THE SCHOOL VACATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10239, 22 December 1894, Page 2

THE SCHOOL VACATIONS.

NATIVE SCHOOL PICNIC AT KABITANB,

PUKETERAKI. The Native school, Puketerati, broke up for its mid-summer vacation, and held its picnic on Friday last, a large number of visitors from outside the Kaik responding to invitations to be present. There was an abundance of all those things which contribute to making children happy on such occasions — everything requisite for a good spread at dinner and tea, and so many prizes th&t all the children, past or present pupils of the school, as well as all the outsiders who cared to compete in the afternoon's sports, left the grounds at night with, in most cases, three or four nice prize 3. Another interesting feature of the day's festivities were subscription race 3 got up on the grounds for the women and young men. The affair was signally successful. In the eveniog a concert and dance was held in the Huirapa Rununga, proving a happy conclusion to the successes of the day. Blr William Harper, sen., was in the chair. The programme was an excellent one. Misß L. Treseder, of Dunedin, contributed the overture and three songs; Miss Lizzie Blaoke soon established herself a favourite ; Mrs Stevenson on her reappearance received & warm welcome ; Mr Halo, a Syrian gentleman, contributed Syrian, Turkish, and Arabic songs with a lute accompaniment; Miss Malloch, and Messrs Wills, and Bryce (Waikouaiti), and Mr Haig (Seacliff) were very successful, as also was Mrs William Harper, jun. The performance of the Hons. Blisses Sydney and Nina Grant and Miss Laura Blathwayt as flower girls was creditable. Miss Martha Parata and Mr John Pratt, jun. (ex-pupils) contributed to the entertainment, and Mr George Taiaroa gave one or two of his drolleries. In the absence of the chairman, Mr Hopaka gave a brief addtess in praise of the Misses Blathwayt, and those who had assisted in promoting the picnic. For the dance which followed, Misses Treseder, Blacke, Malloch, Sorgel (piano), and Messrs Ellison and George Taiaroa (violins), provided the music. An abundance of excellent refreshments were provided.

KAIKORAI SCHOOL,

The annual break-up of the Kiikorai School took place on Wednesday. The prizes in the lower standards were presented by Mr V. Duncan, a member of the school committee, at St. John's Hall, Roolyn, in the afternoon, and those in the upper standards by the same gentleman in the evening, at the same place. In presenting them Mr Duncan mentioned that there were 112 pupils in the Fourth Standard, 101 in the Fifth, and 62 in the Sixth. In the latter the boy dux had obtained 625 marks, and the girl dux a similar number. At intervals during the evening parb gongs were given by the senior pupils with remarkable excellence, under tha direction of Mr Garrow; while Mr Kalk officiated at the harmonium, and Master Alexander Webster gave a humorous recitation.

The Chaiuman (Mr Duncan), on opening the proceedings, referred to the pleasure it gave him to see so many people present, and regretted that Mr Ferry, the chairman of the committee, was absent in Melbourne, and was therefore unable to taks the position which he (Mr Duucau) occupied.

Mr Allnutt, the head master, who was j received with applause, aaid he was pleased to j see such & large gathering, for it showed that a I genuine interest was taken in the school. He ! referred to the chief points that went to make what might be called a model school. One was physical development; another tee development of a good, keen intellect; a third the inculcating of morality ; aud the fourth bringing the will of the child to God's will. Whatever other points there might be, it would be unanimously conceded that these four should be universal. One remarkable feature about the school had been the iucrease in the number of the pupils. In 1888 there were 587 on the roll, and Che averago attendance was 518. Now the total was 839, and the average attendance 777; and from this it. would be seen that, although there were only 62 more children on the roll, the average attendance had increased by 102. He was proud of this. As far as the staff was ooucorDsd they h&d had two additions, and he for o&e was well pleased with Messrs Garrow and Fisher. He found the staff very zealous in their work. He also dwelt on the assistance afforded by the two gentlemen mentioned without wishing to unduly specialise anyone. He and the staff had worked harmoniously together, and he trusted that their efforts had met with approval. They had lost Mr Reid during tha year, and he (the speaker) expected to see him at the top of his profession before many years were over. He thanked the committee for the assistance they bad afforded him in carrying on the work of the school. 'With regard to the prizes, a lot of tune had been spent in trying to allot them as they should be allotted. It rested pretty well with the teacher of the class, but to make snre he had not gone in for the ordinary method. He had compared with t'ae teacher, aud if they saw the comparison they would Bay that the children getting prizes were the deserving ones. He concluded by hoping that the committee would allow a concert to be got up by the children, the proceeds to go towards the library and the purchase of chemical apparatus.

