WELLINGTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2611, 19 December 1867, Page 4

WELLINGTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

Distribution op Phizes,

A vert interesting ceremony took place in the ball of tbe Athenoeum on Tuesday afternoon, when the prizos gained at the first annual examination of tho pupils of tlio Wollington Grammar School, held during last week, were distributed by his Honor tho Superintendent -amongst thoso to whom tbey had been awarded, A large number oHadies and gentlomen, amongst the latter boing tbe Trustees of fcho Wellington Grammar School Endowment, had assembled to witness tho proceedings, in whicii they exhibited groat interest. '

His Honor the Superintendent, in oponing the proceedings, said :— I havo with muoh pleasure consented to preside at fche meeting held to-day fov fcho distribution of prizes awarded fco the scholars of Messrs Tuckoy and Hamilton's school, and take thia opportunity of thanking thoso gentlemen on behalf of fcho parents and publio of Wellington for having furnished us with a school sd sound in the instruction givon, and so well conductod genorally. Ifc has long beon a roproach fco our Province, and one whicb I have felt keenly that it has boon so far behind the other Provinces of tho Colony in respoct to a higher class of Educational Insbibutions, so bbab all lads whose parents desired for them a sound classical education had been obliged fco go away fco somo other Provinco fov that purpose. Tho necessiby fov tliis has been removed by fcho establishment of Mossrs Tuckoy" and Hamilton's school, whicii I fully believe has given unmixed satisfaction fco all who havo sont children to it. For my own parfc, as a parent, and having boys horo, I am particularly plcasod, and beliovo that my children havo mado reuiavkublo progress, though, no doubfc, we shall hear more on this subject from tbe Masters, who had carefully and thoroughly examined the pupils for tho purpose of awarding tho prizes. Bufc whilo ifc is gratifying to me to make thia statement as to tbo success of these gentlemen's efforts, ifc is equally painful to me to announco that I ara awaro fchafc this success has been accompanied by considerable pecuniary loss to themselves. This I deeply regret, but I am glad at the samo timo to state that I believe the 'Trustees of fche Grammar Sobool Tvusfc aye now in a position to mako use of thafc Trust, and that thoy avo so woll satisfied with the, success, ability, and general management of fcheso gentlemen, fchafc they have made, or neurly completed arrangements which will cnablo the school fco he opened aftor fcho Christmas holidays as the publio Grammar School of the City of Wollington. There had been considerable difficulties in the way of carrying oufc this Trust;, bufc an active body of Trustees had now been appointed, who were all identified with tho infcorests of this Cifcy and Province, and who wove all interested themselves iv tho education of the rising generation. So that I hope tlio reproach undor which Wellington bus so long suffoved will now shortly bo removed.

After pointing out at some length tho valuo and importance of a liberal education, his Honor then addvessed fcho scholars, dwelling upon the necessity of thoir own exertion, Avithout which fche most extrenuous efforts of fcheir mastors would bo unavailing ; and concluded by earnestly calling thoir attention to the importance of banishing from among themselves all fchufc is low, vulgar, or improper, and boing watchful fco maintain an upright; and gentlemanly tone, and ifj necessary, sending to Coventry any avlio might; disgrace themselves by a different courso of conduct.

Mv Tuckoy having apologised fov tho absence of his coadjutor, Mr Hamilton, who, ho said, wns compelled to leave in fcho stoamer Ofcago that afternoon, explained tho prosont position of tho school, which was opened by himself ancl Mr Hamilton on fche 4-th February lnat, with only seven scholars. Tho number of pupils had, bowever, increased every quartor, and there woro now forty on tho books. Ho also described tho progress mado by tbo pupils in tho classics and geometry, pointing out that, although tho standard fchafc had been attained in tho former branch of eduoation wan not very high compavod with fchafc of English Grammar schools,, yefc, as it was found necessary to instruot tho pupils, in the very elements of Latin, the progress they had made wns exceedingly satisfactory. He and his coadjutor had thought it expedient nofc to givo tho children •religious instruction, becauso they found fchafc, if such instruction were given, ifc would be hardly possible fco prevent the sohool becoming denominational ; a result which they wished to avoid, fcheir object boing to make the school a sort of high sohool, where ohildren of all religious beliefs might be sont. At the same time, they had

seized every opportunity of impressing upon their pupils fcho necessity of liaving a regard for truth and a reverence i'or holy things. With tho conduct of the pupils fchey wore very well satisfied. It was originally intended to allow the boys fco exhibit boforo tho assembled company, somo proofs of their proficioncy in various studios ; but, as recitations would probably be more interesting to the visitors, ifc was afterwards resolved that those should bo substitufcocl for Lhe.exercises.

A number of recitations were then given by different boys iv a very superior maimer, the pronunciation being very good, and fcho enunciation singularly clear.

