INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL BREAK-UP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2650, 28 December 1904, Page 33

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL BREAK-UP.

The annusfi assembling of the children ' in the Industrial School at Caversham, and i distribution of prizes, took place on Fridayafternoon in the dining room of the school, which had been very tastefully decorated | for the occasion. The extreme order and neatness of everything connected with the i school and -he scrupulous cleanliness every- : ■where observable could scarcely escape notice. The behaviour of the children was remarkably good, it being quite ©videnfc ~that 'they were firmly, though kindly, cfealt -with. Mr J. Robin presided, and among others present were — The Rev. Canon King, the Revs. E. L. Woodhouse, F. Tubman, O. S. Bowden, D. G. King, D. Dutton, Messrs Torrance, Axelsen, and M. Cohen. Mr Robin said, as a member of the Board of Advice, he took the chair in the absence of Mr P. Miller, the board's chairman, Mr Miller being unable to be present. It was not his intention to inflict a long speech upon them, as they had a lengthy programme to go through. He had been a fairly regular visitor at the school cburing tihe past year, and from his observations he had formed the opinion that very good progress had been made, that progress being > due to Mr * Burlinson •nd the . staff associated with him in the management of the school. — (Applause.) The scholars had been more than fairly attentive to their duties, and the teachers had been very anxious indeed that the scholars should make the satisfactory progress they had. Those who were grown up had been boys and girls, like the scholars, at one time, and there was no reason why the scholars should pot, like

their elders, advance themselves aa time went on, and perhaps fill some prominent position, and help New Z&aland along. If they failed to attain to 6uch a. position, he hoped that they would at least* grow up men and women of whom New Zealand might foe proud. — (Applause.) This was more than au ordinary occasion. Mr Burlinson had been manager of the school for over 12 years, and when he (the chairman) looked back be wondered at the good work Mr Burlinson had effected; and remembering the high moral tone he had introduced into the school it was a matter for deep regret to him (the chairman) that Mr Burlinson was about to be transferred to another sphere. However, what was their loss, =he trusted, might be gain lo others in the institution to which Mr Burlinson was going. He was sure Mr Burlinson would make his mark where he was going, and that his name would be long remembered in the Caversham Industrial School. — (Applause.) He wished Mr Burlinson every succes in his sphere of action, and trusted that he might live long to give his services to the colony. Mr Burlinson expressed the great pleasure ifc gave him to hear the very kindly remarks that had fallen from the chairman, for which he tendered his sincere thanks. 'He did not propose to say very much at the break-up, but probably in the coming year he might have some remarks to make with regard to his departure from Dunedin. He must, however, as this was in all probability the last Christmas season that the boys ancfmale staff of Jhe school would spend in Caversham, take 'advantage of tho opportunity to convey his most hearty and sincere 4hanks to the many friends through whose assistance in donations of money, or kind, the Christmas season had been made- one of brightness and happiness to the charges under his care during the last 12 years. It was needless to say that it was with very deep filings of sadftess that he thought of the prospective removal, and of the breaking away from the many friends who had made their life so pleasant and bearable. As, however, a change was intended to enable technical training to ba given to both boys and girls considerable advantage should result. Among the many friends who had assisted, and whom it is difficult to name, he might, perhaps, be pardoned for mentioning more particularly the names of Judge and Mrs Dudley Ward, who had this year given a most handsome donation to the funds, and who had shown a very doep interest inthe welfare of the children. The names of many others occurred to him, but it would be difficult to name them, and he might perhaps ' be pardoned for having mentioned these two,' whose assistance this year had been so great as to, he thought, merit the reference. He must -also mention the Caversham Library Committee, who had most kindly given four subscriptions to the library — two for- the boys and two for the girls, — and which had been/ distributed in accordance with the wishes of the committee. The Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club had' also, in a most handsome manner, given his charges the- free use of Morgan's swimming baths, and Mr H. Thompson had kindly offered his services as instructor of -swimming gratuitously. Speaking of the improvement in the school, he said there was a better diffusion o-f good principle and a marked improvement in character among the children. Now they had started again in that direction, he felt confident they would be able to move on j to a higher plane. He mentioned that .1 apologies for absence had been received j from Messrs Miller, Fenwick, Sidey, and Judge and Mrs Ward. The' Rev. Mr Dutton, in the course of his remarks, referred to the poverty existing among the youthful portion of a eection of the population of London. The boys and girls from the -school who attended his church on Sunday morning were certainly among the most exemplary children he had ever seen. Speaking of Mr Burlinson', he eaid he had always had the highest opinion of hi 3 worth as a manager -of the institution, and had always appreciated the good influence -he had exerted over the children 1 . • The Rev. Canon King reiterated Mr Dutton's sentiments about the Industrial School children who attended church. He had never seen them behave in the slightest degree indecorously. He was sorry to hear Mr Burlineon was leaving, and he hoped the change would, be for his good. He was always pleased to see the children in uniform, and would have them all drill. — (The Chairman-. "It will come to ihat before long.") He (Canon King) hoped so. If there was one thing a boy should be ready to sacrifice himself for it was his country. -Mr Torrance also addressed Fhe children, •urging them to always have a high md honourable purpose before them. Let them have an object in life, and a determination to do something, and their first object should be to be men and women in the true sense of the words. Mr Cohen said for some time past the board had recognised they had been in the position of a fifth wheel to a coach. They had given plenty of advice, and, had it been taken, this change would not hay© happened. He proceeded to speak in high terms of praijse of Mr Burlinson, and made feeling reference to the late Mr« Burlin6On and to her work in connection with the school. It had been his fortune to be consulted by the Minister before the appointment was made, and he had felt it his duty to recommend Mr Buriinson for the position. The authorities had thought there should ■no longer be a Cavertham Industrial School, and that it should only "be kept for girls, and they had disagreed with that view. If they were proved to have made a. mistake they would own up to it, but if the authorities were proved to have made a mistake they would not forget to tell them co. It wae to the benefit of the people there should be a central receiving station in he South Island. As it was, the boye were to be drafted to the North Island, and distributed from there. The Board of Advice wished the etaff and children a happy vocation. The Chairman, in distributing the prizes for writing, said that in looking over it he had found so many good samples that he had decided to give second prizes for boy« and girls. The writing in the Industrial School would compare favourably with that seen in any of the schools in the city, and that was saying a good deal. The prizes were distributed among the girls by Miss Robim and among the boys by -Mr Cohen, and at intervals the school children sang or played. A great many toys were afeo handed to the children after the function had closed. The following is the prize list :— — Boys. Best boy in the school (gold medal, J?};sssixtejl j

