WAIMATUKU.

Otago Witness, Issue 2287, 30 December 1897, Page 25

WAIMATUKU.

December 27.— Piize giving to scholars is now becoming such an established thing that in cjuntry as well as in town schools the " breakup " day is very prosaic without a display of books on the table. Our school is no exception to the rule, for on Friday, 24th, the school table was well laden with books ani boxes of every size and colour. The school 1 eing closed during the week owing to the teachers being prostrated with measles pi evented the children decorating the building as they had intended, and probably accounted for fewer parents than usual being present to celebrate the great day. Mr J. Fraser, chairman of the school committee, presided, and after the pupils had by vote decided ou the most p 'pular boy and girl, commenced piooeedings by cilling on Mr M'Keuzie to read the irgpector'n report on the recent examination, Mr Fiasertben complimented teachers and pupils on the exc-1-lent result of the year's work. Before the piizes were presented Mr M'Kenzie explained Ih;vt the method of awarding the books differed from that of former years. He said that, as a mle, children had a liking for some one or particular subjects, and that the prizes were awarded to the pupils for that blanch of knowledge in which each boy and girl excelled. Mr Fra&er, in presenting the books, had a few appropriate words for each recipient, who was also well applauded b? the other scholars Only one pupil was entitled to an attendance certificate, in presenting which Mr M'Kenzle took occasion to uige on the children the neces-ity of more regular attendance, lemarlcing that in other schools large numbera of attendance certificates were presented, and hinting that the committee should revert to giving prizes prizes for attendance. Mr Fraser excused the irrcguhu ity by attributing it to badj-oads and lone distances from school. — Following is the prize list ; names given in order of merit :— Standard VI. — General excellence : Willie Kramer. Composition : Maggie M'Leod. Writing : Gwendoline Fraser. Spelling : Violet Bartlett. Standard V.— General excellence : Annie Daw«on. Writing: Nellie Clerk. Giammar: D.wid 11-rdy. G«o^r*phy : Willie Ciook". Re uling : Helen* Lobb. Standard IV. — General excellence : Lizzie Buchanan. Computation : Nellie M'Gaw. Geography: Windsor M'Kenzii'. Spelling : Ka'ieMoylan Arithmetic: John Hobbie. Wiiting : Christina Hardy. Standard 111 — Arithmetic: Agnes Stobo. (ieography : Alice Lobb. Grammar: Gordon M'Kenzie. Reading : Thomas Dawson Sawing : Mary Southern. Writiug : Alic ; a Boyd. Standard II Geneial excellence: A»nes Robbie and Grace Southern. Reading : Daisy Stobo. Geography : Rose Dawson. Spelling : Maggie Crooks. Geography : Harry Boyd. Spelling : Emily M'Bride. Reading : Annie Hitchcock. Drawing : G-orge Ranee. Standard I.— General excellence : N«llie M'Kenzie and Maggie Morrison. Spelling : Alick Fraser. Arithmetic : Alick M'Bride and Thomas Crooks. Writing: John Moylan, 'Ihom \s Moylan, and Ada Petrte. Drawing : Arthur Lobb and Norman M'Kenzie. Reading : Mabel Ross ; and 22 pupils in. the infant classes all received gift books.

The Holidays.— Chri&tmastide, compared with last year, passed over very quietly.

Agricultural. —Farmers ' being late with turuip-sowing are now bu&y with that important branch of agriculture. Our lnvercargill merchants have some difficulty in. supplying manures, and many farmery though having the ground reaay, are at a standstill waiting for guano.