COLLEGIATE SCHOOL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10521, 18 December 1901, Page 1

COLLEGIATE SCHOOL.

Annual Prize Distribution.

. The' large and commodious classroom of the College wa9 .taxed to its utmost capacity last evening to 'accommodate the parents, frirJPds, and pupils ' who assembled to participate in the annual prize-giving ceremony. His ' Lordship the Bishop of Wellington presided, and the Hon. Captain Russell presented the prizes. Prior to the presentation, the school choir and orchestra, .under the 'conductorship of Mr Spackman, ' who with Mrs Empson presided at the organ and piano respectively, rendered a number qf selections from Farmer's oratorio, "Christ and Sis Soldiers," which, as Bishop Wallis stated, were given 'with great care and beauty. After an interval of a few minutes, His Lordship called on _. - Mr Empson, who read his annual report as follows: — i The past year has not witnessed many very striking changes in connection with the School. At the end of the first term, to our great regret, Mr Atkinson left, us, since which time the bulk of the French has been taught by Mrs Atkinson, whose services we -were fortunate enough to aecure.'During Mr Orford's absence, his work was mainly taken by Mr W. R. Taylor,, M.A., and this gentleman has also been assisting us during the last, term of the year, i At the University Examinations, G. H. Dive gained the Sixth University . Scholarship, while J. C. Nicholson passed with credit, the latter obtaining the highest Latin marks in the colony. Thirteen passed the Matriculation Examination, and two, the only candidates frojn the School, the Medical Preliminary. A large number are competitive in the present examinations, and as they have done aome really good work, we hope for some really good results. At the examination for tho Board Scholarships recently concluded, P. G. Bamford was placed first, with 79.4 per cent, and T. N. Holmden, with 73.7 per cent. Both boys thoroughly deserved their success. The gold medal for the greatest progress in science during the year has been awarded -to W. E. Barker, while the prizes kinjdly. given by His Excellency the Governor, for knowledge ' of the "history of the Empire during the year, have fallen to R. N. Rattray, in the Upper School, and N. M. Baker, in the Lower. The literature prizes were this year divided among the various Forms, special books beuigr set for each. The Harvey Memorial Prize for . mathematics, falls to J. C. Nicholson, the Pennefather prize, for the same subject, to W. H. Cunningham. The Glasgow Prize for classics, has been won by J. C. Nicholson, the second prize, given by the Old Boys, falling to W. H. Cunningham. A system of certificates has been introduced this year, * by which a certificate is given to each boy who obtains 70 per cent or over in any subject, the year's marks and the final examination being counted together. It is hoped that by this means some recognition may be awarded to boys who have worked well during the ▼ear though they have not succeeded xn carrying off » prize. The School has heen examined this term by Mr Dove in mathematics and - geography, and Professor Brown in languages and history. Mr Dove is here to-night, and no doubt will give, us the benefit of his views. Professor Brown was unable to come up, but the following resume of the average of marks gained in his papers shows that they were satisfactorily answered. History is evidently a weak point, and"l,do not f ancythat Mr but ihe languages Greek, Latin, French, and English came out very well, as the following marks will show: — f

Va. Vb2. Rmv. IV. IHa. Hlb. 11. History — 47 45 49 38 39 27 Latin 70 47 65 44 58 52 58 French 69 61 68 49 65 — — English 72 61 56 61 60 47 53 VI. and Vb. were not examined, owing to their being engaged in the University examinations, The Professor has kindly supplied » scale by which the value of his marks may be judged, and according to this. Va. have passed in Latin and English with great disy tinction, while the following have passed with distinction— Va. in French, Vb. in French and English, Remove in Latin, French, and English, IV.. in English, Hli in French, English, and Latin, Hlb. in Latin, 11. in Latin and English. The latter .have passed, but without distinction— Vb. in history and Ziatin, IV. in history, liatin, andFrench, Ilia, in history. 111 b. in hißtory and English. The only Form that has failed is 11. in history. There is, I believe, an impression abroad that we devote all our attention to games. That is not the case. We certainly do devote considerable attention to the care of the body, believing that a healthy ' -physical condition counts for at least half in the battle of life. Herbert Spencer says: "All breaches of the laws of health. are physical sins," and, to quote Mr Gladstone, "All time and money spent' in training the body pay a larger interest than any other investment. At the same time, we do our • best to improve the mental faculties, and I am able to say this term what I have never, I think, been able to say before*—thas -the wort throughout the school has -been excellent; exceptions, of course, there are and always will be; - hut the loafing* element is very small,

