THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4629, 16 December 1876, Page 2

THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

The annual distribution of prizes to the pupils attending the Boys' and Girls' High Schools took place yesterday in the University Hall. The parents and frienda of pupils were, as usual, present in large numbers, and when the proceedings commenced^ the hall presented a very brilliant appearance. In one of the side rooms were exhibited the natural history specimens for which Captain Hutton gives special prizes this year, and also the mapping executed by the boys who competed for Mr E. Gilließ'fl special prizes. Among the latter there was some really excellent work, and the whole collection exhibited considerable proficiency in this department. His Worship the Mayor presided, and on the platform were the Rev. Dr Stuart,- Sir J. L. O, Richardson, the Hon. G. M'Lean (Commissioner of Customs), and the Hon. W. H.Reynolds. After a prayer had been offered up by the Rev. Dr Stuart, and before the distribution of prizes took place, a number of choruses, pianoforte solos and duets, were pleasantly rendered by the pupils. A remarkably good-recitation, from Shakespeare's " Henry 1V.," was also given by Masters Cargill, E. H. Burn, and Stphr. »—- ---THE GIELS' HIGH SCHOOL. The Lady Pkincipai, (Mrs M. G. Burn) read the following report:—"l have the honour to submit my sixth annual report of the Girls' High School of Otago. The attendance during the session just ended has been the largest since the opening of the school six years ago, having during the second quarter reached'as high as 195. Twofifths of that number were new pupils. Diiring the third and fourth quarters the attendance was diminished in consequence of sickness in several families to which pupils belonged, though in only one case has a pupil of the school been attacked by fever. In all cases of fever at their homes pupils have been removed from school at once,-and in no case has anyone returned till the medical attendant gave me satisfaction as to the safety of their doing so. To these precautions, in which all the parents of pupils concerned have most kindly aided me, I attribute the general good health of the school. There has not been a case of serious illness in the boarding department during the year. , The work of the school in all the classes has gone on very much as heretofore. From the fact of so many pupils having joined the school this year the lower classes have been more numerously attended than the upper, as no girl can pass to the upper classes unless she reaches the standard I have fixed for admission to them. The general progress of all the classes, as tested by the examination just over, as well as by frequent examinations in the coarse of the year, has been satisfactory. The school sustained a serious loss at mid-winter in the resignation of Mr Pope, on his appointment to the Principalship of the B&llarat College. This loss has been especially felt in the upper class, which, for the greater part, was composed of girls trained by Mr Pope and myself from the time they enteted school, and who could nob easily take to a new master or to a styla of teaching which, hovever able, was, as might be expected, different in some respects from what they had so long been accustomed tc. Mr Peattie, M. A., was appointed by the Education Board to the post vacated by Mr Pope. He had a difficult position to. occupy, coming, as he did, at the middle of tho school year, and afier so experienced and popular a predecessor. Time in this, as in most things, has worked benefioially, and I anticipate very successful re« suits in Mr Peattie's department next year. In the Science Department, astronomy formed the work of the A class. During the first six months, these lessons were made thoroughly interesting by actual observations with Mr Vopo's excellent telescopes. Before he left, he held an examination on his half* year's work, the results of which have been added to those of the . Christmas examination. * Proctor's Manual of Astronomy' has been the text book during the last halfyear. In mathematics, the upper division ofj.

