SCHOOL VACATIONS.

Otago Witness, 14 December 1893, Page 23

SCHOOL VACATIONS.

BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL.

The annual distribution of prizes at the Boys' High School took place yesterday afternoon, there being a large number of ladies and gentlemen in attendance. Mr A. Burt presided, and among those present were the Rev. Dr Stuart and Mr M. Fraer (representing the High Schools Board) ; the Hon. J. Macgregor, M.L C , and Messrs J. Green and T. Mac kenzie, M.H.R's., Borrie, and J. J. Ramsay, (representing the Education Board) ; the Revs. Dr Watt, J. P. Fallowes, D. Borrie, J. M. M'Kerrow, and A. Cameron, Professor Gilray, Dr Reimer, Messrs J. Allen and J. A. Millar, M H.R's , J. R. Sinclair, A. Hamilton, J. White, Scobie Mackenzie, G. Fenwick, Colin Macandrew, C. R. Chapman, A. C. Begg, F. Stilling, F. R. Chapman, M. Cohen, D. R. White, M.A. (head master of the Normal School), and A Wilson, M.A. (rector of the Girls' High School). Apologies for nonattendance were received from the following gentlemen :— Hons. W. D. Stewart and R. Oliver, Rev. J. Gibb, Rev. A. R. Fitchett, his Worship the Mayor, Messrs D. Pinker ton and W. Hutchison, M.H R's., John Roberts, J. L. Gillies, G. G. Russell, and Dr Hislop. THE HECTOR'S REPORT. The report of the rector (the Rev. Dr Belcher), which was distributed amongst visitors to the school, was as follows : — ATTENDANCE. Since the date of my last report (December 1892) 85 boys have joined the school — two in excess of the entry of 1892, and 13 in excess of the entry of IS9I. There has been, consequently, a slight increase of the quarterly attendance throughout the year. The total number on the roll for 1893 has been 230. Of these 29 hold scholarships of the Otago Education Board, and 29 are educated free The reduction of fees made in October 1892 in favour of boys attending the school in classes below the Upper Third has had no appreciable difference on the numbers. The concession of free education made to boys who gain at least 50 per cent, of the attainable marks in the junior board scholarships brought to the school nine boys. CHANGES IN THE STAFF. Mr T. D. Pearce, M A., after serving here as junior assistant master for two years, has been appointed English master in Nelson Boys' College ; while Mr G. M. Thomson, F.L.S., after three years of management, resigns the control of the rectory. Mr Thomson was invalided from February until August of this year, during which period his t>l»ce was occupied by Mr Robert Donald, M.A., B.Sc, a former pupil of this school. Mr Donald, under the difficulties invariably attendant on the work of a substitute master, did valuable service. HEALTH. In the first half the attendance fell away to 68 per cent., owing to a severe epidemic of measles. A recent slight outbreak of influenza has also lowered the attendance average. For these reasons the rate of attendance has been lower this year than during any year the school has been under Hiy observation. EXAMINATIONS AND RESULTS. There are 42 names submitted for various public examinations now current or impending, while the results of the public examinations of 1892, so far as they affect boys of this school, are appended to this report. They are very good, and quite up to the general average of preceding years, including a junior university scholarship, four places in the credit division (inclusive of the first place), six in the medical preliminary examination, 10 in the matriculation pass division, six in the Education Board scholarship list (including first place), six exhibitions carrying free education in the High School, and six places in the civil service examination (including the first place). cadet's and other matters. The cadets were inspected by the colonel commanding (Colonel Fox) on Friday, December 1, at 3.30. Colonel Fox, in a brief speech after the inspection, commended the corps for its efficiency and appearance, adding that the High School Cadets are the " finest in the co'or y." There has bean a marked improvement in the corps since my last report — a result due to the spirit of the boys and the devotion to their duties of the officers. In other matters the general tone has been maintained: the footrall club flourishes, the maf azine is vigorous, and all in-school work has gone on with smoothness, and I trust with benefit to the character and understanding of the boys. We are again indebted to the Chamber of Commerce, to the Otago Institutf*. to the Otago Art Society, to the Association of Former Duxes, and to Messrs Sargood, Pon. and E.vpn for their annual sunport to the prize funds, [while the names of other kind donors will be found opposite to the prizes they supply in the list appended to this report. THE RECTORY. Mr Thomson reports :—: — I have to report that during the session 24 boarders have been on the roll of the house, but owing to various changes the average number in lesidence has been under 18. The attendance of boarders at school was seriously interfered with by the epidemic pomplaints which were so prevalent during the winter months, and from which most of the household suffered. Athletics, iennis, and especially cadet work, have been well represented among the board?™, but the scholastic work has not boon up to the usual standard. Only one candidate for oiitside exunination — junior university scholarship — comes from the house this session. During the somewhat protracted periods when my own health necessitated my withdrawal from active supervision of the house my colleague, Mr Montgomery, very kindly took my place, and relieved me entirely of the burden of this duty. I embrace this opportunity of expressing my indebtedness to him for services so readily given. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The Chairman then presented the prizes as follows : — CLVSS PRIZES. First Half.— Lower V : Mackenzie F. Bett (aeq.), literature : Inder, science. IV (a) : Salmond, literature ; R. Brown, science. IV (h) : Grant, literature ; W. G. Hay, science. Rem. : G-. G. Russell, literature ; C. J. Mackenzie, science. Upper III : W. Crawford, literature ; Kirkland, science. Lower III : O. Williams, literature ; C Williams, science. Second Half.— Lower V : Moore, literature ; Marsden, science. TV (a) : S. Smith, literature ; R. Brown, science. IV (b) : Lang, science. Rein. : W. Crawford, literature ; Macassey, science. Lower III : Murray, literature ; Baron, science. The Lower V literature prize (second half) is given by the Rev. Dr Stuart, and the remaining prizes by former duxes and the pchool. ANNUAL PRIZES. Dux of School— William Newlands and John O'Shea (equal). Dux of Lower School— Donald B. M'Kenzie. Mathematics (Senior)— W. E. Gibson, rector's prize. Mathematics (Junior) — P. Benjamin, staffs prize. Chemistry (Practical)—]*;. J. D. Hcrcus, Otago Institute's prize. Chemistry (Theoretical)— E J. M'Ara, Otago Institute's prize. Arithmetic (Senior)— W. Newlauds, Chamber of Commerce's prize.

