SCHOOL VACATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 37

SCHOOL VACATIONS.

I*r ' I I OTAGO BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL. The annual distribution of prizes to pupils at the Otago Boys' High School took place in the school hall on the 12th inst. in the presence of a very large assembly, composed ' largely of the parents of the boys. The following gentlemen occupied seats on the platform : — ./he lion J. R. Sinclair, M.L.O. (chairman of the High Schools' Board of Governors), the Hon J. T. Paul, M.L.C., Rev. Curzon-Siggers, Eev. C. H. Laws, Dr Fulton, Dr Shond, Professor Gilray, Messrs T. Mackenzie, M.P., J. F. Arnold, M.P., T. K. Sidey, M.P., J. H. Hosking, K.C., G. Fenwick, J. Loudon (Mayor of Dunedin), W. Gow, G. L. Denniston, A. Wilson (ex-rector of the school), W. J. MorreU (rector), H. Webb, D. R. White, J. M. Gallaway, and C. M*c--andrew (secretary). Apologies for nonattendance were received from Sir James Mills, Hon. G. Fowlds (Minister of Education] Hon. C. C. Bowen (Speaker of the Legislative Council), Mr Justice. Sim, Rev. « A. Cameron, Rev.. D. Borrie, Hon T. Fergus, Messrs J. Allen, M.P., A. 'B. Barclay, M.P., P. Goyen, D. Brent, J. H. Walker, G. C. Israel, M. Fraer, and Lieut.-Col. Smyth. The Hon. J. R. Sinclair opened the proceedings, and briefly outlined the principal events of the year. He referred with gratification to the fact that three out of the four Rhodes scholars — Messrs Thomson, and v Gilray — were former pupils of the school- . , Hia Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Loudon),. who was accorded an ovation, gave some good advice to the boys, and afterwards presented most of the prizes to the winners. The Navy League prizes were harfded over >»y Mr J. H. Hosking, K.C. The prize-list is as follows : — m SPECIAL PRIZES. Gymnastics. Senior, H. W. Slater (Mr R. Brinsley'a prize) ; junior, T. G. Young. Fives. Senior: Doubles. A. P. Alloo and T. G. Young; singles. H. W. Slater (Ladies' Challenge Cup) . Junior : Doubles, A. P. Alloo and A. A. Haworth; singles, A. P. Alloo. Shooting. Challenge Cup and trophy, Private F. H. Wilkinson (Mr G. M. Thomsqn's prize); first in secondary schools match, Private F. H. Wilkinson (Richardson Trust); first in schools of Empire Match. Sergeant H. L. Paterson (Richardson Trust) ; first in Waitaki .Match, Priyate R. B. Bannerman (Richardson Trust); first in Battalion Cup, Private P. S. Brent (Richardson Trust); second in Battalion Cup, Private T. Walker (Richardson Trust); Hislop trophy, Private R. J. Jilnck (Major Hislop'.* prize); second in Hislop trophy, Private F. H. Wilkinson, Athletics. ! Challenge Cup, D. B. Macfarlane. NAVY LEAGUE PRIZES. " (Given by Otago Branch.) VI— H. W. Slater, W. A. Curzon-Siggers, C. M. Littlejohn; V Upper— J. B. Mawson, A. W. Alloo; V Lower— A. C. Stephens, J. Connor; IV Upper — J. F. Bremner, G. Beaumont; IV Lower— A. H. R. Oswin* W. J. Watkins; Remove— T. Tyrrell, H. L. Paterson; Special— W. x). Fitzgerald, H. R. Ker; 111 A— T. M. Park, J. G. Burns; 111 B— D. W. Strouach, J. E. N. Kirby. SPECIAL SCHOOL PRIZES. Herbert Webb prize, E. B. M. Walmßley (Mr H. Webb's prize) ; drawing (silver medal), - G. S. Reid (Otago Art Society's prize); drawing (second prize), T. H. Denniston; freehand drawing, A. R. Johnston, L. R. C. Macfarlane; freen«nd drawing (first year), xi. E. Lyon; mechanical drawing, W. H. Davidson; writing (senior), T. P. Cox; writing (junior), A. Williamson; spelling (senior), A. M. Begg; spelling (junior), W. D. Fitzgerald; reading, J. E. N. Kirby (Mr W. T. Talboys's prize) ; Athenaeum prize, D. Doake (Dunedin Athenjeum's prize). CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GOLD i MEDALS. i Seniof, E. O. Hercus; junior, W W. ' Wardrop. FORM PRIZES. • ' English. — VI, D. R. White, proxime acceseit to dux (Dr Mill's gold medal); V. Upper, J. Thompson (Mr A. Wilson's, M.A., prize); V Lower, J. L._ Caldor, J. Houston (Rev. W. i

