SCHOOL VACATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11307, 28 December 1898, Page 3

SCHOOL VACATIONS.

THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

---:' As is oustomary, Christmas brought to;, the [ industrial.School the cessation of school'lessons, the,distribution of awmls and presents, Christmas fare, and the kindly words of advice i :and encouragement that-one or other qf the members of the board have made it their duty to address to the pupils. \The formal breaking-' lupfor the holidays and the distribution of: , presents took place oii. Friday last, in' the : pr&sence of Mr. James Robin (who'represented : .the' Board of Advice), Miss Sievwright (offi-" : cial- visitor), and a number of •Jriends.: I Tho work' ■of the pupils ■ was ::.,C placed i on exhibition, and. the rooms 'were' decorated' ■ for the occasion. ■•";"■ .:;■';. £i '• ;' -Mr Kobin delivered an interesting address;- ; ■in the course of which he referred-.to thes\ip-. ■ ■cess of the oliildron at the recent exhibition ; :and to. the progress they hadmado in .educa-^" '. tion. Ke remarked that the writing had been 'pronounced by experts to be' particiuarly good; that the pupils evidently knew,hbw,ti>; :eing in unison, and possessed, some^,theoretical knowledge of music; and that the results,"of the ordinary school work'were satisfactory." It was, therefore, quite evident that the school. : possessed in Miss Christie and Mr-Burn two., very capable" teachers. After ■ 'tolling,., the pupils anecdotbs'of the.late,Dr'Stuart andi other worthies, he assured them that if they took advantage of their educati&nal',.'oppor.-,,, . tiinities,: and strove to be upright, 'God-fear--: ■ ing,and honest, there was no position in.'theV land to.whioh they could not aspire. ;:\Bfe: : paid a tribute to the memory of his old-time friend, Mr James Macandrow, to whose far- . seeing judgment and patriotism Otago owed . the establishment of this institution, which,; . ■ under wise management, was destined ,tp proved , •a'g'reat blessing to hundreds■ who, through:no;'- :'. fault'of their..own, mightotherwise) ; .have'. ', ■ drifted into the dangerous^ or criminal 'plasses,'; \ but who now had a good ohahce of becoming , UF&ful members of the community.' , ', Mr'M. Cohori, who assisted in distributing | the prizes, presented Bernard Somerseld, on: , ; behalf of the manager, with a travellers' writ-' | ing'desk in recognition of his good conduct in , the'school and of his services during, the past- i jjear'as monitor; he.is now about to leave j I the. institution, having received a berth ' on' f sone,of the Union.Company's steamers. The ( :two prizes presented annually by Mrs Cohen j :were awarded by the Votes'of tlioir'classma-tes - i( to Herbert'Higsley ; and Annie Doyr;\--Mr j i^Cphen also mado.the gratifying announcement/ , s litha.t Mr R. Epve had deputed him to men-. ; t 'fi'on that he would be glad;.to see the,.staff. ;' |:pf the institution and all the children at one' ) I of.the matinee performances of the pircue.. ... jiHi.The singing of,the children:.was very ..good,- » [knd wa« much appreciated by_-the';visitors. i{ tt.mongst the songswas the one composed,by- '-fc ifc 0, W. M. Burn, "Mother England,"; and :

.this andthe-Natipnal Antliem^were/ Bung with; much heartiness.; The/prpceediiigs closed/with; >very "vigorous orieers;for th'elßoard*:of ?Ad-! Ivicej/aifd for'Mr arid 'Mira'-Burlinsbn-arid -the jteacfiers ,of 'the schbol. .•: r ; '';V;j.:v ■ufi;iil-:P£"-