;will doubtless notice that the lion’s share of the premiums goes to the boarders, in. oontrast with the day pupils, conspicuously so in regard to the older day students. The explanation of this fact is easy and obvious:.. The less satisfactory im-provement-in sueh students is owing totheir lack of home preparation* Day boys will not learn their- morning? lessons, and coming unprepared' to their-cl asses, they do not profit by themas the more diligentboarders do, and so they are left behind ! in the race. Therefore, my dear day pupils,, if you covet distinctions learn your lessons at home ; they are not too long or burdensome, aad all that they require is some energy of will on your part, together with constant exactness on the part of your parents to afford you time and means to> learnithem: This is a point of the greatest importance, for the success of day students in competition with boarders, and I hope parents and' pupils will next year -take» it to heart. But, my dear students,, It am trying your patience.. I see. your wistful, glistening eyes bent on those-books and medals ; I hear your throbbing hearts.: You claim, without further suspense; your well-earned prizes, which I am, most happy to distribute ; while my ardent desire is that they may be the token and earnest of higher prizes in the school of life.

After the address, the Bishop presented the prizes as follows :—Prize medal presented by His Eminence Cardinal Moran, Archbishop of Sydney, awarded for excel-, lence in all subjects, Thomas O’Shea. Good conduct* —Intern students, seniordivision, BernardMcMahon; intern students,,, junior division, Alfred Malley ; extern students, Donald Reid. Christian doo trine.—Matriculation class, Thomas O’Shea; : second class,, Alfred Malley ; third class, Thomas Hodgins; fourth class, Stephen Barrett ; fifth class, Thomas Brennan., Preparatory Class. —Senior division, George Grimstone and John Casey ; junior division. William Putnam. English (matriculation class). —Stanislaus Mahony. Literature and Authors.—Thomas Duffy. History and Geography.—Thomas O’Shea. Second ©lass, English and Composition.—Francis Holley. Grammar- and Analysis.—Alfred Mailey. Literature and English Authors.— Alfred Malley. History and Geography. Alfred Malley. Third class, English Composition and Authors.—William Tymons. Grammar and Parsing,—John Quinn. History and Geography.— Gerald Ahern. Fourth class, English Composition.—William Butler. English. Authors.—George H. Harper. History and Geography.—John Ainsworth. Fifth class, Reproduction.—John O’Connor. Grammar and Parsing.—John Casey. Reading and Recitation.—Vernon Redwood: History and Geography.—John Casey. Senior division, Exercises.—Robert Collins.. Grammar and Parsing.—Joseph Maher. Reading and Spelling.—Patrick J. Garvey. Geography—■ Salvatore (Jimino. Junior division, Readand Spelling.—Frederick Cuttan. Recitation. — Frederick Cntten Latin (matriculation), Grammar, and Composition,—Bernard McMahon. Translation.—BernardMcMahon. Second class, Grammar and-Translation.— Alfred Malley. Translation, —Alex. Mcllroy. Third class, Grammar and Exercises.—First prize, J. Harper ; second prize, John Quin. Fourth class, Grammar and Exercise.—S. Barrett. Fifth class, Grammar.—J. Casey. Creek.—C. H. Harper. French (matriculation class), Composition and Translation—S. Mahony. Second class, Crammer and Exercises.—A.Mollroy. Transaction: A. Mcllroy. Third class.—Senior Division, Grammar and Exercises, J. Clarke; Junior Division, Grammar and Exercises, H. Holdsworth. Fourth , olass—Grammar, first prize, S. Barrett ; secoed prize, J. O’Connor; German, C. Mandl. • Matriculation class—Arithmetic, B. McMahon ; Geometry, S. Mahony; Algebra, T. Phillips ; Trigonometry, T, O’Shea. Second class Arithmetic, A. Malley ; Geometry, A. Mcllroy; Algebra, W. Haydon; Trigonometry, C. J. Clarke. Third class—Arithmetic, first prize, D. Bumes ; second prize, W. Tymons; Geometry, first prize, W. Tymons; second prize, C.. Mandl ; Algebra, first prize, W. Tymons ; second prize, H. Houldswortb. Fourth class, Arithmetic—First prise, J. Brown; second prize, R. Quinn. Geometry—G. Haydon. Fifth class, Arithmetic—D. Maher. Preparatory class, senior division, Arithmetic—C. Grimstone ; junior division, Arithmetic -P. Connor. Sciences. —Matriculation, Mechanics—B. McMahon ; second class, Mechanics—C. J. Clarke. Third class, Geology and Mineralogy;—First prize, George Redwood ; James Stead, second prize. Fourth class. —First prize, Henry Lichtscheindl; second prize, Michael Coogan. Commercial Course (senior division).'—Bookkeeping, John Quinn; Phonetic Language, John Mclllroy ; Penmanship, Ernest Smith. Junior Division.— Bookkeeping, Charles Mandl; Penmanship, Charles Narbey. Elocution—John Sheridan. Fine Arts, painting. John Mclllroy, Senior division, drawing. Stanislans Mahony. Junior division, drawing. William Tymons. Music, vocal.—Francis Holley. Violin.—John Mclllroy. Piano, senior division. —Joseph Kearsley. Junior division. —Thomas O’Shea,