GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1190, 21 December 1894, Page 37

GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OP PRIZES. The Girls’ High School was en fete on Dec. 13. There was no mistaking the occasion and purpose of the gala, A peep into the interior was sufficient to resolve any ordinary mind. The assemblage in the central hall of the pupils in their dainty white frocks, and the presence of a large concourse of parents and friends, the garnishment of the walls with bunting, flowers and foliage, and the appearance of a table upon the platform groaning under a weight of prize volumes, was only sus- ' ceptible of' one explanation. It was the evening of making the annual distribution of prizes,-and of breaking up for the holidays. The attendance was in excpss of the accommodation. At 8 o’clock His Excellency the Governor arrived, accompanied by Lady Augusta Boyle, Lady Alice Boyle and Mr Duncan, jun., and the vice-regal party wore conducted to the platform by Miss Hamilton (lady principal) and Sir James Hector, while the .pupils sang the National Anthem. Seats on the platform were also taken by Sir R. Stout, M.H.R., Rev W. J. Habens, M.A. (Inspector-General of Schools), Rev J. Paterson, Messrs H. D. Bell, M.H.R., A. H. Miles and J. Young (members of the Doard of Governors), C. P.. Powles (secretary), T. W. Rowe, M.A., Dr "Watters (Rector of St. Patrick’s College) and the teaching staff of the Girls’ High School, consisting of Misses Marchant, Ecclesfield, Morrah and Wilson, Mr Innes and M. Naverne.

Sir James Hector, in opening the proceedings, explained that he had been asked to preside in the unavoidable absence of Mr J. E. Blair (chairman of the Board of Governors). He also apologised

for the absence through illness of Lady Glasgow, who was to have presented the prizes. Mr C. P. Powles (secretary) then read the annual report of the Lady Principal. The report stated that the appointment of an additional teacher at the beginning of the year had relieved the staff from the continuous strain of over-pressure. Complimentary reference was made to the efficiency pf Miss Morrah and Miss Wilson, who were appointed at the beginning of the year. According to the last Parliamentary report on secondary schools, the Wellington High School stood second on the list among girls’ schools in point of numbers, and had an, unusually large proportion of girls - in the upper school. The number over fifteen years of age was in Christchurch 55, in Auckland 60 and in Wellington 92. Now that a junior teacher had been appointed an increase in the lower school was also anticipated: Of the candidates sent . in for the entrance examinations of the University last year, four qualified for matriculation on. the junior scholarship papers and 15 on the matriculation papers. Of these nine also partially qualified for a teacher’s D certificate. This year 14 are sitting for matriculation and two are taking the junior scholarship papers. Miss Geraldine Henry had passed the University examination for the first section of the B.A. degree. This year, Miss Nellie Allen, while attending school, has passed the examination of Canterbury College for the first year of her course. During the past year four former pupils have been pursuing a University course in Christchurch, one’ in Wellington apart from the school, one in Auckland, and one each in Wanganui, New Plymouth, Sydney and Adelaide, while others have already completed their course. A large number of former pupils had become teachers, and some of them were taking important positions in other secondary schools. Reference was made to Mr Izard’s gift for the purpose of founding a scholarship, and to the

fact that he intends to continue his prize of .£3 3s for the best knowledge of New Zealand history. The teachers were praised for their zeal, and satisfaction was expressed with Mr Warren’s shorthand class, Miss Richardson’s drawing class, and Mr Parker’s singing class. Acknowledgment was made of donations towards the prize fund from Mrs R. M. Simpson, Mrs J. J. Curtis, Mr Kh’kcaldie and the Rev H. Van Staveren. In conclusion, Miss Hamilton stated that' “during no year in the history of the school have the staff been enabled to keep the work so well in hand, or have the girls worked with more zest and industry, and given so little cause of complaint either in respect - of their school studies or of their conduct.”