JHis Honor tho Superintendent then distributed tho prizes ; addvoss.ng a few suitable remarks to oach recipient. The following is fcho prize lisfc :—

Latin, Ist division— Georgo McDonald Ist ; A. de B. Brandon, 2nd. 2nd division— o. W. Skoefc, lsfc ; C. Gawifch, 2nd. 3rd division— Percy W. M. Holt, lsfc ; W. Tustin, 2nd. Geometry, lst division— A do B. Brandon, Georgo McDonald, equal. . 2nd division— W. Fitzgerald, lst ; O. "W. Skeet, 2nd. Algebra— A. de B. Brandon. Ist; Adam McDonald, 2nd.

Arithmetic, lsfc division— Adam McDonald, Ist; Peter Webb, 2nd. 2nd division— W. Tustin, Ist ; C. J. Bishop, 2nd.

English History— W. Fitzgorald, Ist : Peter Wobb, 2nd.

Geography— Adam McDonald. English Grammar— Peter Webb. Junior English — George Taylor. Elocution— Goorge McDonald. Writing— o. Gawith.

Industry— Veruon Hackworth

The distribution baying being effected, Mr Tuckoy expressed a wish to hear remarks upon fcho subject of education from any one prosent, and especially from the Trustees of tho Grammar School.

Mr Brandon said that ho and his co-trustees were very much pleased with fcho progress that had been shown, and should endeavor to make some arrangement by which the school should become tho college and grammar school of the city. He wa3 himself very much pleased that thoy had at lasfc got v sohool in whicii tho higher branches of education woro taught, and in which such satisfactory progvess was exhibited. The trustees wero afc jn-osonfc laboring undor some difficulty with regard fco a sito ; and ifc seemed to be almost necessary to get; a temporary placo at the ofchev oi}d of fcho town. Ho tvusted, howevev, tho avvangemonfc would bo only a tempovavy one. Although there waa v great ditlieulty in finding a suitable site, ho hoped, nevertheless, that arrangements would be made this month fco establish the school in a more central position ; and that the institution would flourish. Thoy must all feel very much obliged to Messrs Tuckoy and Hamilton for the intorest they had taken in the matter, and the perseverance they h»d shown. The trustees fully recognised tho necessity of having the sohool in such a position as to be easily accessible fov all parts of the town ; and would nofc suspend thoir exertions until thoy had established a school beneficial not ©nly to fcho town bufc also fco the province, and ho trusted fco fcho colony at largo. Mr Bowden, Inspector of Schools, was sure thoy musfc all havo felfc groat interest and pleasure in the proceedings fchey had just witnessed; more particularly as those proceedings might bo regarded as the inauguration of tlio long wanted Grammar School of bho Cifcy of Wellington. With fcho exception of the masters of fche school, no one could have felt moro interest and ploasuro fchat day than ho did himself, because ho ventured a year ago fco give fcho rather hazardous advico to those gentlemen to mako tho venture thoy had mado and so successfully accomplished ; and he should now experience bhokeenestmorfcificafcion had tho venture proved unsuccessful. He felfc thankful fco them fov fcho industry thoy had shown in successfully establishing this long- wan ted institution. They wero warranted in saying that it was a success; for, although thoso presont had not had an opportunity that day of testing tho proficiency ot" the pupils in tho higher branches of education, yet any ono experienced in teaching could know this, fchafc no lads could bo brought to such proficiency in elocution without a considerable amount of labor ; and if, us he had boon assured, and as he know for a fact, the lads regarded ifc as a matter of amusement rather than of study, ib might be taken as an index of the perseverance and industry of both masters and pupils. A hotter tesb of the aptual work of the school was a statement whicii had been placed iv his hands by Mv Hamilton — who had waited upon him an hour or two ago fco express his regret at boing unable to attend fche examination — but aa fche statement waj vory similar to 0110 whicii had been made by Mr Tuckey, it was perhaps not worth whilo to go into ifc more fully. If, howover, boys had, in nino months, from a vory elementary acquaintance wifch Latin Grammars, - become able fco translate Ctesar into good English ; and a vory elementary knowledge of Euclid, mastered the throe firab books, and become ablo to work neatly and correctly difficult questions in algebra and arithmetic— ifc was a cleav pvoof fchafc a largo amount of work had been done, and well done ; and clone, moveovov, in spite of the great difficulties attendant upon fcho establishmonfc of a sohool, always a work of greafc difficulty. Tho labors of these gontlomen had, however, boon rewarded tbat day ' by the announcement that they woro now recognised -by the trustees of tho Grammar School as tbe masters of that institution. That institution, ho hoped, might bo henceforth regarded as a publio one. Tho fact was in itself of valuo, as influence was brought to bear upon tho pupils in a public school that would nofc bo brought to bear in a private establishment. Ono mark of such influence was his Honor's kind attendance thero that day to distribute tho rewards, and fcho boys, ho was sure, would all appreciate his Honor's congratulations upon tlieir success in obtaining the prizes. He himself congratulated the bojs upon tho successful termination of their labors, and hoped thoy might on joy tlio holidays to which fchey wore looking forward. Mr Hamilton hud also requested him to express his gratification ai tho pupils' conduct, and particularly that of McDonald and Brandon.

Mr Tuckey thanked his Honor and tlio company for theiv attendance, ancl lho company thon separated.