and, I am 'glad to say, also insignificant. By this I mean that the boys of standing and influence in the -school have set the example of hard work, and that .whatever shirking and loafing may have occurred have 'been confined to tho3e who, do not rank very high in the estimation of their fellows. In connection with physical growth, it will probably be a surprise to most people that the Now Zealand boy, at , any rate as regards this school (for of others I have no means of judging), is a finer specimen of humanity than his English brother. Dr Charles Roberts' tables, showing the average height and weight of 7709 boys and men oF the most favoured classes of the English population, when compared.,with- our -measurements give the following results: —

The Wanganui averages "ire taken from the measurements of all the boys between IS9I and 1899. Fractions have been omitted, but the general result is that on the average the Wanganui boy is five-sevenths of an inch taller and seven and 'three-sevenths pounds heavier than an English boy. I do not know, whether if it were 'possible to compare the two mentally the same, superiority would be shown, but, judging by what 'New Zealanders have done in England, they should not be far, if at all, behind. The war still drags on its weary length. At the end of last term we had the great pleasure of welcoming back Mr Orford, who received such an ovation as has surely been accorded to but few. troopers on their return. Captain Soxby, who only left the school some three years ago, also met with a very warm reception. News has been received that Lieut. P. L. Tudor .has again distinguished himself, as has also Sorgt. Major E. B. liockett, though in the vcase of the latter I regret to, say that it has been at the expense of his arm: Of the 63 or 64 Old Bdys who have been engaged in the war, several are still .fighting in the Sixth and Seventh Contingents and in the Imperial Army. On November 25 the Bishop of Wellington unveiled the window in the chapel that has been erected to .the memory of Leslie Seton Melville, Wal^Jr Douglas Armstrong', and Captain Parkinson, who died in the discharge of their duty in South Africa. Among other distinctions gained by Old ' Boys we must especially mention that conferred upon W. S. Marris, who, after only five years' service, has been promoted to be Under-Secretary to the Home Department in the Government o£ India. This is a very remarkable distinction for so young a man. Several boys who have been with us many years are leaving this term. The swords were forged at home and sent to us to be tempered, and ours will be the blame if they bend or break in the battle ; Ido not think that they will ; they mar become dented or hacked about, but I am sure they will never prove to be base metal. I wish to record, my sincere and heartfelt thanks for all they have 'done for .the School. I have to thank all* who have presented prizes to the school, and I must at the same time thank my fellow masters for all their valuable work and assistance. To Mr Dunn and the boys who work with him we owe the erection of theh new classroom and drying room, which have proved of very great service. In conclusion, I have, on behalf of the School, to extend a very hearty welcome to the Bishop and Captain Russell, who, at considerable inconvenience to. themselves, huve managed to be with us to-day. The Bishop, I am glad to say, is beginning to look upon this function, as one which requires his annual presence, but eleven years have elapsed since Captain Russell was present here. Some of these | years have had their full share of labsur and sorrow, and we are heartily glad of this opportunity of testifying our respect for the character of one who has borne the burden and heat of the day so bravely and so well. .

Captain Russell, introduced by the Hilltop, then *gave a -short but interesting and instructive address, in the course of which he said that he had been so long connected with the school, having had three boys educated in it, that he , almost felt himself entitled to wear blue and black, of which they had so much cause to be proud. And therefore he was particularly flattered and pleased when Mr Empson had done him the high honour to ask him to come and take part in the celebration there that evening. His three sons had gone out into the world, and each had done himself, in his own way, some little credit. He hoped the boys would agree with him that his sons had done no discredit to the school in which they were educated. Now, he was not going to tell them for one moment that he thought home influence and honourable traditions had not played an important part in the formation of their careers, , but 'this the speaker could tell them, that most deeply, and from the bottom of his heart, did he feel grateful to Mr Empson and the staff of masters who disciplined his sons, and so helped in the success which he hoped they would achieve during their lives, because it 'was discipline and training which helped to form a young man's conduct and character, and enabled him to do honour to himself and justice) to tho school to which he belonged. For, remember, said Captain Bussel}, that without conduct and without character, ability loses more than half its value. •He warmly congrptulated those who

