SCHOOL VACATIONS

Western Star, 21 December 1915, Page 2

SCHOOL VACATIONS

RIVERTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL The customary ceremony ou the ocoas ion of the break-up for the Christmas holidays was held on Friday, when there was a good attendance of parents apd ex-pupils. These, with the scholars, filled all the araiable space im the central hall. In the adjoining rooms were exhibitions of the work of the pupils during the year. These consisted of samples of writing, drawing, brush work, paper-folding, and sewing, plain and fancy. These were closely inspected by the visitors, and appreciative remarks were made regarding the general excellence of the display, which waa exceedingly meritorious, and ocular evi denoe of the first-class tuition received by the pupils. Mr. E. C. Hewat, B.A. the Rector, and his staff are deserving of every praise for the success achieved. The chairman of the School Committee (Dr. Trotter) presided, and with him on the platform were the Rev 0. A. Gray, M.A., and Messrs J. C. Thomson, M.P. member of the Board of Education, and T J. Price, member of the committee. The chairman welcomed all, after which several Standards entertained the com pany with some capital singing, this be iug followed by the distribution of prizes, each recipient being heartily applauded as the chairman handed out the coveted honours. This finished, the chairman congratulated the winners and spoke encouragingly to those who had not received anything. They should remember the old motto: “Try, try, try again.” Ho was pleaseu. to know they had had a very successful year, which was gratifying to the parents and teach ers alike. To do well at school and xu the many walks of life industry was required. They had shown good indusrry in the past, and he hoped they would be more industrious in the future. They should realise that they possessed educational privileges which were denied their parents and take full advantage of them. Those who would use their brains and display energy had the> opportunity of going from the primary school to the University. It was some times said that brains had to be obtain ed first, but his experience was that all were endowed with brains and it was for the possessors to learn how to use them properly. They should take every opportunity to avail themselves of the inestimable advantages placed at their disposal for educating themselves. He hoped they would all enjoy their well-earned vacation, and come back after the holidays with renewed vigor to resume their studies. He wished them all a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Tear—Mr. J. C. Thomson expressed his great pleasure at being present. He said the feature of education in this democratic country was free education from the primary school to the University, and he explained the various steps to be taken to secure this. Of. course before a University course could be taken under the system a boy or girl would have to undergo the full secon dary course, and as the vast majority could not give tKe time but only requir ed a one or two year’s secondary course he saw in that fact a necessity for a Seventh Standard in connection with outlying 5 schools and District High Schools at convenient centres. He thought an effort, should be made tc re-establish the secondary department of the school. There were sixteen schools that could be served. He congratulated teachers and pupils ou this excellent record, and wished them very pleasant holidays.—The Rev C. A. Gray, in apologising for the absence of the Rev Air. Pa rata,, who was that day attending a similar function in connection with the Thornbury school, said he had been in the habit of always being present, but he suggested that the com mittee should send formal invitations to the clergy. He then referred to Scripture instruction, and expressed re gret that those responsible for it had not held an examination owing to causeses which he explained. However, he hoped the clergy would be able to devise some means to enable them to resume the good work. He thought they had had enough talking to, and would like to get into the fresh air, but he wished to remind them that they were living in the most momeutuous year in the history of the British Empire—a time fraught with great possibilities. A very old lady was once asked her ego, and she replied 1 “I was two yean old at the Battle of Waterloo. There were th ose before him who when asked a simlar question) in the years to come would probably say “I was such and such an age in the year of the Great War in 1915.’ And they must not forget the brave boys who were fighting for them. had) a letter from one soldier whom he remembenl as a pupil of that school, and after detailing some horrors he had witnessed, he said “I just prayed to God, and went on doing my duty.” That is what they would have to do, tlieiij duty, and a way to "do that was to ‘‘Fear 'God and honour the King.’ To these boys who would be leaving school he said walls! straight, and enforced the excellent story of a boy who on commencing to plough wias told to fix his eye on a. distant object to guide him. He chose a cow, with results that could be imagined, but when he took a fixed object it was all right. So they should fix their aim ou a good object, and go straight, aud they would achfGvo good results. He wished them vei’y happy holidays.— Mr. Price said it gave him great pleasure to he with them on such a happy occasion, but he would not make q/ long speecli, as he thought they had already had some very sound advice. He was pleased to see them all looking so j happy and well, amcT he jvas glad to j know they had had at most successful i year. Having worked so well, they were entitled to a. holiday, and it would do them good. It was a true saying that all work and no play made Jack a dull boy. After their play lie trusted they would come back renewed in mind and, body to do oven better work. The chairman had referred to brains. A * 2 re at thing was not only to have brains but to apply them, and thus to keep' their minds efficient. Application would often discover talent where it was sometimes not expected. They knew tho lines in Gray’s eulogy, ‘‘Pull many