•&e A class has reached the sixth book of TEuclid, and as tar as surds and indices in The higher rules of arithmetic have -also been carefully gone over. The science lessons in the B and 0 classes were confined to botany. A very fair acquaint, ance with the subject has been made by the B class. The instruction in the C class was necessarily somewhat elementary. The instruction in the upper branches of the School course has been carried on much as usual, and does not call for any special notice. At the beginnirigof the session, the .Education Board sanctioned the addition of German to the 'ordinary course' of instruction. Miss Huie has had the charge of the JFrench and the German classes. Comparatively few girls have entered on the study •of German, as I do not permit them to begin that language until they have acquired a -certain knowledge of French, and are old ■enough to undertake the additional labour •necessary for its acquisition. lam in hopes that year by year the students of German will increase in number. The drawing •classes, under the care of Mr Hutton and assistants, have made even more satisfactory progress than in aay former year. This is greatly owing to the additional schoolroom accommodation, which enables us to carry >on separate classes much more satisfactorily. As a matter of course, the elder pupils are beginning to show the results of Mr Hutton's ■valuable training, and are now drawing from models, and in a few cases from Nature. The other visiting teachers have carried on itheir classes very much as in past years. An additional branch of fancy work has been introduced by Mrs W. W. Browne, the success of which wa3 seen in the fret-work ornaments • and fern-spray tables exhibited last Wednesday along with the plainand fancy needlework. I now tender my cordial thanks to all my fellow-teachers, most cf whom have now "worked with me for several sessions, and one and all have seconded me in all my plans for securing the efficiency and well--being of the school. In the early part of the year I felt that I could no longer take oharge of both day school and boarding «stablishment, the burden and anxiety being •quite beyond, not my will, but my strength "The Education Board, on my representation, was kind enough to relieve me of the care of :the boarders at midwinter, and appointed Mm M. H. Martin lady-superintendent of the boarding department. I have every .-reason to believe that this division of labour ■will result in the more efficient and succesßtful working of both departments. The highest number of boarders this year was :36. In conclusion, I desire to thank very iheartily the many kind friends who have so liberally provided prizes for the school. They are—Mrs M. Holmes, Mrs Norrie, -Mrs Henry Campbell, Miss Dalrymple, the Hon. Sir John Richardson, His Worship the Mayor, Messrs A. C. Strode, F. 0. Chapman, M. Joel, W. D. Stewart, Reith and Wilkie, T. Mathaßon, Harrop and Neil], -<and friends who do not wish their names to 3)e mentioned. Some of the teachers have •also presented special prizes, for which 1 lender ray thanks. They are as follows :-• Miss Huie, eight prizes for French and Gersman; Miss E. Huie, three prizes for neatness in home exercises ; Miss Smith, prize sfor industry ; Miss M'Gregor, prize fer composition ; Mr J. H. Pope, mathematical dux [prize ; Mr G. M. Thomson, science prize; Mrs Browne, prize for fretwork ; and Mrs Bum, silver medal and prizes for kindly helpfulness and improvement. The music "teachers' prizes are given in the prize list."_ The prizea were then distributed by His Worship the Mayor. The Hon. G. M'Lean ;gave away the spocial prizes. The following da tho list:—

.Dux of school: Gold medal, Miss J. L. Gillies. A Class.—2ad prize, Misses M. Montgomery ana E. Little, equal. Certificates for 75 per cent, marks : Section A, 1000 marks—Grammar, Milton, composition, French, and German—Misse3 Gillies, kittle, Montgomery, Banks, Begg, F. Koss, J. Cairns. Section B, 800 marks-Mathematics and Astronomy— .Misses Gillies, Little, Montgomery, and Banks. Section C, 000 marks—History and Geography—Misses •Gillies, Little, Montgomery, Banks, Begg, and Hay. "Writing-Miss Bidey. Drawing—lst, Miss E. Grant; 2nd, Mis.es Koss and Warren, equal. B Class. -Dux—Silver medal, Miss Sophia Giflord • 2nd prize, Miss Jano Couper. Certificates .for 75 per cent, marks : Section A, 700 marksGrammar, Etymology, Composition, and French— >Missca Gifford, M. Alves, Findlay, Murray, A. Camp■~bell Woolfe, Kempthorne, Wcliolls, Kirkland, Johnston, Grant K. Section B, 800 marks—Arithmetic, Algebra, Schnco, History, and Geography—Misses CSjfford, Couper, and Johnston. Writing—Mies J. C Class—Dux—Silver Medal, Miss Flora Allan; • 2nd prize, Miss C. Little. Certificates for 75 pei cent, ■marks: Section A, 500 marks—Grammar, Etymology, ■-Composition, and French—Misses F. Allan, C. Little, iK. Ogilvio, E. Purdie, J. M'tfeil, M. Mackerras, H. Levi, K. Oliver, A. Stephenson, E. Alexander, and E. ■Leary Section B, COO marks—History, Geography, Botany, and Arithmetic—Miss F. Allan. Writing.lst prize, Miss Grace Joel; 2nd, Miss E. Leary. D Class.—Dux—Silver medal, Miss A. Button; •2nd prize, Miss F. Roberta. Certificates for 75 per -cent, marks iv all subjects —Misses A. Button, "Roberta, M'Douald, Goldie, E. Maraden. Writing— E CLABB.-lst prize, Misa M. Hutton. Cortiflcato: -Miss L. Watson.

