SCHOOL OF ART AND DESIGN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10625, 21 March 1896, Page 2

SCHOOL OF ART AND DESIGN.

The annual .distribution of medals, prizes, ana certificates to the students of the Dunedin School of Art and Deßign, who had successfully passed the examinations of the Science and Art department in connection with the School of Design at South Kensington, took place at the Normal School last night. The Hon. J. MacGregor presided, and among thoee present were : RSessrs H. Clark (chairman of the Education Board), T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., D. Burri«, A. Burt, A. Lees, D. E. White, W. M. Hocigkins, D A. M'Nicoll, Simpson, Scott, Dr Scott, and SignorNerli. Apologies fornou-attendauee were also received from Messrs N. Y. A. Wales, J. Hislop, G. M. Thomson, J. P. M. Frueer, Dr Stenhouse, and the Rev. J. Gibb.

The Hod. J. MacGbegor suid that was the second occasion upou which he had been called upon to preside at the distribution of certificates in connection with that school; and that was the second annual distribution since the affiliation of the school with the Science and Art department at; Ssuth Kensington. The examination in the first year took place very shortly after the affiliation of the school with that department, and without any prior preparation at all It would be remembered ho« vei-y satisfactory even under those adverse circumstances the results were. This year the results were still more satisfactory; and it showed what a goo-3 thing it wjs that the school had become affiliated with the Home institution. As they knew, several new classes had been added t;> the school this year, and the services of a very accomplished teacher in art—Signor Nerli —had been secured. The acquisition he was sure was a very important one, and a very advantageous one to the school. There had also bften added to the school classes for practical work iu building construction and mechanical construction. Those classes have beoa conducted by very able instructors, who were not only good draughtsmen but also practical men ; and he must say that t!. e results go far as the attendance went with regard to thoso two classes were not quite up to expectations, but the- results.of the examination showed that the teaching aud instruction given had beeu entirely satis factory. He desired to tr.ke that opportunity of inforoiiug those who took an interest iu these classes that the Education Board was still looking forward to their takiug an interest in it; and the board would like to impress upon master builders and engineers in Dunedin that they should use their influence to persuade their apprentices to take advantage of those classes. It was coming to b« recognised that a man could not ba a good tradesman whp did not know the theory of his trade ; and the board hoped that next, quarter there would be a very great improvement in the attendance at those classes. Before calling over the names of those who ha<! gained certificates from the Science aud Art department, he would quote a few figures showing the results. In the nubject of freehand drawing 108 sat for examination. Of Ih's number 48 obUiued first-claos rank, '29 second class, and 31 failed. Now, if they considered the very large number* that took part all over England and the colonies iu those examinations, they would see how satisfactory those results were. .He found that in this subject something like 59,000 candidates were examined. Of that number only 7199 attained first-class and 14-000 aecondclssh certificates, while 37,000 failed. Out of the 108 candidates from that school only 31 failed, which showed that tho students here compared favourably, in this subject at any rate, with the students e'sewhere. In model drawing the results were also satisfactory. Some 69 candidates were examined in this subject. Of this number 19 attained Srst-clasa aud 24- second-class certificates, while 26 failed. Them again the proportion of failures was comparatively small, swing th»t out of a total number of 37,000 wVio sat for this examination, as many as 16,000 foiled. Iu the subject of drawiug in light and allude 25 candidates sat for examination. Soveuteon of these attained iirst-class and four secoud-class rank,, while only four failed. Iu practical, plane, sud solid geometry there were 14 candidates, 13 passed, cone failed, Mid (Hie attained a full certificate.—(Applause.) In advauctd freehand the number of students was flvo. Of this number one (John M. Procter) attained to the high position of " excellent."—(Applause.) To show what this meant he might etntc that 6372 candidates in all sat for the fxaiuinatiou, and only 44 attained to the position ot " excellent," and Mr Proctor was ona of thn«i>. Then iu advanced drawing in light and thadd, live candidates sat for examination, and oa« student (John Kilgour) attained to the position of " excellent." The total number of tho 5960 who sat for examination and attained " excellent" wan only 62. The certillcntMi for tho classes of building construction and meiljunioal construction havo not yet been iciuived. Although the number of the candidates was small the results were oatMttcfcory.' In machinery construction and drawing three passed. He thought all who promoted tboin- ■ solves passed. In building coiiHtructiou and in theoretical mechanics nil panned also. Now, these results must be satisfactory to their master. Mr Button, and thes. KiirQ.recjjdcdus

very satisfactory by the Education Board. He was also sure that all those who took an interest in the progress of the school must satisfied with the results.—(Applause.)

