PRIZE DAY AT THE COLLEGES.

Colonist, Volume XL, Issue 8746, 21 December 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

PRIZE DAY AT THE COLLEGES.

There was the usual large gathering at the Theatre Royal on Deo., 16 when the pupils of the two Colleges with their friends and relatives assembled in force to witness the annual distribution of prizes to the most suaoesstul scholars at the two institutions. The heavy rain that commenced to fall just before the hour of gathering could have had bat little effect in thinning the aadienoe, for the Theatre was filled to overflowing.

Mr Pitt on behalf of the Governors, welcomed Sir Robert Stoat, and asked him to preside. Be said that as all were well aware Sir Robert Stoat bad always taken a deep interest in education, indeed [Sir Robert had sot^ speak, a world-wide repu'arfion for tue profound inter et that he toek in eduoation (Applause), arid he had taken a special and kindly in crest in Nelson Collage (Loud applause). F^r thi reason the Governors hai on a former oecaiion desired Sir Robert to preside at the annual ga'beriog, but ciroumatances had prevented bis doing so. They were very glad however to sac him present on that oooasion ia ihe presiding ohair.

Sir Robert Stout then look vhe ohair, being received with loud applause. He said that at a later stage he would have something to say upon eduoation generally, but fi*st he would ask the Principal 1 of the Colleges to read tbe reports of the examiners. Miss B. E. Gibson, M.A, Principal of tbe Girls'e College, then re?d the various raporta received in connection wi h that ins'itution, after which Mr Joynt read the examiner* reports in connection with Boys' College. These reports were f ivorable, though discriminating. Prizes were then presented by Sir Robert Stout as follows :—

GIRLS' COLLEGE Scholarships.

Form V— Governor's Fees: .R Avery; proxime aooessit, M Enright. General I Work; E Avery; proximo aooessit, G Cowles. Mathematical : R Avery ; proximo aocessit, 1 Crump. ! Form IV.— M Hall, general work ; Z Broad, prczime acoessit ; M Gir'iog, mathematical ; M Nash proxime acoessit. Form llla.— Lower school ssbolarships for ! general work: M Eobinson ; A Eewetson, proxime aocessif. FBIZESi Form VI- let prize, M MoEaohen; 2nd, NEnright; 3rd, M Demment (Mr Pitt's prize. Form V — M Enright, old girls' prize ; M j Houlker, Ist English, 2ad French, German, Latio, original composition ; J Hornßby, 2ad English, Ist Frenoh, 2nd history, 3rd Eaolid ; J Hotneby, reading (Mr Bolander's prize) ; M Harris, 2nd English, 4th Frenoh, 4 -,h Latin, 3rd Eaolid ; M Wilkep, 2nd Engliah 2nd geography, sth algebra, science ; H Phair, 2nd Eaolid, 2nd ttig , 2nd Latin, 2nd Fr-noh ; J Seidon, Ist French, 2nd Latin, 2nd trig., 7th English (Mr FoU'B prize) ; E gershaw.

2nd algebra, 2nd Latin, 3rd French, sth Enf gliah (Mr Pitta pr ze) ; M Blackett, original i composition (Miss Gibson's prize). I Form lV. — M Nash, 2nd .English, Ist ! French, Ib* Euclid, Ist geography { M B'oWd, lßt Lutin, 2nd science, 2nd Frertab, 4th English; M Fry, 3rd English, 3rd algebra, 3rd Euol d,4th French; E MoEaohen, 3rd trithmelio, 4th algebra, 4th history, 6tb English (Mr Fe'Pa pria?) J B Leveßtam, Ist algebra, Ist science, 4th arithmetic stb French ; G Morsheid, original composition ; Z Broad, reading (Mr Solander's prize) ; Z Bnad, mapping (\fiss Grib^en's prize). Form IIIa.— I Nelson, Ist English, Ist Frenoh, original composition, wiiting ; W Gibson, 2nd English, Ist Latin, Ist arithmttic, Frenoh ; R Hursthouse, Ist history, Ist geography, Ist boiany, 3rd arithmetic (Mr Pitta prize) ; R Hursthouse, reading and writing (Mr Sclander's pria?). Form JIIb.— A Hewetson, 2 ad English, 2nd mythology, 3rd arithmetic 4th Frenoh ; L Preshaw, 2nd arithmetic 3rd geography, 3rd French, 4th English. Forms 11. and I.— E Moore, Ist English, Ist French, Ist geography, let phjsica, writing ; -E Booth, Ist history, 2nd arithmetic 3d geogiapby, sth English ; W Cook, readiog (Mr Polaoder's prize) ; M Cook, original composition, 3rd English, 2od arithmetio (Vlr Fells prize); M MaoEay. neatness in general work (Misb Watt's prize) Seeing. — Senior : E Chisbolm; oommended, B Eelliog. Junior I M Harris, junr : c . mmended, P FeU. Dbawino - E MoEachen (Mr Fell's prize) : R Hursthouse, speoial prize for improvement (Mrs Cooke's prize). Scripture?, Form V. and IV. : D Hullett. Form 111., 11., and I.: A Taylor, Jst; W Cock, 2nd. (Mr Kempthorne'd prizea.) Tennis— Mr Littlejohn'a prize: M Trolove and M Rcbineon. BOYS' COLLEGE. Scholarships. Richmond: T V Fraser, £24 for three years. Under 17 : A B /sir, £16 for ore year. Third year, dty boys': F Woricy, free tuiti >n for one year.