Special Prizes.—A Class—Mathematical dux, Misa "E Little Science prize, Miss M. Montgomery. Essay, Miss E. Grant. Mapping, Miss E. Little. French ■class work, Miss A. levies. French improvement, .Miss F. Ross. French and German, A 1, Miss M. Montgomery. German, A 2, Miss J. Smeaton. B •■class—Science, Miss A. GiSord. Essty-lst prize, Miss F Isaacs; 2nd prize, Miss B. Nicholls and Miss E Jones tqual. Mapping—lst prize, Miss K. Sperrey; ■-2nd prize, Miss A. Branigan. French improvement, Miss B. Nicholls. C Class-French class-work, Miss Barr. Neatness in home exercises, Miss S. Jamieson. D Class—French improvement. Misses B. Reith and -E Maraden. Noatness in home exercises—Misses :M. Kempthorne and Crawshaw. Industry, Miss Edith Reid. E Class (French)— French improvement, Miss !M. Macktrras.

Moral Education Prizes.—Miss Dalrymple's Vie- j toria prize for diligenco, punctuality, and attention : —] .11133 B. Woolfo, Upper School; Misa M. M Neil, Ni Lower School. Fanny prizes for gei.tleness, kindness, stl and courtesy (adjudged by votes of the pupils); Miss H F. Koss, Upper School; Miss C. Little, Lower School. gn Given by Mrs Burn, for constant kindly help to her , ■ companions, and steady attention to school duties: cr( JSliss Mew floss. Improvement Prize: Miss H. Levi. sol ■For diligence and general improvement, by Sir J. L. Gil 0. Richardson-A cla3»: Miss J. Hay; B clm,s: Miss pc Moaic Prize-'.—Mrs White's: Misses Hay, Warren, El Bowler, Orbell, Nichollf, E. Marsden. Mrs Wilruott'a : sn IMiises I. and A. Gillies, Branigan, and Nixon. Miss 0> Bell's: Misses H. Mackerris and A. Kempthorne and Ct Campbell. Miss Browne's: Miss Reith. MrTowseys: Bl Misses Ethel Jones and K. Harris, equal. Special w -prize for Fretwork (given by Mrs Browne): Miss Annie Jc "M. Barn, Fi THE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL. M Mr W. No-RRIE, the Rector of the High m School, read the following report:—"At P< the close of another session, it is gratifying •=£ to be able to report the continued prosperity jgj •of the school. The number of pupils now Ei on the roll is 194, as against 159 at the close JJi of last year. We have much cause for El thankfulness that though an epidemic has Ei .prevailed in the city for some time, our H average attendance has not been seriously ™ ■affected thereby. A few isolated cases have w occurred, and one of our number has been A! removed by death; but no material interruption of our work has taken place. I have to thank the Board of Education for assenting to the application I nnde at an ■ early part of the session to provide additional class-rooms, so as to enable us to carry on the work more satisfactorily. It was late before the building was commenced, and thus we could uot avail ourselves of the increased accommodation this year. Next year, however, we (hope to be in a position of greater comfort. We have now three new class-rooms, one of ifchem a completely equipped laboratory, which will enable us to commence the study of Chemistry, which, in future, will form part of the scientific course for the upper school. From many causes, and chiefly because the circumstances of the school for the last two years have been very difterent from previous years, the work of classification has been one of difficulty. Mistakes may have been made at first in placing boys in classes engaged in work beyond their ability. We .have beea this year endeavouring to remedy this as much as possible, to consolidate the -classes, and to ascertain the individual capacities of the pupils, in order to give each his ;truo position in the school. It is only by the exercise of caution and firmness in this way that we cau hope to benefit the pupils themselves, aud prevent any one from retaidine the advancement of the others If it should appear to any that our classes or divisions o£ classes are unduly multiplied, they should remember that it has now become an accepted fact in education, especially in ;he higher education that it is impossible to teach classes which exceed 30 in number with auy degree of satisfaction or "uccesfl. This will be kept in view, I trust, when I make application for an increase in The staff of masters. Two new features in our system are deserving of notice this year. Wo have succeeded in introducing das ainoine into the school, and we have at the Slime fairly inaugurated the study of German. The former has been confined to the two Junior Classess, and the latter-to the boys of the Modern Bide in the Upper School It is hardly possible, in my opinion, to over-estimate the value ot the <,f«rman language as a means of education. It foferior to Latin as « iirtru. ment for grammatical training. It has a rich and extensive literature, and to those •also who view the question in the lightof its utility alone, it must seem to be ot & reat;

