OUR SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6490, 9 April 1908, Page 7

OUR SCHOOLS.

(By "Pedagogue.")

SLECTCON CiV SCHOOL COMMITTEES. Tho annual meeting of householders for the election of school will ho hold at Iho various schools throughout tho Wellington educational district on fho evening of Monday. 27th lust. All houseliohk-n'i ami parents and ;u?ij diniifj iu each school district are dlgible for election. Consul'-rnhlo inierost ir. now taken in these annual '-nestings on account, no doubt, of the ncrca.S‘d power wliich has reccully been ,'ivon uy lue to three bodies, feeling often runs high, and keen and stormy ciithusiaoui i« often displayed. Tire COLLEGES. BLUE AND \rUiTE. Amongst tho loading secondary schools of tho JJommion U Si. Patricks College. Thia institution was established in iHdi. thp rcctojoJiip *of Lector Watters, so that next year it will celebrate the silver jubilee of its foundation. The present rector, Ecv. A. Keogh, S.M., lb A., is abided by a staff oi iiitecu, iududing insuuclois for 'special .subjects. The Kcv. W. Uoggau, viecwecdor, who was the (irsl prolessor appointed at its inception in idol, has, besides his oilier to attend to tho divergent duties pertaining to tho spiritual and temporal side. it, mI ho coiista/it endeavour of tho colleg'o to emulate tho beA traditions cf Siionyhnrftt, Eng laud, and, consequently, liie

courM> of jiislnictiu/i L shuiicd us to yjuvido for a sound religious ami literary mi uc.-u Juji. Arvui uie»U)i, undents oi ail ieiiu/mnaiions are freely admitted, and naM uf tlio various creeds are at present represented. There aro four classed. The first com-

?Fii«s undergraduates of tho New Zealand University; tho second class inti udos those who are preparing for the matriculation examination; those of tho third cln&a study tor tho, junior Civil Service examination; the fourth class is designed for beginners, or those who have just passed the sixth standard of primary schools. Last year two students passed the senior Civil Service examination. and twenty-nind were successful in tiio junior Civil Service division. At tho latter examination one of St. Patrick's hoys headed tho list in the Wellington district. y Tho equipment both for recreative and educational purposes is very complete. There is an excellent museum in which are to be seen many rare curios and Splendid natural history specimens; n well furnished library supplies the needs gf tho rending boy; thfc Camera Club Is a woll-patronisnd institution. Tho Debating Club caters for the aspirations of tho budding Ciceros, and the young disputants are fortunate in having an excellent model in the rector. There

js a. spacious gymnasium, under tho direction of Mr B. Bovey, and there is also a complete hand-ball alley, which is in great vogue throughout the year. Cricket and football p.ro very popul.ir games, but it is in the latter game that the hoys excel. Bast football season the college team won the third-class championship with the following excellent record Matches played 12, won 12, points for 134, points against 15. Contests in cricket and football take place annually with Wellington College, and tho- honours are fairly evenly divided. There is the best of good fellowship between tho two institutions. The Achievements of present and past students are recorded in a very creditable way in "Blue and White/* tho College magazine, which is published annually, The practical duties of citizenship nro inculcated by means of tho cadet corps, which is a very efficient organisation. Tho boys have just com-

pleted their nununl rnmp at Trentham.

where the usual military routine of camp duties wa© sedulously practised. It has been decided to hold tho camp at the beginning of the year in future, oo that

tho boys may have full opportunity of becoming thoroughly conversant with

their military duties during the remainS dor of the year. A week in camp affords tho host means of becoming familiar with military duties, and is of far greater value than several day parades. The boys have already distinguished themselves with the rifle, and during their recent stay at Trentham some very good - ‘cores were recorded. WELLINGTON* COLLEGE. Tho college swimming sports were comSleted last week at . the college swimming ath. Tho finals and the champiouships wore contested with very great keenness, and there wore some excellent performances to bo witnessed. If Wellington College maintains the high standard it has now reached thoro should bo no dearth of first-class swimmers in the city for many years to come. Tho two principal events wore tho senior (200 yards) and junior (100 yards) championships, R. Carr won the former in tho excellent time of 3min 2seo. R. Nelson flame second. Tho junior championship goes to H. Caipper, who did his 100yds in the fast time of Imin 31©ec; the second place was secured by W. Leslie. The other events resulted aa follows; Back Race, 23yds (final). —H. Pringle 1, D. Levy 2. 50yds Open (final). —W. Leslie 1, J. Ifopkirk 2. 50vda. under 15 (final),—-A. Laing 1, a fcorkill 3. 50yds Breast Stroke.—H. Pringle 1, B. . !lothard 2. Long Dive.—M. B. Tweed, 130 ft 3in, Ij U. Childs. 120 ft, 2. Diving for Plates.—E. Levy 1, K. Ruo* “ell 2. The college is fortunate in possessing i magnificent bath, which was generously supplied by Mr and Mrs H. D. Bell. It is 25 yards in length, and is beautifully tiled. There is a depth of over six feet In tho deepest part. It is well patronised throughout tho swimming season, but tho cold weather which has now set in will, no doubt, lessen tho ardour of the boys. PUBLIC SCHOOL TENNIS, knsfc Saturday forenoon To Aro school nlayed a match with the Terraco District High School on tho Wellington courts. Tho piny on both sides was very good, and after a hard struggle Te Aro won by 0 games to 6. On the eamo day the fifth standard of Hlydo quay school played a "scratch" ?amo with the Newtown District High School. The match took place on the Brougham Hill courts, and tho D.H.S. loam proved too strong for their opnononts. Next Saturday a match, will be ployed on the Brougham Hill courts between Ihe Terrace D.H.S. and Clyde quay. The two schools are fairly well matched, *.nd n good game should result. NOTES. Alterations recently made in tho regulations under tho Manual and Technical Instruction Act permit of continuation classes being held on Saturday morning?. Teachers, no doubt, will setae • his opportunity of amazing wealth, as flnpjtanon is granted at the rate of iWI per unit per hour!

New South Wales teachers are now raid fortnightly instead of monthly Something similar wilt hav© to bo done In .New Zealand if the new cash system continues