Mr J. J. Bahsat, of the Education Board, oaid he was there at the invitation of Mr Duncan. One pleasing feature of the ceremony was that it was evident that the future young womeu of Bcslj n were not goiai; to let the boys carry away all the prizes. Ho congratulated

the pßople on the possession of a very fine school, and a splendid ctalf of teachers, and was glad to see that the good work commenced by the late Mr Allardice was being continued. He hopod the Bplendid opportunities afforded for education in the colony would be recognised and taken advantage of, and referred to the school where he had received his mental training as a "pin house," which, ho said, was 13ft by Bft and about 7ft high. He regretted that tioma older and more experienced nietnbar of the hoard was not prepent on such an occasion, but the board had a very important meeting on, and being iv junior he could probably be best spared.

Mr llablow also addressed those present, after which the Ciiaikman wished the children "A Merry Christmas and s, Happy New Year," and announced that the uchool would reassemble on the sth February.

Cheers for the visitors, the committee, and the chairman concluded the proceedings.

The following ia the prize list: —

Standard VII (number of pupils, 49).— Upper seventh : Frank Bell 1, John Us»her 2, Willie Gilroy 3; Violet Child 1, Jeanie Lothian 2, Georgina Sinclair 3. Lower seventh : George Ussher 1, John Scott 2, Elisha Dakiel 3 ; Jessie I'attewon 1, Florence Brickell 2, Criesy Wilkinson 3. Special prizes : Geometry, James Ross ; shorthand (upper seventh), Georgina Sinclair; (lower seventh), George (Jssher; drawing—Hwrr Powell, George Ursher, and John Scott (equal); diligence, Annabello. falconer: librarians, .Fred Terry and George R,oach ; writing and neat exercise, Harry l'owell 1, Robert Huto'uinson 2.

Standard VI (number of pupils, 62).—General proficiency : Percy Lothian 1. GUhriel Child 2, Bertie Morton 3; Ruth GUvon 1, Nellie Munn 2, Lucy Smith 3. Special prizes : Composition, Lucy Smith; reacting, Kate D^nciui and Nellie Munn (equal); arithmetic. Berlie Mortou ; writing, Maggie Yuill and Ruby R-.rk (equal) 1, Hughina M'lnto^h 2; diligence—John Sinclair, Jerry Shannon, Mary Cunningham : general progress, Alec Roberts; needlework, Eva Rooney ; darning, Jane Johnston ; domestic economy, Ella Brown.

Standard V (numbftr in class, 101). —General proficiency : Jack Park 1, Harry Scott 2, Maeson Gilray3; Sarah Kvsnsl, Louise Ghettleburgh 2, Elizabeth Purdie and Violet Wright 3. Special prizes: Drawing—Thomas Gilray and Edwani Roberts, Daisy Fergus ; composition—.Tack Park, Kate Park; geography—Benjamin Stewart smri Essie Pilkington (equal); general progress—William Clyde, Nancie Tnrnbull; diligence—Harry B. Kenjon, Gwyn Williams, John Burns, Kusseil Allardice, Margaret Young, Myrtle Freeman; writing—Albert Allen ; sewing—itlisa Bagahatv ; darning—Lilian Dow ; domestic economy—Ruby Robinson ; monitresa's prize—Grace Gardiner.

Standard IV. (number in class, 112). —General proficiency : Rutland Allnntt I, Veraon Bernard 2, Edward lies 3; Fanny Allan 1, Gertrude Ferry 2, Martha Alexander 3. Special prizes : Composition, Violet Brindley: drawing, Audrey Brlndlpy ; arithmetic, Messie Daw6on ; diligence:—Ethel Bentham, Ida Benthaui, Charles Laurenson, George Crombie, David Webster, Thomas Weir, Graeme Lothian; good progress, Matthew Miller : composition, George Sutherland; sewing, Ellen Oliver; darning, Daisy , Brophy ; diligence— Charles Laurenson, George Crombie, Ida Bentham, Ethel Buntham, Graeme Lothian, Thomas Weir, and David Web3ter.