Arithmetic (Junior)— J. Fairbairn, Chamber of Commerce's prize. Latin (Senior I)— J. O'Shea, school's prize. Latin (Senior 2)— J. Paterson, Campbell Trust's prize. Latin (Junior)— G. G. Russell, Mr G. Grey Russell's prize. French (Senior 1)-G. F. Adams, Mr A. Burt'a prize. French (Senior 2)— E. J. M'Ara, school's prize. French (Junior)- G. G. Russell, Mr J. R. Sinclair's prize. English (Senior I)— J. O'Shea, Chamber of Com. merce's prize. English (Senior 2)-J. R Shore, Mr John White's prize. English (Junior)— D. B. M'Kenzie, Chamber of Commerce's prize. Drawing (Senior) — *P. Braithwaite, Messrs Coulls, Culling, and Co.'s prize. Drawing (Junior)— G. W. Harty, Messrs Coulls, Culling, and Co.'s prize. Writing (Senior)-G. F. W. Belcher and C. S. Black (equal), school's prize. Writing (Junior)—'!'. F. Howden, Hon. W. D. Stewart's, M.L.C., prize. Gymnastics (Senior)— J. Haggitt, Messrs Sar< good's prize. Gymnastics (Junior)— A. V. Brent, Mcssra Sargood's prize. Challenge Cup (Fives) Shand, Hawthorne Trust's prize. Challenge Cup (Cadets)— Private Gow, Mr G. M. Thomson's prize. * This award carries with it the Art Society's medal Note. — Skey is disqualified for the theoretical chemistry prize ; O'Shea, for the senior arithmetic prize ; Newlands, fir the senior English prize ; J. G. Macdonald, for the senior gymnastics prize, on the ground of having previously won in the school the prize for the subject ; Begg, prox. acceshit, the English junior prize. FORMER DUXES. The following is a list of boys who have held the position of dux of the school since its foun.' dation : — 1863 ... Noel Lee Buchanan 1864-68 ... Henry Bell, M.A. 1869 ... Charles Peter Begg 1870 ... Alexander Thomas Stuart IS7I ••• /Saul Solomon, B. A. io ' ... \ Ernest Herbert Wilmot 1872 ... Andrew John Park, B. A. 1^73 ... Charles Low, M.8., CM. 1574 ... Frank .Stilling 1875 ... William Deans Milne, M.A., LL.B. 187(5 ... Herbert Halli well 1877 ...* Alexander Bruce Todd, B. A. 1878 79 ... Peter A. Lindsay, B. A.., M.8., CM. 1880 ... Arthur Brownlie Drabble 1881 ... Wm Alex. Fleming, M.8., CM. IRR3 ••• /Charles Thomas Little, M.A. IN><J ... UohnSomerville. M.8., CM. 18S3 ... John Rogerso a Montgomery, M.A. 1884 ..." Adam ßo?g, M.A. 1885 ... Joseph Moss, M.A. lSSti ... John Bell Thomson, M 8., CM. 1887 ... John Askew Scott, M.A. 1888 ... Thomas D. Pearce, M.A. 18S9 ... Franz V. Siedeberg, M.A. * 1890 ... William Marshall Macdonald 1891 ... John Gibson 1892 ... Alexander D. Wilkinson 1893 ... Thomas Dunn i»ai ••• / William Newlands lb9J ... \ John OShea. When the lads O'Shea and Newlands were called up, the Rector said : As was the case last year, it has been found impossible to divide between the two leading boys, and it was therefore necessary to have two boys as dux of the school this year, and by the kindness of friends we are able to give two gold medals of equal value. Friends of primary education, and particularly members of the Education Board, may be interested in learning that Newlands and O'Shea have both held the junior and senior scholarships of the Education Board. — (Applause ) Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Dr Stuart, Messrs A. Burt and A. C. Begg, and a resolution of thanks to the board, and to the rector and staff of the High School was carried on the motion of Mr F. R. Chapman, seconded by Mr Frank Stilling.