NELSON COLLEGE.

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1276, 17 December 1869, Page 3

NELSON COLLEGE.

DISTRIBUTION OB1 PRIZES.

Wednesday last Iras breaking-up day at the Nelson College, and the distribution of prizes was the oustomary and important incident marking the close of the session. ■ ' The schoolroom was tastefully adorned with flowers and evergreens, festoons of the latter depending from the roof, and in graceful benda from the corner to the centre, where they ended in a crown of flowers. The walls were brilliant with bunting, but, unfortunately, the day was so wet, witli heaw thundering showers, that the attendance was small, but none the less creditable to the courageous ladiesj whom the pelting of''the .'storm' did not deter from enlivening the ceremony. Judge Richmond delivered the prizes, handing them to the boys with a few pleasant words to each, complimentary regarding their past effort's, and inculcating emulative exertion in' the future. The examination of the various classes had been proceeded with during the past week by the Rev. Mr. Poole,- M.A., and the' E'ev. Mr. Mules, and the Masters. His Honor Mr. Justice Richmond took the, examination in Shakespeare, and set papers for the same, also examined some of the classes in Glassies. The students in the upper school were examined by means of printed examination papers, except in the case of Greek and History, in which they were examined viva voce and,; by dictation. The lower school was mainly examined viva voce, except in the Mathematical examination, which was conducted by paper. The Shakespeare papers comprised passages and words and phrases from Macbeth, of metaphorical character, or rare and obsolete, nnd which had k to be explained and paraphrased; and other testing questions - respecting the scope of the play, the sayings which have become " familiar in our mouths as household words," and the topographical references that occur in the tragedy. The Latin exercises were extracts from Sallust, Virgil, and Csesar, for translation into English. The paper on Physical Geography demanded a considerable range of information, and was a test for an- extensive study. In Arithmetic, there were two . papers affording considerable scope for both thought and memory. The other mathematical* papers set forth problems and equations in Euclid and Algebra. The Rev. Mr. Poole prefaced the reading of his report by remarking that he had examined with care and strictness, taking no account of the pupils' names or positions in the class, but testing only their aptitude as exhibited in the course of the examination. The reverend gentleman then read his report a3 follows:— To the Governors of Nelson College. Gentlemen—At the request of the Governors Iproeeeded to hold an examination of the pupils in Nelson College, on those subjects which form the English and Classical course of education. It included English Composition, a grammatical and critical knowledge of a play in Shakespear, History, Geography, Latin, Greek, French, and recitations of English Poetry. To speak of them in order, I may say that the English Composition was done admirably by a few, such as Barnicoat (i.), Cox (i.), Cox (n.), and Wither; and satisfactorily by all the boys in the Upper School. The improvement in English was remarkable not only in the re-productions which were sent in by the various classes; but also in the elegance and accuracy of the translations from Latin authors. The History had been well prepared by the three Historical Classes which I examined. Barnicoat (i.), Penny, and Maclean distinguished themselves in their respective divisions. The Greek showed promise throughout, and I hope at the next Examination to find that as great a progress has been made in that ancient tongue as it has been my pleasure to observe in other departments of learning. A grammatical initiation into French was what I expected; but I was glad to find that the boys had acquired an aptitude for rendering French into English, which will, I believe, greatly assist them hereafter, whenever it may be necessary to consult a French authority, or to cultivate a colloquial knowledge of the language. The general impression left by the examination is that in spite of faults, there is sufficient indication of industry and vigour ; and a power of profiting by the good teaching. It is evident that thorough and minute care has been bestowed in each lesson, on subject and language alike. Many answers where accuracy of detail and thoughtfulness were demanded, were of a really excellent kind. The pupils are studying the dead languages in a manner which will, I am sure, tend to the proper cultivation of their own tongue, and assist them in remembering and understanding the otherwise difficult nomenclature of the various Arts and Sciences of modern days. I have the honour to be, . Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, Samuel Poole, M.A., Oxford. Ifelson, December 15,1869. The Rev. Mr. Mules read his report as below :— To the Governors of Nelson College. Gentlemen—lt has given me pleasure to discharge the office you did me the honour of requesting me to undertake, and I beg to report to you, for your information, some of the results of the examination, and the conclusion I would derive from them. ' ■ i I. The Examination has proved very creditable to " the boys as a whole; particular parts of it have " been specially creditable. 11. I gave four separate papers, or sets of papers, on the following subjects:— 1. Arithmetic, 2. Algebra, v 3. Euclid, ' .. 4. Physical Geography, and examined the separate answers of each individual boy. 111. The results obtained may be briefly Btated thus: — .."- - • 1. In Arithmetic Beveral boys finished the papers in two hours, though slight inaccuracies prevented quite full marks. This was very creditable. 2. In Algebra fair proficiency was shown, the paper being somewhat harder than that in Arithmetic. 3. In Euclid: this was unusually good; all did well, and the leading boys in the school particularly ' well. ' • 4. In Physical Geography: the answers were in some instances unexpectedly good, and in all that " could be obtained by memory, very correct throughout. IV. As I had the honour of examining the College ' two yeavs ago, I may be permitted to institute a comparison. I would therefore say— 1. There is improvement in Arithmetic. 2. A ver/ ; great advance in Euclid; and I cannot let this oppor- : tunity pass without stating that this must be <2ue to the efforts of Mr. Mackay; and that without constant ■''■ care and perseverance on his part, as w£l as great teaching ability, so satisfactory a result culd not have " been obtained. 3. Physical Geography with ad-.an- - tage holda a place in the studies of, *&& College vhioh. it did not occupy before. As this *^as also vpiy £oo<i, and comprised the elements of Oology as w-'A, the knowledge attained, imparts as it was viva we,:, ■•" must also have been due co *Qe .exertions of Mr. Mackay. " ' /, ' ' ' y. I may be permfte(* *° conclude by stating■••■'■■that I think, from t^ results of the Examination,' ■■■■"' that advantage on /fle. whole has arisen from all the ■' Mathematicscor IUS int° *ue hands' of-one teacher;' ' • there is greater°:uiforuiifc/in the rate of progress j and he is ab}/ witu tne same exertion of.power, to ■ instruct mf^.^Pt »nd reach a higher portion of a; ' ■•"' subject; >2an tf niß *ime an(l thoughts were frittered - away j/PerPe?ual changes. / With much respect, gentlemen, / I remain, '/ Tour obedient servant, Chabues O. Mules.