THAMES CONVENT SCHOOLS EXAMINATION.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1924, 4 March 1875, Page 2

THAMES CONVENT SCHOOLS EXAMINATION.

The examination of the Roman Catholic Convent superior and common schools took place yesterday, the interior of the schools being nicely arranged and decorated for the occasion. There was a large attendance of parents and friends of the pupils, amongst others the Lady Superioress of the Auckland Convent, the Very Key. Father Fynes, representative of Bishop Croke, the Bey. Fathers Chastagnon (who is in charge of the Thames parish), O'Dwyer and Simpson. Judge Beckham was also present, and manifested considerable interest in the proceedings. St. Joseph's school. The examination of the above school was conducted first, the proceedings being commenced with the reading of an address by Miss Susan Collins to the rev. gentlemen present, the Lady Superioress and the audience. The examination, which was of a very searching nature, lasted for a considerable time. Thejanswcring of the children was astonishing, and reflects the highest

credit on the good ladies who have charge of the schools. Several valuable prizes were distributed at the close of the examination, awarded as follows : 1. Suean Collins, good conduct, desk. 2. Anno Conellj, catechism, Prayer-booCV 3. Jane -Brian, arithmetic, blotter. fljL 4i. Anne Mcllbone, grammar, blotter. 6. Elizabeth McLoughlao, work, Garden of the Soul. 6. Kate Quinn, recitation, Prayer-book. 7. Arabella McAncny, history, Garden of the Soul. ' ' 8. Mary Caehen, reading, Garden of the Soul. \ 9. Bridget Power, general in»prov«inent, Nettlethorpe. 10. Mary Schiddar, writing, The Choice of * Friend. 11. M»ry Meauire, general improvement, The Partners. : 12. Mary Jane Rowe, arithmetic, 2nd class. 13. Catherine O'Brien, geography, 2nd class. 14. Mary Ryan, writing, The Partners. 15. Kate Hanlin, spelling, 2nd class, The Choice of a Friend. 16. Emma Rayner, tables, pincushion. 17. Ilono a Burke, tmall catechism, Garden of the Soul. '■.".-■ 18. Alice Langham, geography, 3rd class, Daily Exercise. 19. Hannah M. C. Moore, reading, 3rd class, Daily Exercise. 20. Eilen Pennell, general improvement, 3rd class, Daily Exercise. 2L Julia Ann Riley, grammar, 3rd class, Daily Exercise. 22. Elizabeth Whelan,-recitation, 3rd class, Daily Exercise. 23. Bridget Doyle, work, Tale of Rome and its Heroes.

ST. AQUINa/s SCHOOL. The examination of the pupils in this school was then proceeded with, an address of welcome to the rev. fathers and Visitors being read first by Miss Mary Jane McUhone. In this—the select school the examination was of a complete character, and the proceedings were rendered doubly interesting to visitors by the exhibition of the abilities of some of the young ladies in reading, recitation, music and singing. The following prizes were awarded:— FIRST CUSS. Writing and General Improyemant—Mits Ginn, Edgeworth's Tales. Conduct—Miss Mclaughlin, Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. French—Miss Lizzie Allom, Parley's Tales. Music—Miss Kilgour, Emy Girl's Book. Composition and Grammar—Miss Binney Beatie'r Poems. - . History—Miss Clara Binney, Bible History. Geography and Maps —Mi»s Mcllhone, Pictorial History. SECOND CLASS. Arithmetic—Mies Clarke, Holland Tide. Regular Attendance—Miss Beardon, Gobinet's In sir actions. History—Miss E. Cooke, Goldeu Gift. General Improvement — Mits Sohidler, Flowers and Fruit. General Attention—Miss Shappere, Shipwreck on the Daeert Island j Miss Cooke, Tears on the Diadem j Miw Daviea, Scenei from Scripture THIHD CLASS. Spelling—Miss M. Cooke, Links of the Chain.

Writing—Miss Covroll, "Willie Burke. Needlework—Miss Keogb, Lily of lirael. Catechism—M ss S. Smith, Irish Tale. Music—Miss M. Allom, Robinson Crusoe • Miss Quinlivan, Flowers from Foreign Fields'. G-eography—Miss Beriningham, basket. Music—Miss Hume, basket; Miss S. Williama, Gfarden of the Soul. FOTTBTH CIASS. Miss Dewer, Jane Seaton. M ss Mahony, Spirit of D. rotion. Miss Tole, Flowers of Paradise. Miss O'Dowd, Grarden of the Soul. Miss Quigly, Gferu of Derotion. Miss Dunne, Life of St. Margaret. The Misses Onyon and Leydon, dolls. Before the audience left the Very Eev. Father Fynes, in very appropriate language, addressed a few obserrations to the children, of which the following is a digest:— - .. " He said that lie was highly gratified at the result of the examination, and complimented the pious nuns en the very efficient state of the schools. He regretted the absence of their good Bishop, the Eight Eev. Dr. Croke, and felt sure, had he been present, that his heart would have been gladened at the answering of the children, and the flourishing condition of the schools. " On -the question of education itself<fce felt bound, as a minister of ChnitimL state that education withoufereligiondoVaa not result in good, and if persisted in would, in a short space of time, be ruinous to society. He was astonished that those who administered the public funds did not seem to be alive to the great wrong they were doing by forcing purely secular education on the youth of the colony." Judge Beckham expressed the great pleasure felt in being present, and was astonished at the marvellous answering of the children on most important subjects. He said that on looking at the cleanly appearance of the children he was convinced that home influence had a most salutary effect on many of them ; he took that occasion of publicly stating that he thoroughly agreed with the Very Key. gentleman who had just addressed them, that education without religion was pernicious, and would only result in educating men to commit crime and escape detection. Amongst the ladies present were the following:—Mesdames Fraser, Dewar, Cook, Souter, Curtis, Kilgour, Hopcraft, Ehrenfried, Davies. Miss M. Sheehan, sister to the Goldfields Secretary, was alio present. "-. ; ','- ■ '..■• '•" -.' ;■• ;■: