BOYS' COLLEGE.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14587, 13 December 1917, Page 2

BOYS' COLLEGE.

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT,

Mr. H. L. Fowler, principal of the Boys' College, read his1 report, which ivas as follows:— "The number of names on the roll :or the year now ending is 255, which is nore than we have had in any previous fear except 1914, when the "number ivas the same. Ninetyiseven new boys have been admitted. On the boarding side the slight decrease noted in my last two reports has been practically made up by the addition of 50 new boarders, the total for the : year being 99, of whom 10 had before been attending as dayboys. This, I believe, constitutes a record. I have not, so far, received the usual number of notices of .removal, so that, if these new boarders are allowed to stay a reasonable time at College, there is good prospect of a considerable increase in our numbers in the nexi year or two.

One hundred and fifteen boys have taken the general course of study (in which Latin, and Frencharc included), 69 the Commercial, and 40 the Agricultural. 124 boys have held junior free places, and 57 senior, making a total of 181, or 80 per cent of the attendance in the secondary department. The Preparatory, in which there were 16 boys two years ago, and 24 last year, shows a further increase to 81, and has done good work. j The results obtained in the public examinations held in December ami January last were good. In the examination for University Entrance Scholarships 1. Barnett gained a scholarship, D. Black appeared in the Credit list, and two boys qualified lor Matriculation. Eleven passed the Matric. and allied' examinations, two were allowed a partial pass, and one completed. W.I Gunning and C. AVatson gained Junior National, B. Hodgson and R. AVhiteside were successful in the examination for Senior National Scholarships. Fifteen passed,the-Public Service Entrance examination, T. Palmer, taking the 12th place, L. Irwin the 30th. 39 qualified for senior free places through the ln- ': termediate examination. Of the sb "who passed the last three examinations 1 mentioned 20 were awarded "credit" Tho Senior Civil Service examination ' has been discontinued.

!.; Ihe progress of the school as a' > whole has been satisfactory, but in the , case of a certain number of boys it has i been retarded by insufficient "prepara- ; tion afc homo. Every, class above the >. Preparatory has work for every coning ; but Saturday which should take abo n't 3 an hour and a half to prepare. When . a boy says that nothing has been set 1 ( should be glad if .parents would give . me the opportunity of making enquiry. , Avharover-.inay.be our opinion of the , educational value of picture-shows, or

of their effect .on the'health of children there is rio doubt that they have increased the temptation both to make- - and to accept —excuses for taking an , f voniiig off. | Here I would again craw attention to the liberal assistance provided lur pupils who wish to proceed to tho j University but are not abio to win | scholarships. ' Any pupil who obtains ifi Credit pass in the Scholarship examination or the Higher Leaving certificate from a secondary school is eligible for a University bursary of the value of £20 per annum for three years. Thoso >\ho have qualified in either or tho above ways for a University bursary and are'taking the course in Dentistry are granted a second bu'r•^ary, of equal or greater value, by the university of Otago. Should all tlu: buzsaries available not be claimed by students so qualified the remainder wiil be awarded on a Matriculation pass. Ihose who intend to become teachers may qualify for a bursary by passing Matriculation aiid gaining «, Teacher's! certificate uf a class not lower than Uass C. Iho Higher Leaving certificate referred, to is givon to pupils who have boon through a four-years course at a secondary school, provided the

work or the last year is of a standard distinctly higher than that required for Matriculation. (Such higher work is here done in the Upper" Fifth form.) Jhero are also Agricultural btirsanos, the qualification for winch :s Matriculation or a Leaving Certificate. Finally, a Cawthron. bursary iff £100 per annum for three years _is jto ho awarded to the student who in the examination for University liiivtraneo" scholarships obtains the high-' est aggregate of marks in certain brandies of Science. This is open to all, but, other things being equal, preference will be given to pupils from A eison or' Marl borough, the successful candidate undertaking to engage, in research, work for a specified time under jtJie general direction of the Trustees. I .Iherf! has been no change in the ' '-raft during the year. Messrs J. Dash and A. CJ. Thompson joined in February Mr Bird is now <;ojng into camp, fV?r? , Brockett. afboi.-seven years of Jaithful service, is leaving us en projnot]on. , The vacancies have been filled iby the appointment of Mr F W (ircennvood, M.A., and Mr K. lnwood the iJattor to take the place of Mr TJiomp-i