Dux of the Day School (silver medal, presented by Mrs Alfred Marett)— Thomas Hill. Best shot in Cadet Company (medal, presented by Major Burlinson) — Gordon Fen ton. Best non-commissioned officer in Cadet Compary (Captain Burn's prize) — Arthur Reid. Most popular boy (Mr M. Cohen's prize, and ticket for Caversham Library, presented by Library Committee) — Leslie Tronson. Boy showing most improvement during the yrt'.r (Mr Cohen's prize) — David Searle. Bandmaster's prize (presented by Mr Dallas) — Arthur Strange-Mure. Most inuustrious boy— Marcel Grainey. Most useful boy (ticke'u for Caversham Library, presented by Library Committee) — Eric Grantley. Best worker in the Day School (Mr T. A. Walker's prize) — Walter Johnston. Office boy — Harold Gallagher. Stable boy— Wm. B. Keeler. Flower garden boy — John Kitt. Poultry boy — Marcel Grair.ey. "Writing prizes (Mr J. Robin's silver pencil esses) — Maua Thomas 1, Constance Littler 2; Patrick M'Ginn 1, Stanley Grydon 2. Paper boy — Sydney Tomes. Best shot in No. 3 Battalion Otago Public School Cadets (gold medal, presented by Major Burlinson) — Robert Wallis. Girls. Best girl in the school (book, presented by Mr 3 Albert Cohen, and ticket for Caversham Library, presented by Library Committee}— Lcuisa Highley. Best worker among the girls (Mr P. Miller's 1 prize) — Elizabeth Stewart. Girl showing greatest attempt to do well (Mrs M. Cohen's prize) — Alice Highley. Sewing prize (Miss Sievwright'a prize) — Evelyn Moore. Best darner (Mr T. A. Walker's prize) — Evelyn Moore. Most industrious girl (Mrs Napthali's prize) — Mabel Thomas. Most popular girl (Mrs M. Cohen's prize) — Louisa Highley. Best-behaved girl (housekeeper's prize and ticket for Caversham Library) — Tilda Sexton. Best-kept garden (matron's prize) — Evelyn Moore. Tidiest girl (machinist's i^rize) — Mabel Thomas. Good work in the laundry (laundress's prizes) — Clara Forsyth 1, Margaret Halliburton 2, Lottie Boot 3.