Mr Thos. W. Rowe, M.A., who had examined the school in Latin, mathematics, English, French, history and geography, read his report as examiner. It stated that there was abundant evidence of careful and intelligent teaching and of steady application. Mr C. P. Powles then read the report of Mr T. W. Kirk on science, of Mr A. D. Riley upon drawing, of Mr W. H. Warren on shorthand. The report on shorthand stated that out of a roll of more than a hundred girls eligible for this study there were only three who were members of the class. Mr J. R. Blair had given the prizes this year, which had been awarded to Miss Janet Greenfield (Ist division) and Miss Lena Van Staveren (2nd division). Mr T. W. Kirk’s report complained of the lamentable lack of teaching requisites. Mr Riley’s report upon the drawing class stated that at the annual second grade examination the following were successful:—lda Blundell in freehand and memory drawing; Mary S. Carr, Lally Larchin and Catherine McKellar in model; Ethel Douglas and Florence Stafford in memory drawing; Lome Molineaux in freehand, and Alice Maudsley in model and freehand, “ good.” Miss Richardson had awarded her prize for notebook and general work to Myrtle Lee, Florence Stafford coming next. A part song, “Marching,” was given by the pupils. The Chairman said the reports showed that the teaching work was carried on most efficiently, and that the progress which from year to year had been made in developing a sound and thoroughly beneficial institution in Wellington for the education of girls had been continued during last year to even a greater extent than in the previous year. He especially called attention to the important note in the Lady Principal’s report that the school had been re-organised during the year. The Chairman passed on to refer to the munificent gift of Mr Izard, who had really established what would be another University scholarship. - At the/ present time they had 15 junior scholarships leading up from the primary schools to the University. To this number Mr Izard had generously added another (to be called the Mary Izard Scholarship, after Mrs Izard) and the funds, probably, would be sufficient in the course of a few years to make more than one scholarship. He had little doubt it would take the form of a University College scholarship—by preference attached to the Wellington University College, which now, thanks to Sir Robert Stout, was fairly established, and he had no doubt it would rapidly grow. The winner of this scholarship would be enabled thereby to complete her arts course at the University. He trusted other citizens would emulate Mr Izard’s example in advancing the cause of higher education. Without the institution of a University College, however, all efforts in the direction of secondary education were thrown away to a great extent. He hoped that the whole community would take up the matter with zeal, and would endeavour to their utmost to Obtain for Wellington an institution equal to those which had produced so many good scholars in other parts of New Zealand. The Chairman concluded by emphasising the remark made in Mr Kirk’s report to the want of scientific apparatus and appliances in the school.

Lady Augusta Boyle then presented the prizes.

The prize-list is as follows : —Dux, with gold medal—Mary M. Greenfield. Governors’ Scholarships (for aggregate of marks in all subjects, giving free tuition for two years) Margaret Boss, Annie Tasker, Janet Greenfield, Florence Stafford. Scholarships won last year continue to be held by Cora Hickson, Mary Fleming and Frances Benzoni. English (grammar, literature, composition, history, geography, &c.) : Form VI. A —M. Greenfield, 1; E. Allen, 2. Form Vl.b—C. Hickson, 1; M. Fleming. 2. Form V. —Janet Greenfield and M. Whitcombe, 1; C. McKellar, 2; A. Tasker, 3 ; C. Simcox, 4. Form IV.a—A. Smyth, 1 ; H. Hickson, 2; I. Osborn, 3. Form IV.b — A. Lane, 1; Margaret Scott, 2 ; E. Stafford, 3. Form lII.—J. Hannah, 1 j B. Greenfield, 2 ; A. Carmichael, 3. . Form lI.—M. Chatfield, 1; Nesta. Morrah, 2 ; V. MacDonald, 3. Form I.—Ethel Alport, 1; Elsie Eliott, 2. Mathematics. —Arithmetic: Form VI. —E. Allen, 1 ; M. Boss, 2. Form V.—L. Leslie and A. Tasker, 1; E. Page, 2. Form IV. A —M. Shortt, 1; M. Whitcombe, 2. Form IV.B—Ada Lockie, 1. Form 111. A. Carmichael, 1. Form 11. V. MacDonald, 1 ; M. Chatfield, 2. Form I. E. Alport, 1 ; E. Eliott, 2. Euclid: Form VI.—M. Greenfield, 1; E. Allen, 2. Form V.—F. Stafford, 1; J. Greenfield, 2. Form IV.—A. Smyth, 1. Form lII.—E. Stafford, 1. Algebra: Form Vl.a M. Greenfield, 1; E. Allen, 2. Form Vl.b —C. Hickson, 1; M. Boss, 2. Form V.— IST. Westrup, 1; F. Stafford, 2. Form IV. —B. Paterson, 1; E. Page, 2. Form 111.