and increasing importance in a commercial' community like this. Let no one fear that the number of subjects is inordinately in creased. While the course is a varied one, we seek to confine the boys to those branches which they are able to overtake. The other departments have been conducted as before, and I take this opportunity of thanking my colleagues for cooperating with me in endeavouring to make the school as efficient as possible. In the department of Physical Training, we have confined our attention chiefly to athletics | and drill. The want of a sufficient playground for cricket and other sports is a great misfortune, whioh I suppose must be borne until the Government see the propriety of removing the Boys' High School to a site more suitable than the one it at present occupies. Our annual sports were held at the Caledonian Grounds three weeks ago, and were quite successful. The Artillery and Rifle Cadet Corps have had frequent opportunities of showing their efficiency in drill. Medals have been awarded from Sir J. Eichardson's fund to the four boys in each Company who have been most active and attentive to drill throughout the year, and these will be presented to the successful competitors to-day. On occasions like this it is usual to refer to the honours gained by former pupils in the different spheres of life on which they may have entered. Few of the boys from this school have chosen a University career, consequently it is not easy to trace tho future course of those who leave us ; but I have to mention the fact that this year an old pupil, Mr Solomon, has been the first in the Colony to gain the New Zealand University degree of B.A. I now beg to tender thanks to those gentlemen friends of the school who have shown a special interest in our work by presenting prizes to the pupils. This year we have been quite overwhelmed with gifts, and the difficulty has been to find special subjects to which" to attach them. Captain Hutton and Mr Robert Gillies (President ef the Otago Institute) offered valuable prizes »t the beginning of the session—the one for the best collections of Natural History, and the other for proficiency in Geography and map-drawing. These prizes have been specially useful in calling forth the energies of our boys and in supplementing the school work. Your Worship has presented two handsome prizes for English. The Chamber of Commerce medals have been given to the Dux of the whole school—to the best in arithmetic in the classical side, and to the best in arithmetic in the lower school. Mr Burt gave me two prizes for arithmetic in the lowei school, and Mr Wain hos supplemented the prize annually awarded by Mr Webb, by giving two additional ones for writing. Mr Reith's prize is this year given for science in the lower Bchool. I wish here to notice the pleasing circumstance that the number of former pupils who have continued their connection with us by presenting prizes, is this year on the increase. Mr Wilkie has annually given the mathematical prizes, and to his name are now to be added those of Messrs Solomon, Norman, Cargill, and Harris. Mr Solomon handed me a microscope to be given to the best scholar in natural science. Messrs Cargill and Harris presented a valuable silver cup to the champion runner at our games, and Mr Norman a gold medal to the best in the walking race. The High School Club have also given prizes for classics ; and I may add that these prizes have besn all spontaneously offered, and that we are under a deep debt of gratitude to the gentlemen who have d: splayed such liberality. The following is the prize list: — uppaa scnooL. Class Prizea.—Dux: Herbert Halliwell, Ch&mber of Commerce gold medal. Fourth Form.—Classical: latprize.P. Lindsay ; 2nd, J. Johnatone. Modern : Ist prize, J. Salmond ; 2nd, K. Forsyth. Fifth Form.—Classical: lot prize, W. Milne (Dux, Gold medal): 2nd, A. Montgomery. Modern: Ist priz«, H. Halliwell (Dux); 2nd, A. Purdie. LOWHft gCUOOU. Class Prize.—Dux: F. W. Bayley. First Form.—A Division: Ist prize, Gordon Maitland; 2nd, Thos. M'Gill and George Moodie, equal. B Division: Ist prize, Junes Mortis; 2nd, Charles Morris. ' Second Form.—Upper Latin Bide: Ist prize, w. Allan ; 2nd, James Borrie. Non-Latin side: Ist prize, A. Simpson ; 2nd, A. Smith. Lower Diriaion : Latin side: lßt prize, Charles Butterworth. Non-Latin side : Ist prize, Walter Brent and Charleß Brent, equal. Third Form.—Classical: Ist prize, W. J. Bannatyne; 2nd, W. Palmer. Modern: Ist prize, F. W. Bayley (Dux, silver medal); 2nd, David Eeid. SPECIAL PRIZES. UPPER SCHOOL

