OTAGO SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2232, 10 December 1896, Page 17

OTAGO SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

The annual distribution of prizes in connection with the Otago Sunday School Union took place on Monday in the Hanover street Baptiit Church. The Rf,v. A. North (president of the union) occupied the chair, and there was a very large attendance, the church being excessively crowded. Among those who occupied seats on the platform, in addition to the presidents, were the Revs. W. Laycock and W. L. Baiter, Messrs A. BruntoD, W. T. Todd, H. Webb, and Captain Thomson. Mr H. Webb read the report of the Committee of Examiners, which stated that they had examined 506 of the papers of competitors in the recent examination, &nd there were 72 prize-takers, 75 deserving of * first-class certificates, 85 aecond-clafs certificates, 89 thirdclass certificates, and 185 failures. The report went on to say : The examiners regret very much tho great discrepancy between the number of scholars who entered for examination and the number of those who presented themselves. There were 685 entries as againßt 506 papers, 179 scholars having failed to come forward. There has not, it is believed, been such a serious shortage before. The night chosen for the examination was very dark and bitterly cold, and this may perhaps have caused- many absences. The percentage of prize-takers this year is greater than it was la»t year, there being only one prize less to be provided, notwithstanding that there were 92 fewer competitors. Twelve of the prize-takers earned 90 per <;ent. and upwards of marks. Two scored 95 per cent., two 96 per cent., two 97 per cent., and one reached 98 per cent. This speaks well for the sqhppl.s, and is matter for congratulation, It Is to cc regretted

that so many papers did not earu 40 per cent, of marks, the lowest amount that entitle! to a certificate. 'The failures wore as usual for the most part in the lower grades, but more than,onefourth of the scholats who entered for the second grade failed, and that has only happened once before. It is probably to be accounted for by the fact that tho subject was an Old Testament one, trie scholars beiug all more familiar with New Testament subjtcts. The large number of failures might bo thought to indicate that the questions were hard to amwer, but a glance at them will convince anyone that that was not the case. The examiners have again to exprecs regret that so few candidates, entered the special claj=s. The number was even * smaller this year than last. The historical questions in that, class were remarkably well anowered by nearly all -the competitors, and although the questions which called for much exeicise of original thought were by no means so well disposed of, the papers altogether manifest diligent and faithful study of the lessons, and refleot credit alike on teachers and taught. Th 3 examiners were Messrs H. H. Driver, D. R. Euuson, H. Webb, Misses F. J. Ross and C. Haig. The Rev. W. Laycock addressed the children present on the value of reverence in tho education of young people, referring ia the first place to reverence to parents, which led to reverence to teachers and reverence to God. He concluded his address by an earnest appeal to the scholars to give themselves publicly to their Lord and Master, and to seek to iive for Him from their earliest years. The Chairman rofened to the pleasure he felb at seeing »uch a large number present, and hoped that tho distribution of prizes would take place in the several churches in the com- 1 ing years, to as to deepen the interest in Sunday school work generally among all denominations. He also distributed the prizes to tho undermentioned scholars :— ,

Firtt Grade (over 16 years of Ege).~ Olive Dare, Maori Hill Baptist, 96 per cent. ; Bertha Simpson, Choral Hall, 95 ; Flora Chisholm, Knox Church, 95: Kths^wyn North, Hanover street Baptist, 89 j Annirt Falconer, Kaikoiai Presbyterian, B9 ; Nellie Nichol-on. Choral Hall, 89 ; Jessie Neil, Tabernacle, 86 ; Sarah M'Oounell, Caversham Presbyterian, 86 ; Bessie Applegrath, Caversham Presbyterian, Bts; 'William Smart, First Church, 82; Jeannte Braik, Knox Church, 83; Rhoda Goody, North Dunedin Presbyterian, 80 ; Nina Bremner, Tabernacle, S 1 ) ; Mapgie Applegrath, Caversham Presbyterian, 80 ; MouteKiie Chauwick, King street Congregational, 80 ; Rebek*b Protseh, First Church. 8U ; Jessie Bewley, Choral Hall, 80 ; Evie Lear, Dundas street I'rimative Methodist 75; Esther Budd, Choral Hall, 76,; Walter Fraser, Trinity Wesleyan, 75. Second Grade (ages, 14 and 15).— Emily Clark, Caversham Baptist, 98 per cent. : Fanny M'Cracken, Knox Church, 97 ; Alice Budd, Choral Hall, 97 ; Annie Bi-mie, Choral Hall, 90 ; Dora Es her, Knox Church, 90 ; Beatrice N»es, King street Congregational. 89 ; Maggie- Morgan, King street Congregational, 87; William Neil, Tabernacle, 85 ; Amy Hills, Knox Church, 83 ; Stewart M'Donald, Moniington Presbyterian, 83 ; Edward Falconer, Choral Hall, 79; John" Mackenzie, North- East Valley Presbyterian, 79; Annie Uttlcy, King street Congregational, 79 ; Thomas Gilray, Moiay Place Congregational, 78 ; Siisannah Dowlaiul. South Dunedin "wesleyan, 78 ; Edmund Loma?, St. Andrew's Presbyterian, 78: Annie Borrie, North-Kast Valley Presbyterian, 77 ; Lily I/oull, Kew Primitive Methodist, 76 ; Duncan Brown, North-Itaßt Valley Presbyterian, 75; Alice Orr, Cavewham Presbyterian, 75; Je3Bie Humphrey, Great King street Congregational, 75; William Wright, Caversham Baptist, 75. Third Grade (ages, 12 and 13).— Agnes Lilly, Maori Hill Baptist, 92 per cent. ; Emille Logic, Choral Hall, 92 ; Violet Kldei 1 , Maheno, 89 ; Dora Bull, Trinity Wesleyan, 87 ; John F. Strang, Knox Church, 85 ; Mabel Wright, Caversham Baptist, 85 ; Leonard Noes, King street Congregational, 83 ; Mary Nichol, Mosgiel Presbyterian, 82; David Borrie, North -East Valley Presbyterian, 82; Wm. Porteou*. Port Chalmers" Presbyterian, 81; Leonard Burnard, Trinity Wesleyan, 81 ; Bernard Johnstone, Caversham V resbyterian, 80 ; Phceba Jones, King street Congregational, 78; Newton Vanes, Trinity Weeleyan, 78 •, Emily Hilis, Knox Church, 77; Edwin Riddle, Worth-East Valley Baptist, 76 ; Ada Beckiugs*le, Herbert Presbyterian, 76 ; John Robertson, Kew Primitive Methodist, 75. Fourth Grade (aga*. 10 and 11 years).— Thomas Laurensou^ Moray Place Congregational, 80; Agueu Biunio, Broad Bay WesleyKn, 80; Allan Binnie, Broad Bay Wesleyan, 77 J John Larking, South Dunediu B»ptiut,7s; Hope Hodges, Moseiel Prebbytcrian, 75 ; Mary Wright, Tabernacle, 75; AlgerHon Biadbury, King Btreet Congregational, 75. Ou the motion of Mr A. Brtjnton-, a vote of thanks was accorded to the examiners ; to the secretaries, Mies Moore and Mr J. Farqnharson ; t j the Hanover *treet Ohuroh offloers f er thfe use of the church ; and to the org*nisb and choir.