The certificates were then presented by Mr MacGregor to the following students :—

Freehand Drawing.—First class : Thomas A. Hunter Wm. A. MacLeod, W. C. Wakelin, T. M. Clark, j. A. Oliver, G. R. Irvine, Clarissa Mitchell H II Pattle, Edward Crow, L. D. Hutton, Geo.'A.Oalder, Roger Kirkham,, Mary D. Alex, ander Oliva Snelmerdin'e, Sarah Dale, Jessie A. Miller Oswald Trochon, Mary J. Stewart, Lotta M. Turner, Blanche A. Murray, Mabel A. Tayler, Sophia Corbett, JMaine Harland, Jane P. Hartley, Ellen J Chalmers, Isabella Allan, Eleanor Adams, Margaret S. M'Lend, Elizabeth Thomson, James Niven, Jeannie Neill, Bn-nda Cannon, R. Sheiinerdine, Christina Klec, Elsie Napier Bell, Emma M. Rainforth, M. Macdonald, A. G. Crawfor,], John G. Macleod, Dorothea Wilkinson, Margaret Ewine, Robert Coghill, John Kilgour, Wm. Hutton, Helen C. Johnson, and Kraoces Hopkins Second class: David Sherriff, Jas. Moifand, Harold Bayley, Grace Clulee, Antoinetta Renz, Lina M. Reynolds, Joseph Hunter, Eva Broadway, May Mathewson, Wm. Mitchell, Nellie Poake, Catherine J. Frasar, Lydia Audersoii, Mary J. Mulville, Mary J. Barclay, Agnes R. Elder, Anna Rosa Hutton, Annie Emery, Marianne Blundell,' David Robertson, Georgina A. Fogo, Walter Wilkinson, May A. Davidson, Lucy Ji!. Branson, Edith M. Johnson, Edith H. Statham, Lily Sullivan. Mary A. White, Geo. Wallace; and Gertrude M'Pherson.

Model Drawing.—First elaui: Wm. A. Macleod, Thomas M. Clark, 11. 11. rattle, Roger Kirkbatn, Oliva Slielmerdine, Mary J. Stewart, Sophia Corbett, Eleanor Adams, Margaret S. M'Leod, R. .Shelmeidine, Marianne Blundell, Edith M. Johnson, Kobert ' Co;;hill, John Kilgour. Frances Hodgkins, Harold Jeffreys, Herbert Armstrong, Theodore Cameron, Robert Chadwick, >>nd Ada Hoffman. Second ciasa: Geo. It.' Irvine, Lina. M. Reynolds, G«o. A. Calder, Nellie Peake, Mabel A. Tayler, Elaine Harland, Isabella Allan, Christina Klee, Elsie Napier Bel!, Emma M. Rainforth, M. Macdocald, Georgina A. Fogo, A. G. Crawford, John G. Macleod, Wm. Iluttou, Helen C. Johnson, Mary Watson, Isla Whinam, Wm. Renton, Nina Capper, Walter J. Beeson, Margaret Stewart, and Gertrude Mills.

LiKht and' Shade. — First class: Geo. It. Irvine, Edward Crow, Sophia Corbett, Elaine Harland, Eleanor Adams, Margaret S. M'Lcod, Marianne Blundell, Elsie Napier Bell, John Kilgour, Frances * Hodgkins, Herbert Armstrong, Theodore Cameron, Margaret Stewart, David *:. Hutton, Jane Imrie, Nellie D. llutton, and Duncan Trainor. Second class: Linn M. Reynolds, Edith H. Statham, Kobert Coghill, and James M. Proctor.

Geometrical Drawing.—David Sherriff, pass stage E ; G«o. R. Irvine, pass; Eleanor Adams, pass ; Elsie Napier Bell, pass; Robeit Cogliill, p;iss; John Kilgour, pass; Prances Hodgkins, pane; Nellie JJ. Hutton, pass ; Jas. M. l'roctor, pas* ; Marjory Scutt, pass; Janet L. Hopcraft, pass; Amslia F. Peters, pass; and Robert J.' Nivell, pass.

Freehand Advanced.—John Kilgour, first class David E. Hutton, first class; Ntllie D. HuttoD. first class ; and J.imes M. Proctor, excellent.

Porraective.—David Sheriff, first class; Geo. It. Irvine, second class ; James Niven. firtt class; flobe'rt'Coghill, second class; John ICilgour, first clans; James M. Proctor, first class.

Light and Shade, Advanced.—Robert Cojliill, second class ; John Kikour, excellent; David E. Ilutton, first class; Nellie 1). Hutton, first class ; James M. Proctor, first class.