- -V ■ ' a gem of purest ray serene the c£rE| unfathomed caves of ocean bear.” and so it was with brains —the powers had to be searched for, and this required appli cation and study. They had his best wishes for a real good holiday. Mis* McDowell, who has completed her pro batiouer’s term* was the recipient of two presentations conveying the best wishes of the pupils for her future, caieer, and Miss Acheson received a memento of the esteem in which she was held Ifrom the pupils of Standards 111 and IV. Mr. Hewat proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman and the speakers, and gave an interesting account of the amount of work the pupils had done for the patriotic movemeat. They had not only raised large sums of money, but had made many useful articles. He had been making a list of the number of soldiers who had gone from Riverton and who had been pupils of the school, and so far he had obtained the names of twenty. It was proposed to have these inscribed in due course on a Roll of Honour board which Miss Acheson had kindly promised to provide, and thus the memory of the brave men would be perpetuated. He thanked the speakers for their appreciar tive remarks, and said his staff had always given him loyal co-operation. He concluded by mentioning that Mr. Malcolm had donated several prizes, and a special vote of thanks'' was accorded that gentleman, also the chairman (Dr. Trotter) for providing a bag of sweets for each child in the lower classes. The proceedings terminated with the singing of the National Anthem.

Followiug is the prize list: CLASS P.—-Proficiency: Ivan Siemens Ist, Alex Campbell, Ninian Trotter, Charlie Roe, Percy Trail, Richard Brown; Progress; lam Baxter, Alex Brown, Randall McKinnon, Jack Hardie, Willie Fleck, Willie Hopwood, Dora Hunter, Jvatie Bromby, Rita Connell. Nature Study and Drawing: Leslie Blackburn. CLASS I.—Proficiency: Nellie Fleck (Dux) Murni© .Campion, Charles Payne, Doris Bell, Leona Branks, Linda Joyce, Nellie Rose, Ruby Richards. Nature Study:Kura Hunter. Neatest Ex. Boot: George Tressler.

Sewing: Leona Branks. CLASS 2.—Proficiency: Nelson McGregor 1 (Dux), Lydia Bell, Vernon Branks, Robert Stuart, Gordon Robertson, Winnie Gordon. Nature Study: Fred Roe. Neatest Ex. Book: Willie Nelson. Sewing:, Lydia Bell. CLASS 3.—Profiiciency: Eileen Harrison (Dux) George Hopwood, George Bryant, Phyllis Bailey, John Fleck,; Improvement: Albert Shieffelbien, Nina Trotter, Marjorie Price. Drawing: Gordon Stuart; Nature Study: Rita Cassels; Georgraphy: George Hopwood ; History: Harold Stevens; Sewing : Phyllis Bailey; Fancy Work: Nina Trotter.

CLASS i —Profiency: Gladys Pearsey (Dux), Maggie Bryant, Susan Horsham, Harriet King, Gladys Connell!, Myrtle .Oloughley. Improvement: John Joyce, Marion Hunter. Drawing: Sidney CluTrcli; Nature Study: Amy Trail; Geography: Ettie Roy; History : Frank BohSero;. Sewing; Gladys Pearsey. CLASS 5. —Proficiency : Jack Cassels Dux); Ben Hood, Eileen Wmton, Len Church, Norman Trail, Myrtle Rose, Nellie Boldero, Nellie Stevens, Robert Johnstone-; Sewing: Nellie Cossgrove. CLASS 6.—Proficiency: Cecil" Beer (Dux of School), Lesfie Trail, Avice Pet cliell, Albert Lockett, FldWie MoNaughton, Irwin Coughley, Leslie Stuart, Nellie Campion, Rachel Connell, Sewuig: Evelyn Stuart (Mrs. S. Bailey’s

prize) Good Conduct. Mr. Malcolm’s Prizes). CLASS P.—Brio Barton, Beatrice Me lumnon. CLASS I.—Jack Collie,; Class 2: Lydia Bell. CLASS 4.-—Norman Nuttall, Susan Horsham.

