SCHOOL VACATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11922, 21 December 1900, Page 5

SCHOOL VACATIONS.

IWAKABI SCHOOL1. '' -,

jTIio annual prize distribution:' W'icorvrwfl/;:;;.' tion witli Iho Walmri School; tdbiepl^^ijjf tho school gymnasium last evemng^'iitf'the^'i presence of a largo crowd, of the.friendsi arid; relatives of the scholars. .Mr .^W. v Aitken ■.. occupied the chair(in tho unavoidable> absence, of Mr L. Komnitz), and was supported by Mr J. L. Passmoro and several members p£: * committee. Mr Kemuilz, in a letter toMs Patcrson, tho head master, apologised for his> absouce, and wished the children and teachers . a \'ery happy holiday. '-The senior Beholarsj; under the direction of Mr W. F. Patereon;;, >: thoroughly' delighted the visitors with an exr , ' ■ hibition of gymnastic exercises on the'hori-i'>: zontal v bar, parallel bars, .climbing ..poles,'-; Indian 'clubs, rods, sihgles'ticKs,''the"'whole ~ ending with a competition of an . amusing ■: character, entitled " Tho Miller , and-thai.i Sweep." The children sang in excellent tune '•' and very sweetly " Soldiers of the Queen," - "See the conquering hero," etc., whilst the action songs of the younger scholars .'were :■ much appreciated. . • '. --.v The Chairman, int his usual happy .style,,.-, congratulated the prize-winners, and deplarecl ; I' the pleasure that; it ■always afforded him to_'-."> be present at such a function^ and to hear thei songs and to see the work of the children!. ' . gone through so aibnirably. : : V*:," The Rev. Mr Howard, in the course^ of ai;-: : : ■; few well-chosen - remarks, praised the. work:: L* of the children, and advised each ono as they,':;^ left school for tho world to have a fixed aim) ■' in life, and to steadfastly carry put the put-'. pose each had in view. ' ■■'"'. -: ■'.■.<:,i'C-'.i-;'-i'.-

Mr J. L. Passmore stated that he had*«(''::." most pleasant- duty to.perform in. presenting,;;: Mr Aitken, the chairman, on behalf of: thWS: school committee, with a handsome pipe aneff: silver matchbox, as a token of their appreoia-": tion of his long service for the good 'of ''the: \i school in the district. Ho ended his speechi";?; by calling for three cheere for the recipient;: ?&i Mr Aitken feelingly responded, and"statedi." * that he still did, and always would, cherish- :: tho memory of tho time lie had spent amongsb'.•'"' them, and at all times he would be delighted! ;: to bo of the slightest service to the- tWakari School or its scholars. ;'::;.?:

Mr J. L. Paesmore, in a short, humorous speech, proposed three hearty cheers for Me W. F. Paterson for the zealous and energetic! manner in which he had trained his pnpilg, ■ and hoped that, insofar as his private arraiige- , rconts would permit, they would have : tha, benefit of his presence and assistance at many ■' subsequent ceremonies of a like character. ■■ ' 1 The vote being carried by acclamation, Mp ' W. F. Paterson returned tnanks for the hearty vote extended to him, and added that he hadi-; been pleased to note the marked improvement is physique that had taken place in, the) case of many of the pupils under the-thorongh gymnastic course now carried out in the school. He expressed the hopo that this d& ' partment, of the school would continue tc* receive the same amount of attention as- formerly. . . . : ,

The chairman ,atfd the teachers'of ■Ihel > ; school were each recipients o£ special votes of thanks. The singing of the National Anthem by all present concluded a ■ most'en*- / joyable evening. . ..-"". '.. / The following is-the-prize-listr— i : ■■'■'. Standard Vll.—Reginald Paterson', aux-THT*/ Ivemmtz's silver medal), WilUam Wright 2 Standard VI.—A, Peter Smith 1, Archibald.. Paterson 2; B, Jessie Sherriff 1. . ™' .' Standard V.—A, Maiy Greenslade.l; 8, -VTS. '' helmina. Cordes and Eva Smith (equal) 1; Harry! • Greensia.de and Charlotte Harbour (equal); 2.' : Standa-Ed IV.—John Passmore 1, 'Andrew ■■ Galloway and Cissie Greenslade (equal) 2. : "'■' : Standard 111.-Eodney Strachan l^MaiSl, ■. Thomson and Hilton Chettlebirrgh. (equal) 2^ '' ' ll—Thomas Galloway 1, GertrudS;'. Uicttleburgh and Archibald Cooper (equal) 2 "' ■■ Standard I.—lsabella Cooper 1, Staaley-SiniiH "T and Isabel Bennett (equal) 2. _ Infants.—Division III: Eutfr Bedford l.'l.'Vfitt. '■ '•'. Young and Olive Harneis3 (equal) 2. Division, ":: 11: John .Chettleburgh 1, Manson Greenslade. '(.' and Frederick Passmore 2. Division is'Dun-.-l can Cameron 1, Agnes Cameron 2. ~ ■ : .^ : ■ Special.—Sewing—Katio Passm'ore, 'Worah' '■- Wright, Maggie Bennett, Olive Patersott, Elizi- ■■:•' both Passmore, Muriel Stuart;diligence, Ernest : Wright; gymnastics, Edmund Greenslada-'i drawing—Bossie.Sherriff, Gladys ITason,Walter V Kedzlie, Henrietta Gillies, Charles Bevin, Ghaa:;:' Greenslande; writing—Richard Cook, Austin: ": .Hoibrook, David Ness, Catherine Anderson.1 , '

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH D&Y. SCHOOL.