Curzon-Sigger's, M.A., prizes); IV Upper, A. R. Johnston ; IV Lower, L. J. Ivory ; Remove, R. G. Abernethy, T. Tyrrell; Special, L. H. Booth (Mr A. Wilscm's, M.A., prize); 111 A, J. G. Burns; 111 B, A. P. Alloo. Latin.— Vl, H. W. Slater, D. R. White (Rev. W. Curzon-Siggers's, M.A., prizes) ; V Uoper, J. Thompson (Campbell and Hawthorne Trust's prize); V Lower, R. M. Bruce (Campbell and Hawthorne Trust's prize) ; IV Upper, A. H. Fraer, H. C. Hall; IV Lower, G. P. Fitzgerald; Remove. W. D. Rutherford; Special, L. H. Booth; 111 A, A. P Alloo; 111 B, W. Thompson. French.— Vl, C. M'G. Littlejohn dux, J. S. Smart (Hon. J. R. Sinclair's, M.L.C., prize); V Upper, J. Thompson (Mosstb W. Scoular and Co.'s prize) ; V Lower, L. J. -Jvory (Dux Association's prize) ; IV, .D. Mackay (Messrs W. Scoular and Co.'s prize); Remove, F. O. Le Pine; Special, L. M. Booth; 111 A, W. Thompson; 111 B, jC. A. Houston. i Mathematics.— Vl, E. O. Hercus (Mr S. Solomon's, K.C., prize); V Upper— Div. I, H.. S. Kinder; Div. 11, J. G. Mitchell, A. J. H. Dow (Mr S. Solomon's, K.C., prizes); V Lower, L. Bastings, R. M. Bruce; IV Upper, S. E. Donne; IV Lower, H. M. Stevens ; " Remove, D. R. M'Le*n ; ' Special, L. H. Booth; 111 A, G. R. M'Kellar; 111 B, A. P. Alko, R. J. L. MTleeman. Science.— Vl, D. R. White (Otago Institute's prife) ; V Upper, A. J. H. Dow '(Mr J. A. Thomson's. B.Sc, prize); V Lower, .L. j Bastings (Otago, Institute's prize) ; IV Upper, W. J. Dickel (Mr J. A. Thomson's, U:sc, I prize); IV Lower, L. J. Ivory; Remove, D. R. M'Lean ; Special, P. J.-. Schluter ; 111 A, W. Thompson,' HI B, E.W. Green, K. P. Wright. j Mental Arithmetic. — V Lower, L. Bastings; ! IV Upper. T. P. Cox; IV Lower, J. Hunter; Remove, R. Allan; Special. E. P. N«a!e, J. H. Williamson; 111 A, J> G". Burns; 111 B, A. P. AlLoo, '&. S. Black. Bookkeeping. — Remove, R. Allan; 111 A, J. S. H. Orr; 111 B, E. W. Green. Non-Latin Commercial. — M. J. Thomson. Non-French.— T. H. Nißbet. Dux or the School (Board of Governors' gold medal and ~Dnt % Association's book prize) — Colin M'Gregor Littlejohn. THE RECTOR'S REPORT. Mr W. J. MorreU, M.A., in the course of his report, says: — -The total enrolment of pupils for 1907 is 838, the number for the three terms being respectively 330, 315, and 287. Of these 113 entered the school this year, 105 in February and four in eaoh of the later terms. The ages of those attending during the third term are: — Between twelve and fifteen,. Ill; between fifteen and eighteen, 170; over eighteen, 6; — total, 287. Included among the pupils for the year are 39 Education Board scholars — 21 senior and 18 junior— and 10 junior national scholars. *" The numbers given above fall considerably belo^ the high-water mark of 19Q6, when. 376 pupils were enrolled. The apparent decline -is, however, mainly accounted for by the decision of the board, taken last year, to discontinue the admission of free pupils* in the third term. The number so admitted was in 1906 35, in 1905 ife. It may also be mentioned thai the standard of qualification for junior free places was \ this year raised by the Education Department — a change certainly to be welcomed on educational grounds, and likely in the end" to strengthen the school by discouraging, premature or unfit admissions. The presence of pupils who are unfit or unreadyfor secondary work is undesirable in their own interest, and for these futher reasons: it lowers the standard of the whole class, and such pupils tend to drop' out early, frightened by the pace, and to infect others with their own impatience of school and school work. The collective spirit of a class is a very real thing, as every teacher knows. I cannot but hope that as time goes on the . average dtfration of a boy's stay in the school will improve. Of 67 pupils who have left during the year the average stay has been 5J terms — something less than two years — the average age 15 years 5 months. These averages would probably be raised a little, but only a little, by including the larger number who left at the end of last year. The figures suggest that many parents are not yet alive to the true benefits of a free secondary education. I recognise, of course, that a real sacrifice is often made in keeping a boy at school, but it is a sacrifice that, where there is industry and capacity, is ricb.lv repaid. Unusual force of character will, no doubt, ■ make its way under any difficulties ; but the day for the uneducated man's success in business or any of the higher walks of life is almost, if not entirely, past. It is pitiful to think that many really promising boys have been withdrawn at the age of 14 or thereabouts to earn a few shillings weekly and to narrow their prospects for life. The studies of many candidates have been seriously hindered by illness. In the second term we passed through an epidemic of influenza, which never entirely died away, and towards the middle of this term broke out in ! an even severe*' form, the number of abeen- I tees at one time exceeding .60 per day. I I cannot close this my first annual report without expressing my grateful thanks to the community for the -cordial welcome given to a j complete stranger. Mr Alexander . Wilson, ex-rector, was I called on to say a few words, and on rising to respond to the request wae welcomed by the boys with uproarious ap- j plause. Vote 3of thanks and complimentary speeches .concluded its proceedings. •