Orari South School.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3695, 29 January 1901, Page 3

Orari South School.

DISTRIBUTION OF PKIZES. The children assembled in the schoolroom on Thursday afternoon, and at the request of Mr Eusor, Mr W. Mason, a former chairman of committee, gave out the prizes. Ho expressed his pleasure at seeing so many good attendance certificates, and noted also that the best prizes had fallen to the best attenders. The following is a list of the chief prizewinners :

Dux of the school—Miss B. Brophy i'Mr F. 11. Flatmau's prize). Standard VI John Bennett, attendance and general exoellence; C. 11. Walters, arithmetic ; A. Bracefield, geometrical drawing. St. V.—Girls, Lauia Ensor 1, reading- (Mrs Fiatman's prize) ; Annie Brophy. grammar. Boys, It. Bradley, arithmetic; S. Can a van, class work St. IV—Girls, A. Walker, attendance ; G. Cooiubc, com position; M. Loach, arithmetic. Boys, A. Mason, Claud 11. Walters, .John Coles, attendance; P. Batty, arithmetic; T. Gimson, writing. St. Ill —Girls, J. Saunders, O. Bracefield, attendauoo. Boys, A. Andrews, attendance; \V. BehreDs, reading and composition. standard II. —Girls, Margaret Brophy, attendance ; Ethel Payne, proficiency ; IJ Ensor, reading. Boy:--, W. Saunders, attendance ; AV. Richardson, proficiency. Standard I.—Sirls (M. Bennett ,M. O'Neiil, attendance. Boys, Leslie Mason, attendance ; li. Bates, proficiency, i reparatory, B. —Girls, M. Saunders, attendance Boys, \\ r m. Henderson, attendance. Preparatory, A. —Flossie Walker, Alice Payne, attendance. Sewing Prizes—Standard VII., B. Brophy (Miss Bisset's prize). Standard V., Ellon Beattie 1, A. Brophy 2; (Mrs Bisset's special for darning,) A. Brophy. Standard. IV., G. Coombs 1 (Mrs Mason prb.e), A, "Walker2, Annie Booker 3. Standard 111 , Ethel Pearce 1. L. O'Neil 2, G. Booker 3. Standard 11., Ethel Payne 1; Standard 1, M. O'Neil 1, M. Bennett's 2, F. Pearce 3. Preparatory—B., M. Saundors I. Preparatory—A., F. Walker 1.

The children were liberally treated to cake and tea, under tbe superintendence of Mesdames Hracefield, Coles, O'Neil and other ladies.

On Thursday last an interesting ceremony, that of hoisting and saluting the National flag, was carried out on the school grounds. Preparations had been made for carrying ovuVthe affair in a different way, but the news of the demise of our beloved Queen came to hand, and the ceremony was carried ovit, not according to previous arrangements, but in a way which was deemed most fitting under the circumstances. The children were drawn up under tlio iiagstaff. Mr A. W. Ensor, chairman of the school committee, said that iffo had hoped to raise the flag to the top of this high polo, and celebrate the event m a fitting manner, but alas! wo see our national ensign draped in black and about to be raised only half-mast, in token of our mourning for the loss of that Gracious Lady tlio has so long presided over the destinies of the British race and was now so suddenly called away. When we look around we miss many familiar faces, fsct-a of those who were with ip. y*ar' ago, but who have gone. to. South Africa to fight the battles o.f tho Empire, Of the band of gallant fellows among whom they are numbered we havo every reason to be proud. Besides engaging in numerous minor fights they have taken an important part in some- great battles. They'helped to force the pasoajje of the Vaal Eiver, and a few' days later in the mountains around Johannesburg, on a bare hiil-side, they manfully held their ground though raked with shot and shell. At a later date, on Rhenoster Kop, where the enemy held an impregnable position, they over very exposed ground, with qo. other protection than ant hills, to within a few hundred yards of the enemy's stronghold. There they held their own liko heroes, the wounded being carried out of exposed places by comrades, who, in. doing

o, were themselves cxp-.i.y.1 to wounds or eath. Mr Elisor also made feeling reereuce to the sad loss by wounds or fever of se/e al of the gallant band, lie then called uron Miss Bridget Brophy, the eldest school girl, to hoist, the Now Zealand ensign half mast. This was done while 1 lie children saluted. Mr Elatman, M.H.E., who was present, made feeling reference to the great loss that had just been sustained by the Bitish Empire. He explained that the Union Jack was the emblem of the Empire, an'! that just raised was the ensign of that part to which they belonged. Ju saluting it they acknowledged their duty to it. By their devotion to the flag their forefathers had built up the Empire to be so great and glorious, and by their devotion its greatness and glory should be maintained, lie trusted that the event of that day would remain as long as they lived fresh in their memories, and that thus they would be stimulated to bo true to their flag aud thoir country.