GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2026, 22 December 1892, Page 33

GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

The breaking-up ceremony and distribution of prizes in connection with the Girls' High School took place on Friday afternoon, a large number of ladies and gentlemen beiDg in attendance upon the occasion. Among those present were the Revs. Dr Sfcuarfc, Wm. Ross (of Glasgow), and A. R. Fitcbett, the Hons. R. Oliver, J. Macgregor, and W. Downie Stewart, Messrs "W. Hutchison, M.H.R., C. R. Chapman, W. S. Fitzgerald, Coliu Allan, W. H. Pearson, A. Wilson (Rector), and D. Brent.

Aft^r addresses by the Rev. Dr Stuart and the Hon. R. Oliver,

The Chairman presented the prizes to the successful pupils, the prize list being as follows :—: —

Certificates — Second form : Rose Smith, English and French. Third form : Agatha Adams, English ; Gertrude Wise, French, arithmetic, and science ; Dora Grant, arithmetic ; Jessie Reid, French. Fourth form : May Stewart, English ; Kate Greenslade, French ; Jane Brown, Latin ; Flora Hodges, mathematics. Fifth form : Silvia Buchanan, English ; Jean Burt, French ; Winifrede Bathgate, Latin : Henrietta Mackay, mathematics ; Annie Reid, science. Sixth form : Kate Cameron, English, Latin, and science ; Annie Bauchop and Ethel Williams, English ; Charlotte Macgvegor, French ; Florence Bressey, Latin ; Alice Gunn and Elizabeth Saunders, mathematics. Special Prizes. — Shakespeare Club reading prize, Charlotte Macgregor ; prize for best model drawing (Otago Art Society's bronze medal), Margaret H. Stewart; prize for darning, May Barron ; prize for botanical specimens, Ella Campbell and Alice Newmarch; prize for progress, Beatrice do Zouchc. Music Prizes.— Helen Middloton and Dora M'Nab (Mrs White), Rose Smith (Madame Fives. — Ltwer School : Gertrude Wise and Jessie Lamb. Upper School : May Ramsay and Beatrice Barr.

Tennis.— Flora Campbell. Gymnastics.— First Form, Fanny Besg ; Second Form, Fanny Fergus ; Third Form, Jessie Lamb ; Fourth Form, Marjoric Turton ; Fifth and Sixth Forms, Ella Adams.

LOWER SCHOOL. First Form.— English : Division I, Ruth Salinond; Division 11, Helen Begg. French : Division I, Phyllis Buchanan ; Division 11, Fanny Begg. Arithmetic : Division I, Phyllis Buchanan ; Division 11, Olive Herdman. Writing : Ruth Salmond. Drawing: Phyllis Buchanan. Sewing : Phyllis Buchanan (Bliss Bathgatc's prize). Second Form.— English : Mary Butts. French : Mary Butts. Arithmetic : Fanny Fergus. Writing : Lily Logan (Miss Bathgate s prize). Drawing : Rose Smith. Sewing : Alice Newmarch.' Third Form.— English : Mary H. Grant (Mrs Adams' prize). French : Class 1), Emily Ridley ; Class E, Dora M'Nab. Arithmetic : Jan'etWilson. Science : Mary 11. Grant Drawing : Jane Shepherd. Sewing: Janet Wilson, Kate Morrison. Board of Governors' Silvor Medal : Maxwell F. H. Moodie.

UPPER SCHOOL.

Fourth Form.— English : Dora M'Nab, Flora Hodges (Mr Livingston's prize). French : Class C— Mary Bannatyne. Latin : Class C — Flora Hodges. Mathematics: Olive W. Little, Dora M'Nab. Science : Dora M'Nab, Georgina Bush, Flora Hodges. Drawing: Isabel .Scoular. Sewing: Isabella Patrick, Annio G. Stewart. Cutting out : Flora Hodges (Douglas prize). Fifth Form. — English : Winifrede Bathgato (Dux Association prize), Sylvia Buchanan (Mr Livingstone's prize). French : Class B — Elizabeth Saunders (Club prize). Latin : Class B— Linda Fen wick (Rev. Dr Stuart's prize) Mathematics : Jessie Saundeivi (Messrs Coulls, Culling, and Co.'s prize). Science : Winifrede Bathgate (Otago In r stitute prize). Drawing : Mary Bannatyno. Sewing: Roberta Ferguson. Cutting out: belma Prctsch (Douglas prize). Sixth Form.— English i Division I— Alice Gunn (Mrs Sinclair's prize); division ll— Linda Fenwick (Hon. W. D. Stewart's prize). French ; Class A— Flora Campbell (Mrs Watson's , prize). German : Flora Cam obeli (Mrs Mackay's prize). Latin : Division I— Alice Gunn (Messrs Brown. Ewing, and Co.'s silver medal) ; division ll— Lthel Williams (Mrs Burn's prize). Mathematics: Division I— Ethel Benjamin and Hate Cameron (Rev. Dr Watt's prize ; division II — Mia Adams (Mr Keith Ramsay's prize). Science : Efcbel Benjamin (Otafco Institute prize). Drawing: Ella Adams (Mr Caffin's prize), Nina Reid. Dux of School. — Board of Governors gold medal— Edith A. Barclay.

hector's hepoht.