History, Mr 3 Burn's piize: James Cargill. Mappin?, Mr Gillies's prize: Frank Clapperton. French and German, Mr Joel's prize: Herbert Hal iwe . Ueography, Mr Gillies's prize: Herbert Halllwell. Science, Mr Solomon's prize: A Montgomery. Science, extra prize: J. C. Nichols. Writing, Mr Wain s prize: Charlej Wibon. Chamber of Commerce Silver Medals. — Upper School: B. Todd. Lower School: A. Hamann.

LOWER SCHOOL. First Form.—Arithmetic: Philip Joel. Geography: Henry Butterworih. Elocution : James Anderson. Second Form.—Arithmetic, Mr Burt's prize: Alex. Simpson. Arithmetic, High School Club's prize: W. Third Form.—Science, Mr i Keith's prize; Peter Barr. English, the Mayor's prize: David Reid. Mathe i atics, Mr Wilkie's prize : Fred. Bayley, Geography, Mr Glllies's prizs: David Reid. Mapping, Mr Gillie3's prize: David Reid. Latin, High School Club's prize: Wm. J. Bannatyne. French, Mr Joel's prize : Fred. Bayley. French, Mr Joel's extra prize : All red Brown. Music, Mi*s Bell'g prize: Fred. Bayley. Writing Prizes.—Firat form—Gordon Maitland, James Burt. Second form—Leonard Hardy, Cccii Branigan. Third form-John Oliver, Fred, iiayley (Mr J. S. Webb's silver pen). Tennis Prizes.—lst, Cr»wshaw, enp; 2nd, D. Shand. Juniors-Ist, C. Rattray; 2nd, K. Austin. Richardson medals.—High School Anil'ery Cadets —Ist Sergt. E. H. Burn (medal); 2nd. Sergt. J. C. Nichols ; 3rd, Lieut. Shand; «h. Sergt Major Finch; sth Lieut. Reid. Rifle Cadets: G. M'Dermid, Ist; H. B. Todd, 2nd; J. Wain, 3rd; C. Rainton, 4th ;A. Smith, sth. Gymnastic Prizes.—First Form: K. Wheeler, Maltese cross, Ist; G. Maitland, silver pencil, 2nd ; J. Anderson, silver pencil, 3rd. Second Form : Job Wain, silver pencil, Ist; B. Austin and C. Brent, silver pencil, equal. Certificates for 75 per cent Marks in any Subject.— English: Peter Barr, William Reynolds, Tnoraw Alarslull, James Car^ill, Henry Hay, Henry Butterworth, 0. Kempthorne, Walter Barker, C. Black, Percival Campbell Barker. Latin: Gerald Baldwin, Godfrey Baldwin, Albert Park, Charles Nichols, James Gow, William Brown. Writing: John Norman, Alfred Joel, William Sievwright, Herbert Park, Richard Lets, Frank Kettle, Alexander Simpson, Robert Austin, C. Martin, William M'Gill, Andrew Scoular, Fred Smith, Albert Weldon, Herbert Fulton, James Reid. Mathematics : Robort Rutherford, E. Joel, Albert Stohr, Peter Lindsay, James Allan. French: W. Blyth, Fred Smith, W. Stronach, Alfred Brown, P. Barr, Alex. Barley James Bathgate, C. Buttetworth, P. Wales. English and Latin: J. W. Salmond, Frar-k Clapperton. English,French,and Science: Alex. Purdie. English, Classics Mathematics, and French: Alex. Todd. English, Classics, anl Science: Alex. Monajjomery. English, Classics, and Mathematics: William Milne. English, Mathematics, French, and Science: Herbert Halliwell. Mathematics and French :A. Joel. English and Mathematics: Walter Palmer, James Norman C. Alridge. English, Mathematics, French, and Latin : W. Bannatyne. Latin, Science, and French: Wm. Allan. French and Arithmetic; Louis Joel. Arithmetic: John Borrie. Latin and French: James Wales, H. Harvey. Mathematics, French, and Science: Alex. Simpson,