Joynt Scholarship: Ban Keys, £20 and free tuition for one year.

Under 16; J Hollowly, £16 Under 15 : E Kidson, £12.

Under 14: Ist, 0 Stringer, £6; 2nd, A Solanders, £4.

U-iier^lS: Ist, H Cock, £5: 2nd, b . tr iigcr. JL3 Simmons' Prize! F Pogson. Prize List.

(The names in italioo are winners of scholai ships, who are preoluded from obtaining prizea.)

Latin VI.: F Pogson, A N Fell. V. F V Frazer, A Blair, A mstrong, IVa: N Adam=\ IVb : W Emerson, prox. E Kidson. Ill: K Sclanders, prox. H Wright. II: A Sclanders, H Cock.

English— Vl: (Simmons' prize, FPogson), E H Strong. V: B Keys, prox. W Jrkell. IV : H N Ladley, prox. W Emereon. Ill : N Adams, prox. V Usber. II: A Schmders, prox G Fell. I: B B Wat'B, prox. L Pearson.

Frbnch -VI I F Pogton, E H Strong. V: J Armstrong. IVa: C Preehaw, prox. P Wright. IVb: FGaukrodger, prox. 0 Hamilton. Ill: G A Riwson, prox. F Hodson. II: A Sclanders, H God, H Watts. I;LF N Thompson.

Mathematics — VI : A N Fell, prox. F Pogson. Va: B Keys, prox. A Blair. Vn: J Houlker. IV : H N Ladley, prox. W Moyes. Ill: T Houlker, prox. P Wright. II: A Sclanders. I: L F N Thompson, prox. R Watts.

Science— Vl: N Fell, prox. F Pogson. V: W Jickell, prox. B Keys. IV: C Preshaw, prox. S Kempthorne. Ill : H N Ladley, prox. H Rawson.

Mr Fell's reading and writing prizes : — Reading— lV and III: G G Stewart. II and I: H Cook and C Harley (equal). Writing— lV: W Emerson. Ill: H Totton. II and I : A Sclanders.

Mrs Sharp's prizes of cricket bats : — Best bowling average, Junior eleven: R Palmer.

Best bowling average, Senior eleven ; W H Pearless.

Miss Gibson in her address referred to the fact that several years had elapsed without any change being made in the teaching staff, as largely contributing to the favorable reports of the examiners. She made the following requests which she hoped parents would bear in mind, viz. not to encourage parties during school time; not to grant holidays unless absolutely necessary ; not to send girls messages before school hours ; and not to allow girls to absent themselves from examinations or to drop special subjects without first consulting her. The concluding portion of Miss Gibson's addres was devoted to she ideals of education, and in this connection she spoke of the scheme of the Institution over which she presided, as an almost ideal one, so much freedom being allowed in the management, and said her desire was that the College should not be looked upon as a place merely to prepare to pass examinations, but looked upon as having for its object the better fitting of the girls to discharge the duties of, and enjoy the pleasures of life. At the conclusion of her teally eloquent address, Miss Gibson was accorded warm applause.

