ST. MABY'S, TIMARU.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3332, 2 June 1885, Page 3

ST. MABY'S, TIMARU.

Distribution of Peizes. Last evening the presentation of prizes to the children attending St. Mary's Sunday Schools, took place m the School-church, Bank street. At the hour (7.30 p.m.) appointed for commencing the proceedings, the Church was well filled with parents and friends, who seemed to take great interest m tho presentation. The prizes were on view m the front of the church, and consisted for the most part of handsome and well bound books by the best authors. The Yen. Archdeacpn Harper opened the meeting with prayer, m which he asked the Divine blessing on all ; especially on Sunday school work, and then the 371 st hymn (Ancient and Modern edition), " We are but Little Children Weak," was sung, both old and young joining m the singing very heartily. The Archdeacon then gave some statistics of the year's work. There were, ho said, on the books of the Upper Bnnday School, 130 scholars, the average attendance being 106 1, viz., girls, 47 ; boys, 591. The Superintendents were Messrs F. Chapman and Gk Robins. On the books of the Lower School there were 255 names, and the average attendance was 188, viz., girls, 102 ; boys, 86. There were 16 teachers engaged there, and tho Superintendent was Mr W. Willway. The Sandietown School showed, on the books 86, average attendance 75, viz., girls, 41 ; boys, 34. There were fivo teachers, and Mrs Luxnioore was the Superintendent. The Waimataitai School books showed, on the books, 47, average attendance 36, viz., girls, 41 ; boys, 15. There were four teachers engaged there, and Mrs Woollcombo was the Superintendent. To sum up, there were 518 names of children on the books, and an average attendance for the year of 405, which was, a very good average indeed. In addition to what he had quoted had to be added the morning Sunday School at which 120 children attended. The Archdeacon stated that the registers of marks had been well kept by Mr Bobins, and m going through them lately to fee who were tho prizetakers, every caro was taken to guard against any mistake. He explained that m the Upper School a child had to get 350 marks before he or she was entitled to a prize j m the Lower School 320 had been fixed as the standard. Some allowance was made m case of sickness and m cases of non-attendance which were m a sense unavoidable. In looking over the registers it was found that 350 marks were easily obtained ; there were, m fact, so many who had obtained 400, that, after consultation, it had been decided to raise the standard for the school year they had now entered on to 370 and 350 for the Upper and Lower Schools respectively. There was a considerable number of prizes to be distributed that evening, and he hoped that next year there would be as many taken home by the scholars. Some, perhaps, might feel disappointed at not receiving a prize that evening ; he could assure them, however, they might be certain of this, that the mark-books had been kept m a most accurate way. He impressed upon them the fact that some of the children had not got prizes because some marks had been taken off on account of bad conduct ; a rule which they strictly adhered to. Speaking of the Sunday school generally, the Archdeacon said he had to congratulate the teachers on the good order and discipline kept m the school ; no Sunday school, m hrs opinion, m the colony excelled it m this respect. Whenever he visited the school he found the children as quiet as they were just at present, and that the teachers had no occasion to raise their voices a bit. Those who had to do with Sunday Schools would understand his remarks, and the importance that attached to them. He was very thankful he had got such capital schools, and very proud, indeed, of the teachers who worked m them, and to all he tendered his very best thanks. Teaching the young was one of the most valuable parts of parish work, and he hoped, therefore, that parents would do all they could to further it, and assist the superintendents and teachers by sending their children to Sunday School regularly, and last, but not least, see that the home was well regulated and a Christian example set the young. In conclusion, he expressed the wish to see, next year, a still greater gathering, which he hoped would take place m the new church. The Archdeacon then/listributed the prizes, as follows : — UrPEH Scnoot. — Quits. First Class (Mrs Pearson) — M. Gooeh, L. Hill, L. Kerr, V. Ellis. Second Class (Miss Gooch) — S. Gooeh, E. Stubbs, E. Hill, L. Wilson, A. Chapman, M. Stubbs, L. Kohn, L. Eowley. Third Clara (Miss Haigh)— M. Oxby, N. Brown, A. Hibbard, L. Cole, M. Massey, N. Webb. Fourth Class (Misa Melton) — B. Sunnaway, E. Morgan, A. Sims. Fifth Class (Miss Louisa Melton) — D. Ostler. Sixth Class (Mrs Ostler)— F. Ellis, N. Trist, P. Hall, M. Priest, N. Camoron, F. Dunlop, M. Brien, G. Ball, L. Clegg, J. Coram, J. Ellis. Seventh Class (Miss Trist)— A. Oxby, E. Sunnaway, M. Brien, L. Jones, L. Kelly, A. Brien, C. Bourn, J. Sims. Eighth Class (Miss Allen) -M. Kerr, N. Malthus, L. Blockwell, A. Morgan, M. Whiting. Uppkb School. — Boys. First Class (Miss Batnfield)— C. Ball, W. West, A. West, H. Eobertaon. Second Class (Miss Pearson) — G. Stubbs, J. Robertson, F. Kohn, C. Chapman, 4. West.

Third Class (Mr Gurr)— A. Wilson, J. Parr, F. Sims, L. Bourn, C. Haigh. Fourth Class (Mies Cameron)— F. Allen, A. Mills. Fifth Class (Miss Beswick) -F. West. Sixth Class (Miss Sarah Hill)— B. Hill, W. Stubba, Jas. Robertson, P. Allen, Alex. Bobortson. Seventh Class (Miss Hill)— J. Parr, H. Ostler, P. Felly, E. Mills. Lower School. — Gibxs. First Class (Miss Cook)— F. Clarkson, J. Hackett, B. Bowman, C. Mailing, L. Osby, E. Bowman, L. Sunnaway, B. Griffiths, K. Badcock, 8. Corani, A. Haigh, P. Priest. Second Class (Miss Massey)— E. Taplin, L. Taplin, N. Deeley. Third Class (Miss Ostler)— L. Jones, B. Brown, M. Brown, E. Ellis, H. Dupree, E. Hopkins. Lowbh School. — Boys. First Class (Mrs Herdman)— B. Whitcombe, J. Bowman. Second Class (Mr Nudings)— T. Eowley. Third Class (Misb Hardcastle) — W. BlackWell, E. Parr. Fourth Class (Mr Barlow)— H. Stubbs, Hy. Stubbs, A, Verdon, J. Hill, F. Oxby. Fifth Class (Mies Lovegrove)— H. Gooch, W. Priest, L. Herdman, W. Bourn, J. Jones, B. Priest. Sixth Class (Miss Kate Wilson)— S. Oxby.