son, -vvJbo hns been ti-ansfcrrcd "to the Upper School. f in crickob and iootbr.ll the College teams have ,bceii of average stren^tti. i Tlie limit of ago having been removed our fir&t Kjiteen met' more i-eniop players among their opponents than they did" last year, wlicn they won the" champioiishi'p. This success they I were not ab^e to repeat, but tho.y playted confustonlly well and carried oft the 1 shield in tl'u 'soven-a-side tournament. hx the boginniii" of Lhis term- the whole school, went into camp or "barracks" for four days, under the ■ command of Lt.-Col. Slceman, 1.G.5., the Director of Military Training.. Divided for instructional purposes into lour platoons and an Artillery section-they were exercised and drilled for some six nouns a day, and -Attended lectures in tlie evening. All the boys slopt and had their meals on the premises, and followed the usual routine of camp from reveille to "lights out." The weather was fine, and the experiment proved in every way a ■ success. L'he improvement, in the appearance of tlie cadets and in all points o!f military | discipline was so marked-as to justify I the expense and the time taken from

lessons. It is only just to add that : the keenness of all ranks and their1 | evident enjoyment of their work must jto a gi-cat extent be attributed to the I good judgment and kindly bearing of

the Instructional Staif. '- ) The main object oi the Defence I authorities in holding barracks is to secure a supply of officers for the Territorial forces. 'l.Low well our representatives have borne themselves in the war may be^ soon from the [steadily increasing list of distinctions. Since our last meeting the D.U.AI. has been awarded to Sergeant .J. M. Stringer and So.rgt.-.Uajor R. 11. iicauchamp;'. the Military Medal "to Scrgt E. F. • Allan. Sergt. H. D. Jcifreys. Sergt. L.

F. Allan, 'Sergt. J. C. Cooto, R. E. Everett and W. B. En-ston; t!ie Mili-

tary Cross to Lieut. I>. F. Duigan, Lie^it. Rupert AVorley, Lieut. G. fc. Collyns, Lieutenant H. C. Wilkinson, Capt. Lawrance, Chaytor, Capt. H. G. Grace, Capt. Ow.en Williams, and Capt. M. J. Morrison,-^- of whom the Fast two were at one +ime on the teaching staff. Brie;;.-Gen.. W. J. Glasgow and Col. N. V. Adams have received the C.M.G., and Brig.-Gen. E. W. Chaytor, C.8.,

C.M.G.. has been appointed an Addi-' tional. Aido to„ the King. About 6UU, Old Boy.s in all have been—or arc; —on active service; and the Roll of Honour now comprises no fewer than 92 names-."

Mr Fowler, before, resuming his seat, thanked the donors of special prizes. The boys, he said, had. given up their ordinary prizes for the fourth year in succession, and devoted the money to patriotic purposes. In this connection Mr Fowler mentioned that he had nearly £100 in hand, raised by subscriptions and proceeds of entertainments, for patriotic purposes, making a. total of £700 raised by the boys since the war began. ' -

Prizes and certificates were then presented as follows: —

Standard IV.: H. Blechyhden Standard V.-.-A. V. Miller. Standard VI.: W. Glasgow 1 3 12. Weeks 2. Best pass: J. StrongWriting: Pi-eparatbry, R. Mi Hard. Reading: Juniors, E. Weeks. Form I1I.B: J. Mac Gibbon I, A. Malcolm 2, Form 11L.: W. T. Mills 1. N. Collins 2. * Form 111. A: F. Allan 1, 0. Cressy 2, P. Cheel-3. { Form IV. B: A. Gibson 1 3 R. Morgan 2. ! & Form IV. A: D. Blomtield 1, W. Gunning 2, H. Millar 3. Form Lower V.: N. Palmer 1, U. Loveridge 2,, P. Harkness 3. Chamber of Commerce Medal: JS'Palmer. Museum Work: F. Gregorie (Mr Stace's medal). j Form Upper V.: 11. Whiteside 1, R. Langbein 2, R. Lancaster 3. j Form VI.: C. Pagp I, D. Black 2, N.\ Davidson' 3, B. Hodgson 4. Hawke's Bay Old Boys' Prize: L. Myers. "Simmons" Prize for English: C. Page. "Andrew Memorial" for Latin: C. Page. "Houlker Memorial" : C B. Hodgson.

Scholarships. j College (under 16): C Loveridge. i College (under 18): N. Davidson, U. B. Hodgson. "Richmond" (under 17): W. Kidson, JOl6. ■

"Newcomo" (under 16): R. Lancaster "Fell" (under 16): F. Allen. "Stafford," for History: D. Bryant. Head of Colleeg: C. B. Hodgson (Moeller Medal).

Hearty cheers were given for Hodgson, winner of the good-fellowship and head of the school. The boys and girls then sang the College song, and, cheers having been given for the Governors, Mr Fell again thanked Mr Baumber for presiding and for his interesting and stimulating address. He had a pleasing, announcement to make, and that was that the old-etand-ing difference between Nelson and Wellington Colleges had been removed, and he hoped that from now onwards rela-' tionshipß between the two colleges would be cordial and friendly. (Applause. ) He thanked all those who had contributed towards the work of the College during the past year, and concluded by wishing the boys and girls a happy holiday. -Sneers were given for Mr Fell, and the proceedings closed with the National Anthem,