CLASS 6. —Cecil Beer, Florrio McXa ugh to*. Attendance—lst Class—Gladys Green Jack Agnew, Vernon Branks, Eileen Harrison, Pearl Saunders, Chas Gray, Harold Stevens, Ettie Boy, Gladys Connell, John Leary, Leslie Trail. 2nd Ciass: Gladys Cassels, Nelson McGregor Jas MoNaughton,. Geo Tressler, Win. Robertson, Norman Trail, Albert Locklett, Rachel Connell, Florence Me NaugHEon, Francis Leary, Geo Hopwood Wm. Tressler, Of the 14 pupils who presented them selves at the Inspector’s examination the following passed:—Proficiency (G (Std.) —Leslie Trail, Cecil Beer, Nelly Campion, Avioe Petohell, Florrie McNaughton; Competency (S' Std.) —Albert Lockett, Irwin Oloughley, Grace Stirling, Rachel Connell, Osborne Cassels, Peter Hardie, Lea Church. Com peteOcy (o Std.) Ben Hood. ERMEDALE. The exceptionally wet weather prevailing for the last two months has had a beneficial effect on the grass which at the present time is in abundance but the continuous rain and want of warmth has greatly retarded cereal crop growth although this crop has grown greatly during the last week or more. The autumn sown crops look well and promiso an abundant harvest. Preparing ground for turnips and grass is the order of the day, and the gerater part of the turnips are now sown, teams working from daylight till dark trying to got this crop which has not yet been a heavy one in the ground. Those who are milking for the factory are making good cheques this year as the price of butter-fat is very high—ls 3d per lb for the opening of the season with the prospect of a rise later on. Those who have sold their cows are reaping the benefit of the high price obtained. 1 Local residents are every year going in more for liming the ground than previously, and'this year nearly every resident has ordered a truck or more of lime. It is though? that clover will not grow here without lime and it also makes a great difference to other grasses. Rabbits which were becoming very numerous have greatly decreased during the wet weather, hundreds of the little one; must have been drowned not only by tho constant flooding of the Orautu creek, but by the, great rush of water

down) the slopies filling their holes. Still there are a great number which are keeping the oat crop short. The small birds are doing great damage this year both in the garden and field. It is nearly impossible to grow vegetable seeds as they pull the small growths tip as soon as they germinate. They are also very destructive on the young turnips which are now through the ground. The turnip seed soaked in tur pentine and sown when dry has been tried as a preventive but it remains to be seen if even that is successful. The Wallace County Council is not buying birds’ eggs this year and that may in some measure account for their number. If people paid their own children for gathering them as was done in the earlier days it would help to get rid of a great number. Whcc ping cough has been very prevalent in the district for some time and is very severe on children under school age. Those of school age are still attending school the possibility being that the fresh air is beneficial. If parents knew to take the infants outside as soon as the cough starts it would effect them very slighly. The local school under the capable teaching of Mrs. Snodgrass is doing good work and in addition to the ordin ary school work Mrs. Snodgrass teaches tho children fancy work which is exceed ingly helpful to them. The annual break up of the school took place last Friday when Mr. D. Mitchell (chairman) presided. A nura her of parents and residents assembled in' the school when each scholar was presented with a book for general progress. Mr. Mitchell in addressing the gathering said he was pleased to see so many present and the possibility of the atteitdance increasing. The children during the year had made good progress. The last teacher had left but a very capable one—Mrs Snodgrass—had taken her place. Mrs. Snodgrassi bad been appointed temporary but an pleased were the committee with her capability that they asked the Education Board to appoint her permanently. Mr. A. Mann (secretary) said that it was very gratifying that out of a roll number of sixteen nine had obtained a first class certificate and prize for attendance. Next year he intended to give every dliild every encouragement to make as good progress as possible * and would present a prize to the child that the teacher thought merited that prize. The chairman and secretary then presented each child with a book and nine of 'these redbived a prize for perfect attendance. The children under the leadership of their teacher sang a number of songs and Miss Jessie Bell and Mrs. Anderson each sang a solo An adjournment was then made to Mr. Mitchell’s residence where a very pleasant afternoon was spent in games, races, eto, Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell doing their utmost to make every one enjoy | themselves.