The-head teacher's .report for*&e past yea*:: ■ ': containocl the following items of interest :TfvvThe number on the roll is at present, 34-i,I', ■ Tho average for last quarter was 26,;: owing'; '•■.'V to the frequent nlx-srioe of -the older jjirls.": ■■,'";■- The school was examined in ;_Jro©ji!-ariii''lrw^-~-v-— <■ work throughout was found to'be very well, ..: done. The curriculum of the scEopl is based on the State school system, with th&addrtipn?/; J. of Holy Scriuture. on which much stress is;.-■ A '■"■■'. laid. Mrs John Watson kindly judged the'; ;-^ year's work of sewing, awarding theiprize to:,: :.f: Lizzie Byfield. Mr I»illy gave as usual a '"■ i': silver medal for the dux, whilst prizes were' given by the vicar, Mesdames Join Watson^ V Reid, Eden, Williams, Watson, Dc-wnes. ; ;A ':-| few parents and friends .kindly contributed ":': I::". the money to the prize fund. Able assistance^" '■ ■ was rendered during the yeaT by the "Misses' i Freda Dov.-nes and Hill. The school reopens, s , on February 4. The Vicar (the Key.. Wj'^.'V; Curzon-Siggers, M.A.), before calling ..upba" ! *■■■. i Mra Bennett to give the prizes, referred:.tof -, ;. ' the satisfactory work done. by. the -school,; : Vv and as an evidence of the good education' : ■ ; .' given at the school, he mentioned that 23 prizns had been taken at different schools ' in Dunedin. by children who were, so re-" •.. '. eently as two years ago, or less, pupils at St. V . '■'■.'..'>■ Matthew's. The following prizes were 'thenf distributed:— ' .. "'■;,'■ .',.

First Scripture prize, Janet Beid; second, Martha Byfield; thrrd, Myrtle Heather. Dus, Janet Reid. First lesspn prize; Olive Edei;. second, Martha Byfield; fourth, Bessie Shawj fifth, Jack Finlinson; sixth, Winifred.Hollow;', seventh.. Ella Nicoll. . Plain sewing prize,. O'livo Edeu. First fancy work prize, MyrtleHeather; second, Janet Reid. First conduct.

prize, Ivy Curie; second, Violet Watson; General improvement, Emma TVoodgeT. Atr' tendance prizes.: First, Bessie Shaw;.:second,' Charlie Cooper. . '

TAIAROA HEADS.

The little village at Taiaroa Heads was quite en fete on the occasion of the annual breaking-np ceremony in connection .with this school, which took place on Monday, last.Captain Louden, the sijrnalmaster, took advantage of the occasion to present the school with a handsome Union Jack. In1, making the presentation lie feelingly expressed a nopel

that the children would always respect .that grand old flag. While the flag was being hoisted the children sang the National Anthem. Mr Robson, on behalf of the school comrnitteel then thanked' Captain Louden) for his handsome gift, and called for three cheers for him, which wore heartily given.' After the children had received abundance; of cakes and sweets, they gave a very pleasant; entertainment, under the leadership of Misa Jones,"their teacher. The items, which wera all well received, consisted of songs, recita-

tions, and hat-ribbon and doll drill, the hafc and doll drill being specially well. carried out. Great credit is duo to Miss Jones for the efficient manner in1 which she has trained the children, and for the-amount of troublo she has taken in training them. On th€l

lotion of Mr M'Bean (Wesleyan missionary),

seconded by Captain Louden, a hearty votei of thanks was accorded the lady. The prizes —a book to each scholar, and an extra prize to 10 holders of first-class and four holders of second-class attendance certificates—were then presented by Mr J. T. Louden, who heartily thanked all the subscribers for their1 liberality.. Three hearty cheers were theit

given for Miss Jones by the children, and a vote of thanks accorded tho chairman for tho manner in which he had presided. M dance was then held, which lasted till daylight. Durinsr the evening songs werel'rendered by Miss Bouten, Messrs : Donoyati; Gregan, nnd Dick. Mr Donovan mad© a very efficient M.C., wliile the music was supplied by Misses Jones, Harwood, and Bobsom (piano), and Messrs Dick and Karetai (violin).

Amongst the list of prize donors to the Ravensbourne School were Messrs Milneo, Charles K. George, and Chris. George. .. .A. special prize for composition, which was awarded to Ellen George, was inadvertently omitted £ro m the prize-list. ' ; ' ; The names of Ethelwyn Stokes and Winnie Sims were inadvertently omitted from the list of thoso who obtained first olass certificates in the Sixth Standard at the Normal School.

_ In the report, of the breat-up of the Kensington School it should bave been stated

that an apology was receive- 3, from the Rev. P. B. Fraser, a. member oi! the Education1 Board. Mr Feil, who took part in' the proceedings, is a member of the school committee. , ' ''•'

Oiir report of the romarkß made -by Mr E. Cameron at the distribution of the prizes at

the Arthur street School on Wednesday implied that tho speaker reflected on the character of the teaching in the Bible olass. <■■ Mr Cameron wishes to explain.that if any reflection was convoyed by his remarks it was y.riin'tentional. Ho is reported to have, said': — "The Biblo class in connection wiih the school had been fairly well "attended, and,: although there woro difficulties in. the.wjyqf teaching a class in which the children fere pi. all ages, and the teaching was not,'6o.eatis-' faotory as one would like, still he thought that, there was no doubt that' the Bible,olasawaa doing thoroughly Rood'"work:" " : What' he; wished to say was that the- differert ages and degrees of intelligence of the ohildren in 4he Bible class made the task of tsMJfeflSt,?? satisfactory as paQ^vpuld likfts/ "':.; *-'i; 0: ■'