Nr Jojnt then addressed the gathering, and referred to tbe fact that for the first time in 16 years the atiendanos had reached 100, and as the boardera remained at the same number he looked upon it that this was evidence that the institu ion htd the oonfideoae of the district. He then referred to tbe fact that one of the old bays, Rutherford, bad reoently read a scientific contribution before tha British Association in England, and was at present engaged at Cambridge University in electrical research. Tha saccess in various professions of other old pupils was mentioned, and Mr Joynt then poke with satisfaction upon tbe finding of the examiners, tint a thorough grounding was givan to the junior boy*. Mr Joynt laid particular stress upon the point, Jle also paid a tribute to the membsra of hia staff for their loyil support ii oarrying on the work of the Behocl.

At the conclusion of Mr Joynl'a a ! dreß< three cheers were gi»en for Mr Joynt and Mr Litslejohn.

Sir Robert Stoat then gave his address. He said that he felt honored in being called upon to preside, in view of the high position both Colleges oocup'ed among ihe educational institutions of New Z aland. No Bjjb' Collega in the Colony had daring past years, considering the numbers, equalled the Nelson College in the position attained in University examin-tiona. (Applause.) Sir Robert ihen addressed himself to the theme that a nations soocesa was dapendant upon its ability to develops the highest individual type, and this, he contended, was only possible by the highest possible oulture widely diffused. I Mere multiplication of wealth or population would not affeot the end of making a nation truly great. He instanced the case of Anoieot Greeo 3 , with an area bat one-fourth that of N3W Zealand, and a population no greater. What a grout nation that had been, and bscaase of the high type of men it produced, philosophers, historians, poets and mathexatioiane, and it had left a literature wbiob, though small was good. It was the heritage of great men in ancient Greece that made its name, Our institutions, he said, would have failed as our nation would fail unless they produced the highest possible individual types and because they had not reached the high water mark in education. He likened genius to the lofty mountain peak that rose, not sheer from the plain but constituted one peak in a range, or to a river fed by a thousand rills, So unles3 there was the highest possible education widely diffused, there could not tbe the highest individual type. Another reason in favor of higher education was that culture lifted the worker from the sordidness of daily routine and gave him power as a thinker to enjoy life as he could not otherwise. The man of culture after his day of toil could commune and converse with such men as Plato, Locke, Spencer, Shakespeare and others through their literature and wrestle with the problems of life. Culture was neces- j sary to enjoy life to the full. It was said by some that it did not pay. He doubted if any great thing in tbe world would have been executed if the author bad considered the question " Will it pay ?" Would we have had tit Peter's, York Minster, Sh.kospeare's plays, etc, had thia qjosti n been tbe standard? Bat it did pay, in a higher than the ordinary sense ; everything that tended to elevate humanity paid, but this could not be without oulture, and no one eso^pad the benefit that culture bestowed upon a nation. Statistics in America had proved ihst one in ev/>ry forty of collegeeducated men rose to distinction, bat of those

who had not attended college the proportion was but one in ten thousand, which showed the enormous handicap thi oo'legians possess art. Soma again said that the need of a new oountry was technical education. Those did not know what the wcrd meant, it cou'd orily coma with tbe highest education. Huxley said that the pissaesion of a Pastßur was a gain to Franoe of millions and millions, but a Pasteur w>s not p>Sßib!e in a oountry where biology was not taught. Nor was a Lord Kelvin possible unless where mechanical laws and nataral philosophy in tbe bigheßfc forms were tiught. He be'ieved that ihore were la^B in the colleges in tha Colonies who would distinguish thems lved in Enrope, and would distinguish themselves here if the opportunities were afforded. Here he had a couple of practical suggestions to make. There was in Nelson a School of Music, why not affiliate with the New Zealarid University, and make Nelson the musical centre for the Middle Island, as Dunedin was for the medical school, and Christchurch for engineers. Certain literary qualifications [were necessary as well as high technical musical ability, before a degree could be obtained, but the former could be obtained [ from the Colleges. And with perhaps the j most important mineral belt in the Colony close at hand, why not establish a School of Mines upon the same basis. He instanced the success of a similar institution in Duneiin, where young men had been trained who were now holding most lucrative posts ia Tasmania, Australia, South Africa. G rrruny was offered as a praotical illustration of the fact thit even oomooeroial supremacy was largely dependent upon higher education, Sir Ribert asserting that Germany was enabled to rival Britain in this direction only through the greata'tention to education in that country. Sir Robert concluded bis addrea3 with come well ohosea words of counsel to the girls and boys, and resumed his seat amidst applause. Mr Cock, as a mt tuber of the Board of Governors, tben"thanked Sir Robert Stoat for presiding, after which cheers were 'given, and the meeting concluded with the National Anthem.