The following report was presented by the Rector (Mr A. Wilson) s— I have the honour -to report that the total number of pupils enrolled dltring the present session is 198—111 in .the upper, 69 in the lower school, and 18 attending special classes. For the four quarters the numbers on the roll hava been respectively 175, 175, 180, and 1(38. Seven senior N and five junior scholars of the Otago Education Board have been in attendance during the year, reports of whose progress have been, as usual, forwarded to the Education Board at the end of each quarter. Nine pupils have received free education, having obtained 50 per cent, of the obtainable marks at the examination for Education Board senior scholarships. Mrs Mackay informs me that 22 resident and 3 day boarders have been entered during the year. On the whole the health of boarders has been good. The health of the school- generally has also been good till within the last fortnight, when a number of pupils succumbed to the prevailing influenza epidemic. Fortunately so far the attacks of this trying sickness have been slight, "though I am afraid they have been sufficiently severe to imperil the prospects of some of our candidatesfor matriculation and university scholarship examinations. The usual detailed conspectus of work done during the year is appended to my report. I have to record my grateful sense of the ready and efficient assistance given me by the members of my staff, all of whom have done good work during the session. A glanco at the list of university honours obtained during the year will show that the school, in this direction, is holding its own amongst the secondary schools of the colony. During the currency of the second and third quarters I organised for the senior girls a course of lessons in domestic economy — cooking and laundry work— and was fortunate enough to secure the efficient services of Mrs Miller as teacher. I was myself present at most of the cooking lessons, and was much pleased with the interest the girls took in the lessons. No doubt, with the necessary practice at home, most of the girls who attended this class will find the instruction they received of great practical value. The class in cutting' out for senior pupils has, been continued under Miss Alves. A gratifying feature of the science work for the year has been the interest taken by some of the pupils in the work of outdoor collecting. Pupils of the Third and Second Botany Classes wore invited to bring as many varieties of wild flowering plants as they could collect between November 20 and December 5. A large number of pupils made collections, and, in all, specimens of 231 species were brought to Mr Thomson. In the Third Form one pupil collected 130 species, and four others over 100 species each. In the Second Form one pupil brought 113 species, and' three others collected close on 100 each.

The work of the Drawing School has been going on steadily under the direction of Miss Wimperis, and I think a considerable advance on last year is obseivable in the work exhibited on the walls of the studio. I would particularly emphasise the fact that the work is entirely done by the pupils themselves, without any assistance in the shape of touching up by the teacher ; also that, with one or two exceptions, the work is done from objects, and not from copies. Miss Wimperis wishes to discourage, and with my entire approval, the idea that the aim of the Drawing School is to enable girls to make, from copies, prettily finished pictures, which they may carry home to decorate the drawing room walls. This if it were desirable, would be an exceedingly easy thing to do. But the object of the Drawing School is not this. It is, in the first place, to enable pupils to draw in correct outline and perspective ; in tbu second, to show them how to manage the lights and shadows, and to model ; and after tbat, when the pupils have become good draughtswomen, to teach them how to use colours. The process iR just as laborious as any other part of the school work, and no amount of showy mimicry in drawing and painting can compensate the want of the less showy grounding in the early stages. The President and Secretary of the Otago Art Society report on the drawing work of the school as follows :— " At the rector s request we have looked over the work done by the pupils of the Drawing School during the past session. We have much pleasure in reporting that steady and satisfactory progress has been made; and we. are glad to note that all the studies

appear to have been done from the round, and show no signs of retouching by tho teacher. We congratulate Miss Wimperis on having such apt pupils, several of whose works show marked excellence.— W. M. Hodgkins, John H. Scott." During the year I have added to the studio a large room, with excellent lights, for the use of the more advanced students. This I have been enabled to do, partly by assistance obtained from the board, and partly through the efforts of teachers and pupils, who have raised a considerable sum towards defraying the cost of the building. Further, I have had the inside walls of the studio freshly distempered, tho funds for this purpose also being provided by teachers and pupils. Before the commencement ot the new session the studio will have been furnished with a largo number of new casts, Rome of them reproductions of famous works of Greek and Italian art. I look forward to the arrival of these as a means of stimulating the enthusiasm of pupils in their studio work.

The gymnastic classes have gone on' as usual, and Mr Hanna reports to me that in no previous year has he had more satisfactory work done, I take this opportunity of expressing my indebtedness to various friends who have ungrudgingly given their time to judging the competitions for various prizes : to Mrs Colquhoun and Mrs Ashcroft, who "judged the sewing ; to Mr Hodgkins and Dr Scott, who examined the drawing and adjudged the Art Society's medal ; and to members of the Shakespeare Club, who judged the reading competition. As in former years, friends of the school have been generous in sending me prizes. Besides the

.. ■ ■ ■ ■■ ■■--' I dux medals provided by tho Board of Governors, I have received prizes from the following donors : Messrs Brown, Ewing, and Co. (silver medal), the Shakespeare Club, the Otago Art Society, the Otago Institute, the Dux Association, ex-Higb School Girls' Club, Mrs Burn, Mrs Mackay, Mrsf Adams, Mrs M. Watson, Mrs J. R. Sinclair, Miss ! Bathgate, Rev. Dr Stuart, Rev. Dr Wott, theI Hon. W. D. Stewart, Mr K. Ramsay, Mr Calling Mr Livingston, Messrs Coulls, Culling, ana Co..