Standard 111 (number of pupils, 11.3).— General proficiency : Andrew Todd 1, Donald Matheson a, Alfred Parkinson 3; Mabel Morton, Mary Colder, Eva Brickell. Special prizes : Arithmetic, Andrew Todd; drawing, Maiw.ret Harding; writing—Winnie Stark aud William Duncan; sewing—Cathie Olappertou, Chriasie Park, Gwendoline Childe; diligenco—Thomas Brickall, Lilian Maunder, George Hay; sewing—Chrisaie Park and Gwendoline Childe.

Standard II (number of pupils, 9S).—General proficiency: Percy Beaumont 1, Bortie Begg 2, Eric Finch 3. Henry Turnbull 4 ; Lucy Morton 1, Georgina Miller 2, Jane Todd 3, Florence Chettloburgh 4. Special prizes: Arithmetic, Bertie Begg; mental arithmetic, May Benthara; writing, Elluu Jana Walker; sewing, Lucy Morton; diligence — ffirrest Calder, Malcolm Downie, Ruby Campbell, Julia Wilson.

Standard 1 (number in class, 103). — General proficiency: Willie M'Donald 1, John Duff 2, George Stuart 3; Hazel Brmdley ami Winnie Strachau 1, Phemie Oliver 2, lilttie Green'and Gladys Park 3. Special prizes : Writing, Oiarisae Bropby ; writing, Frank Nicholson ; recitation, Edith Burnard ; diligence, Japie Allan ; sewingEvelyn Allnutt and Lizzie Prentice ; general proficiency and good behaviour, Nellie Stewart; object lesson—John Scott and Maggie Birrell.

Infant department (Miss Black, matron).— General proficiency—Lower first: Frank Alexander, Alice Grieve, May Wilson, Nellie Garatang, Violet Powell, Willie Allnutt, Mary Dalziel, Robert Blair, Robert Dunn, Jack Smith (writing). Second preparatory class: Arthur Davis, Ethel Fea, Penrice Ussher. Third preparatory class : Mabel Shepherd, Bernard Burns, Bessie Weir. First infants: Annie Kiely, Muriel Stark. Second infants: Frank Ellis. Smallest boy, Samuel Burns; smallest girl, Ivy Freeman. Diligence. Leslie Wilkinson.

GymnasticPiizes.—Boys: Percy Lothian (medal) 1, Alex. Webster (medal) 2, Slasson Gilray (medal) IS, Ernest Smith 4, David Webster 5, Rutland Allnutt (i. Girls : Nellie Munu (medal) 1, Annie Gilray 2, May Smith 3.

The committee tender their moat hearty thanks to the following donors of special prizes :—Mrs R. Crawford, Messrs S. Bieut, A. Finch, B. R. Smith, Wise and Co., E. M. Koach, \V. B. Matthews, S. N. Brown, D. Scott, the Eoslyn Tennis Chtb, the members of the school staff, and to Mr J. O. Smith for medals for the gymnastic class.

— Our gunners are dependent on tbe old black powder for ths destructive efte;t of their shells, as their grandfather* were before thi-m. Strange. A3 it may appear in these days of nitrocompouudo and smokeless powders, the common shell fived by the Koyai Artillery carries ths same bursting charge as was used 100 year.i ago.

— A very unpalatable suggestion ban ben.n made as to using insects as ioo<i. One writer has declared that many aie palatable and nutritious. His list rejeut3 spiers aud flies as noxious, but be declares that butterflies, moths, locusts, cockroaches, earthworms, caterpillars, nlug-, grasshopper', &c, are eminently well suited for food. It i*, of course, a raattar of tart;', bu1 so'ue of us -voulil ra'.her not try.

- Ab -Vt OliH-t.Mr.) :.•{ \.\\: ".!■.»' don were born outside its limits,

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