had won prizes. He. congratulated them upon being successful, but- remarked that there was a vast difference — and he wished them to distinguish it — between, success and luck. , Success ■ came chiefly to those who strove hard to deserve it. He congratulated most warmly those who had won prizes, and he extended his heartfelt sympathy to those who had not been successful. Many of them had struggled and had unfortunately failed." They were not to despair or to imagine that failing to win a prize at school was evidence that they would -not win prizes as they went through life. God granted to- some that peculiar quality of brain to enable them to learn easily and to rapidly assimilate the instruction given them. Those were the fellows who won prizes." To others were given the Blower brain, and often the sounder judgment, and >their chances of winning the prizes of life as they went through life were fully as great as those who had been faster at jschool. But, proceeded Captain Russell, to those who were quick and to those who were slow was given the power to regulate their conduct and to form' to a great extent their own character. Again, he would tell them that without character and without conduct, ability lost more than half its value. Very recently they had had the privi-, loge of seeing a most distinguished soldier. That soldier -inspected and commended the College Cadet Corps. No doubt they had read that this soldier owed his proud position to' personal courage" upon the battlefield. Captain Russell said he would ,not contradict that, but he would rather picture him as reared in all the Spartan simplicity of his Highland home, '{rained by a reverend and unselfish mother to fear God and honour the King, and disciplined when he was a private in the ranks. They did not hear of his remarkable ability, but his conduct was always honourable, loyal and steadfast — bringing honour to himself and repute to those who were connected with him. . In. him was found a man who, without the advantage of birth, money, and College education, had by solid ' worth ' reached a position of preeminence in His Majesty's army. 'Captain ■Russell therefore wished the boys to bear in mind the name of Sir Hector Macdonald, and ho would like to say to any boys who thought their position in future life was not likely to be so important as that ot some of their school mates, that we had an instance

mates, tl

of, a man who, entering the army without ' advantages,' had by solid worth achieved an amount of success -equal to that of any. of those who entered 'the army with all the advantages of, (education, of money, and of influence. In conclusion, the speaker recited three verses of poetry, which he said conveyed his 'sentiments in a much more forcible manner than he could otherwise convey them — There's, a breathless hush in the close to-night; ; Ten to make, and the match to win. A 'bounding 'pitch and a blinding- light, An hour to play, and the, last man in. And it's not for the sake of a rib*boned coat', Or the selfish' hope of a season's fame. But the captain's hand on his shoulders smote : "Play up! Play up! Play -the game!" The sand of the desert is sodden red — Red with the wreck of a square that >' broke,' < And the Gatling's jambed and the colonel's dead, 'And the' regiment's blind with dust and smoke. The River of Death has -brimmed its banks ; And England's far, and honour -a name, But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the -ranks : "Play up! Play up! Play tho game!" This is the word that year by year Still in its place. this school has kept, That everyone of its sqns must hear, And none who hear it dare forget. Thus they all with cheerful mind , Bear through life like a torch on flame, And falling, fling tothe'hoarta behind : \ "Play up ! Play up ! Play the game !" The verses, the speaker hoped, conveyed their own moral. It was not necessary for him to enlarge upon ,it further than to say to the boys that, as they played the game of life, "never play a selfish game." Whilst they were still young they should play for the honour of their .school, and, when they advanced in life, for the honour of the community in which they lived ; and if ever the dark days of adversity came upon them they should remember always how a brave heart could rally the 1 ranks when disaster seemed inevitable. 'Those who did not win a prize in life should always remember .that' they could deserve it. I They should look life fairly in the face, and try to set a noble example 'to those who came afterwards — and "Play up ! Play the game !" On ' resuming his seat, Captain Russell was heartiiy applauded. The following is the

.EJJNUMJ.LO.Q.. WAnvxa-w vi. \gc. Height Weight Height Weight ft in st lb - ft in st lb 124851 4 9 5 8 13 4 10 5 9 4 11 6 2 145166 5 3 7 0 155373 5 A 8 3 165687 5 6 9 0 175796 5 7 9 7 18, 5 8 9 U 5 8 10 4