WAITAHUTNA DISTRICT SCHOOL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume IX, Issue 630, 30 December 1876, Page 3

WAITAHUTNA DISTRICT SCHOOL.

The school broke up for the Christmas

holidays on Friday last. There were present : ,The Rev. Mr. Cowie, Messrs. W. D. Morrison, M. Higgins, and a number of ladies from the district. The rooms were tastefully decorated by pupils with evergreens and flowers for the occasion. The display of industrial work, both in quantity and quality, called forth the highest praises from all who saw it. Several pieces of music were very fairly rendered by the pupils during the day. At the conclusion the head master, Mr. Stables, stated that the Committee had thought it better not to give any prizes, but that several kind friends had presented a number of prizes for industrial work. These prizes had been presented by the Rev. Mr. Skinner, Messrs. Oudaille, Coghill, Higgins, A. Garden, Messrs. Harrop and Jeffery of Lawrence, and himself. Mr. Hunter assisted to classify the mapping, drawing, and writing, and Mrs; Comyn, Mrs. Oudaille, Mrs. Coghill, Mrs. Auld, and Mrs. Corry classified the industrial work. Mr. Cowie, in presenting the prizes, made some appropriate remarks. The following is the prize list: — Plain sewing— First class; Miss J. 6. Edie, Ist; Miss Frances Oudaille, 2nd. Second class— Miss Jessie M'Corkindale, Ist:

Miss Annie Corry, 2nd. Third classMartha M'Corkindale, Ist; Annie Bruce, 2nd. Knitting— lst, Miss Annie Bevars. Fancy work— First class : Miss Margaret Ann Ward, Ist, Miss M, Higgins, 2nd. Second class— Ada Oudaille, Ist; Hannah M. Ward, 2nd. The pupils in standards I. 11. and 111. were presented each with a small book or card as a .hristmas present. In the higher standards the head master stated that each pupil would receive a class certificate, showing the per centage of attendance and progress as taken from the mark book for the last nine months. All who had over 85 per cent would be entitled to rank as first standard of merit, and over 75 per cent as second order of merit. The following attained the per centage entitling them to rank as first order of merit in their respective standards :— VI.— J. C. Browiie. G. Stables, and Line, Ist ; 2nd, Misses P. Oudaille, J. B. Edie, and M. A. Ward. V. Miss Annie Corry, D. Scott, R.Yorke, and Stables, Ist ; 2nd, Miss Charlotte Crozier and Mary Storie. IV. — Misses 11. Ward, Ada Oudaille, William Auld, Mark Higgins, and John Dimond. Attendance — The number of pupils entered during the year was 166. The numbers in actual attendance at the close were : Boys, C 6 ; girls. 73 ; total. 137- At the recent examination for pupil teachers, Masters J. C. Browne, and Geo. A. G. Stables were the successful candidates, and both since have been doing duty as pupil teachers. Mr. Morrison made a few remarks, in which he complimented the matron, Miss Herd, and Mr. Stables on the creditable appearance of the children, the proficiency they showed in various exercises they had gone through, and the great order aud regularity which seemed to prevail in the school. He urged the children to take advantage of the opportunities they enjoyed. They ought to set before their minds some one of the great and good of former times as a model. They ought, above all, to have some fixed purpose in life, and pursue it steadily, for history would show them that everything great and good which had been accomplished in the world had been done by those who had pursued their object with a fixedness of purpose amounting to enthusiasm. He hoped they would enjoy their holidays, and return with renewed vigour to their studies. The head master announced that the school would re-open on the Bth January, and the proceedings closed by the children singing the " National Anthem."