OTAGO SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9293, 8 December 1891, Page 2

OTAGO SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

The presentation of prizes in connection with the Sunday School Union's annual examination took place at Knox Church last evening in the presence of a very numerous gathering of children and adults.

The l!ev. G. W. J. Spence presided. There were also on the pulpit platform the Revs. Dr Stuart, H. North, Hudson, and Davidson, the Hon. W. D. Stewart, and examiners, Messrs A. S. Patersou, D. R. Eunson, and Herbert Webb. After the opening hymn and prayer, the Chairman delivered a short address on the examiners' report. Mr H. Webb read the examiners' report, which was as follows :— The number of papers handed us in connection with the annual examination was 366, nearly 100 less than last year. Perhaps the other competition for the prizes offered by Rev. Dt Stuart had the effect of lessening the number of candidates for the usual examination. The higher percentages required this year to obtain the same awards would probably also tend to limit numbers. The same alteration is also doubtless answerable for the increased percentage of failures from 51 per cent, last year to 5S per cent. However, 58 per cent, is a father large proportion of failures where the pass is 50 per cent. While we have to report that the papers furnished evidence of a good amount of attention to the Sunday teaching, and also a good deal of preparation of the prescribed lessons, there seemed some falling off in both respects from the work of last year. The prize papers, however, exhibit a high "standard of excellence, the best reaching as high as !M per cent. We are pleased to note evidence of more attention being given to the golden texts ; and we venture to repeat the suggestion of last year that the examination should cover more than three months' lessons, at least for the higher classes. We still observe a strong tendency to quote | passa"cs verbatim rather than answer questions intelligently in the scholars' own words. We also examined 553 papers under Dr Stuart's examination, and passed as correct :W7, including two written to the dictation of a blind boy and a blind girl. A large number of papers in connection with this examination were very nearly correct, but we had to be very strict and reject for even slight mistakes. Herbert Webb, 7). R. Kuxsox, and A. S. Patkrsox, Examiners. Mr W. T. Todd read the list of successful competitors, which was as follows :■ —

First Grade (lti years and over).—Elizabeth Anderson, 90 per cent., Choml Hall School; Maggie Secular, S4 per cent., Mornington Presbyterian; Emily Wiseman, 8:2 per cent., Hanover street Baptist • Annie Beekingsale, 81 percent., Hanover street Baptist; Marion Early, 80 per cent., Kaikorai l'resbyterian. Second Grade (M to l(i years).—Janet Gillespie, 114 per cent., Kaikflrai Presbyterian; Emily Howes, !>2 per cent., MorninKton Presbyterian; Maggie Howes, Si per cent., Mornington Presliyterian. Third Grade (12 to 14 years).-Agnes Kay, S2 per cent., Maori Hill Baptist; Jessie Hoy, 82 per cent., Maori Hill Baptist; P.eginald Webb, 82 per cent., Mornington Presbyterian. Fourth Gra.ie (id to 12 years).—Edith Derrick, 83 per cent.. Caversham Baptist: Emily Clark, 85 percent., Caversham Baptist; Marion Loan, S3 percent., Mornington Presbyterian. The Rev. Dr Stuakt said he had listened to the report of tile examiners with groat pleasure. He happened to know them all, and he knew them so well, that he had the greatest confidence in their sense of justice and the thoroughness with which they had done their work. The chairman had told them of the prizes he (Rev. Dr Stuart.) had offered. He might say he had made it as difficult as possible to win those prizes. Had lie offered the prizes for the correct recital of the three remarkable documents, he believed none would have failed ; but the condition was to \wite them from memory, and those who could do that he knew had studied them well. He was delighted to think that 500 of them had lodged in their young minds those three great documents, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Creed. In the course of three or four months the prizes would be here, and he should then ask the chairman to arrange for an opportunity for presenting them, He was quite satisfied that all duservedthcprir.es, but if they had all succeeded he feared very much he would have been driven into the liankruptcy Court. At all events, he greatly rejoiced that so many had tackled the offer, and thatsuch a large proportion had come oft victorious. He was also exceedingly pleased to learn that two blind children-ii brother and sister—had recited these documents accurately, and lie should, in addition to the prize, present them each with a book written by -Mr Moldrum, of \bordeen, on the education of the blind, so that they might know whet blind children could do'uuder right-training. Til.- union's prizes were then presented by the Rev. I)r Stuart.

Tlim- solos w.-ivsuiu; during the eveniiu:- ---" Nazareth " by Mr ('leghorn, ami "Zion" by MUs Shears ;an organ solo ivus contributed by

Mr A. W. Lilly, and several Sunday school hymns were very sweetly sung by the children. The proceedings closed with votes of thanks to the examiners, the secretaries, the soloists, the Deacons' Court for the use of the church, Rev. Dr Stuart, and the chairman—moved by the Rev. A. North, seconded by the Rev. L. Hudson", and carried enthusiastically.