The following is a list of former duces of the school :-1864-6S, Henry Bell; 1869, Bees ; 1870, Solomon S. and Park A.; 1871, Solomon S., Park A., and Wilmot E.; 1872, Park A. ; 1573, Low 0.; 1874, Stilling F.; 1875, Milne W. ; 1876, Halliwell. Mr Nobeib explained that the dux medal of the whole school was the gold medal given by the Provincial Council. The Chamber of Commerce gave a medal for the dux on a modern side. This year it happened that the dux on the modern side was the dux of

the school, and he won the prize fry being one mark ahead of the dux on the classical side. He had received the following letter from the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce .—" Dunedin, 15th December, 1876 — Dear Sir : 1 hand you the medals herewith. The gold medal being for the dux of modern side will, of course, be awarded by you. The result of the examination for the other medals is as follows :—Classical side, A. B. Todd ; Lower School, J. Hamann. Milne's paper is slightly better than Todd's, but as he had the medal la&t year he is excluded from the competition. In the Lower School P. Bayley is so nearly equal to Hamann that it has been difficult to decide between them. I therefore beg io forward a book as second prize to be given to him. —Yours respectfully, J. S. Webb, secretary." Mr E. Gillies presented to the winners his special prizes for geography and mapping. He was pleased to be able to say, after in. spection, that the maps really reflected an immense deal of credit upon the boys. Mr Norrie made a little mistake in saying that he (Mr Gillies) presented these prizes as President of the Otago Institute. He did so because of an old connection of his own with the Eoyal Geographical Society. He had intimated to Mr Norrie that next year, as President of the Otago Institute, he would give prizes for Natural History over and above the prizes for Geography, and he did so in hopes that future occupants of the office would do the same thing, so that by means of those prizes the study of Natural History might be helped on in the schools. He attached a great deal of value to that study as a means o£ education, in moral truth. Sir J. L. C. Richardson, after presenting some of the prizes, said he wished to make a few remarks. He would have taken no part on the present occasion were it not that the

Hon. G. M'Lean felt that the duty he had to perform was too arduous, and had entreated him to take a portion. He replied that he would do so with great pleasure; but he must say that that pleasure was much diminished when Mr M'Lean said he would take the girls, and he (Sir John) would | have to take the boys. He mußt say, that I when he saw the confidential eommunica- ! tions between Mr M'Lean and the girls, he felt very much regret indeed. He might be allowed to say, that he was glad to see : the Commissioner of Customs present, and taking so deep an interest in the education of the Province. He thought it argued well for the future. He wished to make an observation respecting the University of New Zealand. This was the first occasion—and he hoped it would not be the last—when the two High Schools met together to receive prizes. It was originally decided by the Council of the University that women should be admitted to all the privileges of literature, and he was very glad to find the boys and girls brought together on this occasion in th»t building. He must say, that he had a great dislike of a blue stocking, but beaming intelligence in connection with a good oversight of domestic soncerns was the greatest privilege possible. He was very glad to find that one of the High School boys had graduated as a B.A. of the University, and he thought they would all agree with him, that it was a happy omen for the future, that his name should be Solomon— the Wise. He hoped it would be their happy privilege to send many Solomons to the University. Sir John then distributed the prizes won at the recent High School athletic sports. The Chairman said the next item he found on the programme was the Mayor's speech. But he thought he would be guilty of cruelty if he detained them much longer. He had to express his regret that owing to the change in their system of government their late worthy Superintendent, Mr Macandrew, was not present to preside. He j was always at home when presiding on an j occasion of this kind. They knew l;hat that gentleman took a very active interest indeed in the High School, and not only in the High School but in all the schools of the Province. Indeed his personal exertions were put forth to fully perfect the system of education which they now had in the Province, and which would continue to be at all events a lasting and moat creditable memento of Provincialism. The Chairman concluded with a short address to the boys and girls. Sir J. L. C. Richardson moved a cordial vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding. The Mayor had given some valuable prizes on the present occasion, and he trusted that His Worship would procure an amendment of the Municipal Act making it compulsory on every Mayor to give prizes each year. The proceedings then terminated.