LONDON TRINITY COLLEGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11809, 11 August 1900, Page 3

LONDON TRINITY COLLEGE.

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES,

The presentation of prizes and certificates gained by the musical ' students who have passed the 18S9 examinations held in connection with the Dunedin Centre of the Trinity College, London, took place yesterday afternoon in the Y.W.C.A. Hall in Moray place. Professor Sale presided, and there was a very large attendance, the hall being excessively crowded. His Honor Mr Justice Williams and Mr A. J. Barth, the local secretary, occupied seats on tho platform beside Professor Sale; and tho Key. W. Hewitson, chairman of the committee that represents the Trinity College in .Dunedin, w/ots apologising for, his unavoidable absence.

The Chairman said he was sure they wore all sorry to miss Mr Hewitson's presence, and he (the speaker) specially had reason to be sorry, because he had to be chairman in his place. Mr Hewitson had been chairman of the local committee since the commencement of the operations of the Trinity College in Dunedin a good many years ago, and was much better acquainted with the work than he could profess to be. However, with their kind indulgence, he should endeavour to fill Mr Hewitson's place as well as he could. There were several things ho thought they ought to do that day before they did anything further. They ought, in the first place, to express their thanks to the successive mayors of Dunedin who from time to time had accommodated them with a room iv the municipal biiildings for the purpose of holding the practical examinations. The mayors had shown considerable interest in the work, and had done them that great service. They also owed their thanks to the Education Board of Otago, who had given, them the use of a suite of rooms in the Normal School' for the purpose of holding their theoretical examinations. And thirdly, they owed, he thought, a verygreat debt of gratitude to Mr Barth, who had been a most active promoter of the work of the college in Dunedin from the very commencement. He could hardly say how much the success of that institution had depended upon Mr Earth's exertions. Those exertions were given without fee or reward for a number of .years, and even now the slight remuneration the board were able to give was.not at all commensurate with the time and trouble ho had given to the work of the college. He thought Mr Barth was entitled to their best thanks.—-(Applause.) Then he should like to say a word about what, they owed to the Trinity College itself. Of course, there were now other institutions in the field as well as the Trinity College. They wore aware that within the last two or three years another examining board from London had also been at work, but 12 years ago no institution saw a field open.to their operations in New Zealand except Trinity College. That college? sot the example," and if it had not been for that they would have still been without any help from England. So Trinity College was entitled to their thanks. It began 12 years ago with a very small number of candidates for the theoretical examinations. The practical examinations began five years ago, and the examinations this.year would be the sixth practical examinations. There, were some special features 'which would distinguish the present year to which he must allude. In the first place, the numbers had increased so much that the London board had had to appoint two, practical examiners, instead of one, for this end of the world. One of these examiners would travel through Australia; visit the different centres there, then, visit South Africa and Tasmania, then New Zealand. So they would see that they were growing in importance. Another thing worth mentioning was that candidates had increased so largely that whereas only four x'resented themselves when Trinity College began work here, there were this year, no less than 212, which, was, he thought, a. very gratifying increase. The third fact which would distinguish the present year was that on the present occasion, for tho first time, the committee were ablo to give prizes to the successful competitors. Although, the prizes were not of great intrinsic value, they were of some value to musical students, and ■he was . sure they would be highly prized by those who received them, and .would be found of assistance to them in their musical studies. Another still more important fact with regard to tho present'meeting, was this: That on that occasion, for the very first time, they had two students who had been successful, not only in receiving certificates for, having passed the examinations of the college, but had also obtained the diplomas of associateship, which, ho thought,' was a very great step forward. Tho two candidates were Miss Yprston and Miss Hampton. He was sure their success would stimulate others to follow their example, and not'be content to simply pass the ordinary examination and receive their certificate, but to go on and obtain the diploma of associateship of the college.—(Applause.) Of course they were aware that it wasdfot simply those who succeeded in obtaining prices, in passingf examinations, and in receiving diplomas who benefited by work of this kind. It was the work /which a student had done during the time that he, or she, had'been preparing himself or herself to compete for a certificate or' a diploma that 'was. valuable; and he was sure that there were many who nlight not be successful in obtaining prizes who would still be very glad indeed that they had done the work with a view to such distinction. With regard to the practical examinations," there was no' doubt' that theyj were of some assistance to students. These* examinations were of special value'to teachers. He understood from Mr Barth. that two years ago an address was given to teachers by the gentleman who was here as' the practical examiner, in which he explained what he thought some students had been deficient in, and gave them, very valuable hints as to the future conduct of their student work. He (the chairman) hoped the same very tisefiil course would be repeated. The. examiner was going to visit them again this year, and if Mr Edwards could only be induced to make it a practice to point out where students were defective in their practical examination, he would do them and the community a very useful service. He hoped that would be done. In 1888 they only had four candidates for examination. Those four were Miss Fitchott, Miss Joel, Miss Chishohn, and Miss Mathesori. He dared say that it was known to most of them that all. those four ladies were very happily married, and gome of them were mothers. He was quite sure that they were cheering and gladening their homes through the study of music which they pursued in connection with the college so many years ago, and he could only hope that the 232 ladies, or so many ladies as there were among the students, in twelve years hence might be in. precisely the same position as Miss Joel, Miss Matheson, and Miss Fitchett. —(Laughter and applause.) Mr Justice Williams said: It was with great pleasure that I came here this afternoon to distribute the certificates and prizes whiclft have been given by the Trinity College.— (Applause.) ' Trinity College was the first British musical institution to lend a helping hand to us- in this colony. It seems to me., that this was a very enterprising thing to do —that a London institution should of its own motion come to help us here. When I first, became acqiiainted with the work of Trinity College I was astonished at the enterprise shown: Not only were local centres established throughout Australia, btit in South Africa in places the names of which I had never even heard of. A local centre was established at a place called Ladysmith. We know a little more about that place now. There were also local centres established, .not only in ' the British colonies, but in the Orange Free State and in the Transvaal—at Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Pochefstroom. ' Music is a great civilising agency.—(Applause.) I think Trinity Collogecan fairly claim, to be a pioneer with that army of civilisation which is now being led by Lord Roberts. Of course the war has dislocated the local centres to which I have referred, but I hope thht soon Trinity Collego will resume its sway, and that the drum of war and the surly hymn of the Boer will give nlace to gentler music. • The prizes and certificates which are given this afternoon are for the study of musical science and for proficiency in the practice of music. I wish it had fallen to the lot of somebody else to give away these prizes—someone who had some knowledge of the subject on which he talked. My knowledge is exceedingly limited. I have a very old-standing acquaintance with one of the earliest writers on music: his name was Euclid; but I was compelled to study some of his other works which did not relate to music. I found him exceedingly interesting.—(Laughter.) So far as the practice of music is concerned, I admit (fortunately for my fellow creatures) I neither play nor sing, but I am. a very good listener.—(Renewed laughter.) I think from what the chairman has told us, that the progress of the work of the Trinity College has been exceedingly satisfactory. I think, the results show here not only a number of very willing and able pupils, but that there are also a number of competent teachers. I think we may congratulate ourselves" on that.—(Applause.) When Mr Barth wrote to me asking me to give away the prizes this afternoon he suggested in his letter that I should say a few words of advice and encorft-agement to those who had obtained prizes and certificates. I myself have a great dislike to being lectured, and therefore I have some hesitation in lecturing others. I would say to them, notwithstanding, that however high a grade of certificate the students may have obtained, that that certificate is not the end of a musiral education, but it is a beginning. They have got their feet on the bottom rung of the ladder, and it is for them to climb up in tho future. The adage that " Practice makes perfect " is particularly applicable to tho practice of nuvric. Perhaps the idea is expressed a littlo widely. However much you practice, you must not expect to become perfect; but the only road to perfection is