Model, Advanced.—Robert Coghil'i, soennd class: John Kilgour. iirrt cla?s; David K. Huttoo, firnt class ; Nellie T>. Huttoa, second class; Jatues M. Proctor, first class.

P.inciples of Ornament.—David E. Hutfcoa, second class.

Building Construction.—David Sheriff,, Brut cla>n" (stage A) ; Da-vid Paterson, pass ; Wm. Marshall, pass". Mechanical 'Construction.—George Armstrong, p;tss; James S. Don, pats; and Thomas Rodgersoq. pass. Theoretical Mechanics.—David Sheritf, paBS. Applied Mechanics. —David Sheriff, pass.

The above lint includes the names of students taoght at the Girls' High School and elsewhere.

The following prizes were also distributed : — The Otago Art Society's silver medal, for study of t!ie figure from life.—John Kilgour. Silver medal presented by a friend for drawing from the antique. -Theodore Cameron. Mr N. Y. A. Wale^'s prize, consisting of a gold bangle, for drawing in light arid shade from the cast.—Klaie Napier iicll.

Mr James Hislop'e silver medals.—For outline drawing from the cast, J.lirs C. Klee; for drawing in outline from nature, -ttis< Kthel Bridger.

Builders' Association's .-cliolarships, consisting of half a year's fees for tuition at the School of Design.—William March.*. I! anclD. Paterson.

Artists' colourmau's prize, eousistins of an oil colour box complete.—Mi_=s M. Blundell.

Mr W. ML Hodokixs, in prr-Ktnting the Otago Art Society's meial to :vTr Kiigour, taid ever einca the society had been iu existence—now something like 20 years—it had offered to students of thst school sn annual prize. However, owing to some cause or other, the competition for these medals had falien into disuse; but now, owing to the reorganisation of the school, and to the influeucs exerted by those who had its welfare at heart, the society were sg&in offering medals, and they ware glad to see that this year the medal had been won by so worthy a student as Mr Kilgour.—(Applause.) The particular class of work the medal had bten offered for t?as the very highest branch of art, and the society hoped in time to come, as students guined more knowledge and were pbl'. to put forth better effort? than they wrr.? dicing now, that the school would be able to show work which would compare favourably wit Li ib*> art cchools of the neighbouring colonies "When Hut happy time came round be thought ilia!, he was not eaying too much when he eaid that the society would give a gold medal instead of a Bilver one as they were doing now.

Mr Simpson, in presenting the winners of the Builders' Association prize with their scholarship:?, said unless the class for building con - struction was better attended iu future than it had been it might bs discontinued. The class was being run at a loss at the present time, and it would be well if the youth of this city Haw their way to support it.

Mr Scott presented the prize given by the artists' colourmen to Miss Blundell.

Mr A. Burt, who was then called upon by the chairman to address the assembly, s»id it gave him great pleasure to be there that evening, and also to hear the remarks made by Mr MscGregor. He thought it said a great deal for the rising generation that th*y devoted a certain amount of their time to the study of art, bat he was very much grieved to hear that such a small number hsd taken advantage of the building construction class and the clafs for mechanical drawing, becp.u?e a great deal of effort was required to get the Education Board to go the length of appointing teachers for those clssses. He would ie<-l it very much if these classes had to bs gi»eu up. But of course if the young paop'e did not take advantage of them there was nothing eke for it but to give them up.

J2r D. K. White, who was slio asked to address those, present, said he thought the Education Board should be congratulated upon taking steps to give fnbliciry to the work of the school. He w*s sure it must be to Mr Huttou a source of c.^sMerable gratification to know; that in competition with the world, and at the hands of the Art Society of London his students last year and this had taken a very creditable position.— (Hear, hear). He did not profess to have expert knowledge iu c-.simection with the various branches of the work of the school, but he knsw, as mo«t of those connected with educational effairs kuew, that the subject of drawing in its various departments was ous of tho most useful branches of instruction that could possibly be brought before teachers particularly and also before many other workers in the community. He proceeded to emphasise the usefulness of drawirjg, particularly to all those who were engaged iu touching, whether in tbe primary schools or in tho universities, pointing out that an instructor who had the ability to use bis pencil or chalk had an immense advantage ovsr the teacher who could not do that. Speaking ou behalf of the teaching community, he hoped the Education Board would see its way not only to insist upou its teachers attending thnt institution, but also to insist upon all tfcose who wished to enter the teaching profession getting certificates from the Science and Art department.—(Applause.) 'i'he proceediugs then tetminated.