—C. Carr and M. Shortt, 1. Trigonometry: Form VI.a —M. Greenfield, 1; E. Allen, 2. Form VI. b— M. Boss, 1. Form V. —• E. Westrup, 1. Latin: Form VI. —M. Greenfield, 1; E. Allen, 2. Form Vl.b —C. Hickson, 1. Form V.—J. Howden, 1; F. Stafford, 2. Form IV.—M. Collet, 1; D. Quick, 2. Form 111. —L. Molineaux, 1. Form lI.—C. Carr and M. Scott, 1; E. Stafford, 2. Form I.—F. Sidey, 1. French : Form VI.—E. Allen, 1; M. Greenfield, 2. Form V.A—M. Eoss, 1 ; A. Tasker, 2. Form V.b —D. Quick, 1. Form IV. —M. Blair, 1; L. Molineaux, 2. Form 111. —L. Marshall, 1. Form lI.—E. Fife, 1; M. Scott, 2. Form I.a —H. von Dadelszen, 1; A. Carmichael, 2. Form I.b —M. Chatfield, 1. Science.—Heat: Form VI.a —M. Greenfield, 1j E. Allen, 2. Form Vl.b—M. Eoss, 1; C..Hickson, 2. Form V.—E. Westrup, 1. Botany : Form VI.—M. Greenfield, 1; E. Allen, 2. Form V. —J. Greenfield, 1 ; A. Tasker, 2. Botany and Physics: Form IV. —A. Smyth, 1; E. Page, 2. Form IV. —A. Lane, 1; E. Stafford. 2. Needlework (judged by Mrs Fell and Miss Jervois) : Laura Muir, 1; Ada Lockie and L. Van Staveren, 2. Drawing : Myrtle Lee. Shorthand : Upper division, J. Greenfield ; lower division, L. Van Staveren. Pianoforte: Miss Swainson, Jean Eobertson; Mr Parker, D. Quick. Tennis: Senior girls, M. Greenfield; junior, E. Hannah; old girls, Margaret Campbell. Special prizes : Scripture, Cissie Carr ; Mr Eowe’s, for neatness of examination papers, Margaret Davidson; Mrs Simpson’s, for reading: Form V., M. Blair; Form IV., M. Shortt; lower school, J. Hannah. Mr Naverne’s, for French class-work: Form VI., E. Allen, 1; M. Greenfield, 2 ; Form V. D. Quick, 1; G. Morrah, 2.

Mr Kirkcaldie presented the second prizes for English in all classes. A part song was given by the pupils, and “The Revenge ” was well recited by Miss Jessie Hannah.

Sir R. Stout proposed a vote of thanks to Lady Augusta Boyle for distributing the prizes, and to His Excellency the Governor for his presence that evening. He said the State had not done much for the Wellihgton Girls 5 High School. It had promised financial aid when it was started, but that aid had not been given. Sir Robert went on to allude to the necessity for a University College in Wellington, and in this connection he expressed the opinion that Wellington might have had her University College years ago if her citizens had only displayed greater zeal in the matter. He believed the time would come when all our primary school teachers would be required to have a University education, and when all our secondary schools would be free. The vote was passed by acclamation. His Excellency, in returning thanks, congratulated Miss Hamilton upon the admirable progress made by the school, and the young ladies upon the prizes they had won. He was glad to think he had not to carry home all the prizes Miss

Greenfield, for instance, had won. Those who had not won prizes on this occasion might console themselves with the reflection that they might win some next year. After all, school instruction was but a means of fitting the rising generation to perform their duties hereafter, and luckily for us in this world, it was not always those who got prizes at school that achieved them afterwards in the battle of life. He had listened with sympathy to the manner in which the Girls’ High School had been neglected, and he hoped what had been left undone in the past would be rectified in the near future.

A carol, “ From Far Away,” was sung by the pupils. Mr H. D. Bell, M.H.R., as a member of the Board of Governors, expressed the acknowledgments of that body to the Lady Principal and the teaching staff for their successful conduct of the school, and at his invitation the pupils gave three hearty cheers for their teachers.

The Eev Dr Watters (Rector of St. Patrick’s College) bore testimony to the noble work being done at the Girls’ High School, and teok the opportunity also to endorse the remarks of those who had referred to the necessity for a University College in Wellington. The Eev J. Paterson returned thanks on behalf of Miss Hamilton and the teaching staff for the compliments which had been paid them. The proceedings closed with the singings of “ Dulce Domum ” and the National Anthem by the pupils, who before dispersing gave three more cheers for theirteachers.