practice. You may travel along that road, but you can hardly hope to reach the end of it. 1 would also say this to you: Remember that you are gifted with musical talents, holding them not for yourself alone, but as trustees for others. Do you imagine that a sweet and well-trained voice, or the magic gift of moving the souls of men by the handling of a violin, are given for the sole profit and delectation of the performer? Not so. Moro than 1900 years ago a Roman Senator said this: If you a-sk a singer to sing, it is exceedingly difficult to get him to sing; but if you do not ask him to sing, it is exceedingly difficult to stop him. Sometimes we find that nowadays. There are people who can sing, and can play, but whom it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to get to play or sing. No doubt there are occasions when they are in indifferent health or their nerves are weak, or they are pad at heart, when it would be unreasonable to ask them to play, and then it would be quite reasonable for them to refuse to play. But there are even peoplo who refuse to play or sing from mere shyness, and this is often nothing more than a subtle form of vanity. Sometimes also a refusal arises from mere wilfulness. Remember this: Musical talent is given to enhance the cheerfulness of life, to hearten tho sorrowful, and to brighten dull lives, and may you all so use the talents that have been committed to 3 Tou. I have no more to say. I wish you all success, and I think I can do no better than wish it in the words of Robert Burns:

May still your life from day to day Nae lento largo in the play, But allegretto forte gay Harmonious flow, A sweeping, kindling, bsiuld strathspey

Encore! Bravo!

His Honor then presented the certificates and prizes to the students, who had gained them, a list of whom has already appeared in print. The prize-winners, however, are again given below: —

Practical Examination. —Senior: Miss I. Nieolson (77) ; intermediate: Miss Gem. Witt (87) : junior: Miss Alice Cadogan (88).

Musical Knowledge.—Senior : Misses F. Chisholm, O. Herdman, A. Nicol, I. Nicolson; intermediate: Misses C. Duncan, K. Church, Mr H. Black, and Miss M. M'Pher-f-.on: junior: Mr P. Wood, Misses J. Braik, H. Couston, A. White, G. Witt. Tho proceedings were relieved with! several pianoforte solos during the afternoon. Miss Alice 'Cadogan played "'Rondo in F " (Dussek). Miss I. Nicolson Chopin's- " Fantasie Impromptu." and Miss W. Whit?ori the same composer's "Nocturne, E Flat."

The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks io the young ladies who had contributed the musical items, and expressed his gratification at seeing so much interest taken in the work of the Trinity College. He' thanked those present for encouraging the students by their presence.