EXAMINATION AT ST. MARY'S CONVENT SCHOOLS, PONSONBY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 32, 6 December 1873, Page 8

EXAMINATION AT ST. MARY'S CONVENT SCHOOLS, PONSONBY.

(Auckland ' Star,' Nov. 21.) Amomgst our many institutions of a somewhat public character, the Catholic School of St. Mary's, situated in the rising district of Ponsonby, is Jiofc the least worthy of oommendation as an educational establishment. Surrounded by spacious grounds of great neatness it commands one of the loveliest glimpses of the harbor and adjacent landscape which it is possible for the eye to behold. Contiguous to bt. Maty s school is St. Mary's Orphanage, which also participates in all these natural advantages. A large number of ladies and gentlemen assembled yesterday at both of these establishments to witness one of the usunl examinations. His Lordship Dr Croke presided, accompanied by the 3tev. Fathers McDonald, Fyjies, O'Hara, Paul, Boibieux, U-oJden, and Simpsoa. Amongafc the many gentlemen were Dr Wood and Messrs Dignan, Brighani, Darby, Corcoran, Tole, and others. ±ne nrst exhibmon was the orphan children, numbering about fortysix, whose appearance was remarkable for cleanliness, liveliness, and an uniform neatness of dres3. Their programme comprised sineine an address to his Lordship (spoken by one of these little ones in au accomplished manner), catechism, reading, grammar, geography, domestic economy, mental arithmetic, exercises, and poetry, all of which were satislactorily gone through and betokened a wonderful amoimb of training by the Sisters of Mercy. This programme concluded wtih the National Anthem, sung with a loyal gusto by the entire body of children.— Hia Lordship then addressed them in terras of earnestness and gratification, saying that he was highly pleased with the result of the children's examination, and he was especially plea?ed with that element in it called domestic economy. He was always delighted to see instruction take such a practical turn, particularly in the case of the Orphanage, where tho children were not likely to take very high positions in society, but would probably have to •' earn their bread " by bathing through lire. He wished them every happiness, and concluded his plain and interesting address with bis benediction His Lordship then proceeded to St Mary's School, cornicing of boarders aud day scholar* numbering sixty, and tlipie also presided, surrounded by his clergy and a rery large lay audience of Jadies and gentlemen. The pupils, who were placed on a dais, presented, as is usual in ladies' schools, a fairy-like appeamnco, which, if possible, was heightened by the loveliness ot the day. The programme in this school, in which are taught the elemenfciry aud higher branches of education, w&a much larger than the one above noticed. The first c.Tent or entree was the " Isabel Polka," being perfectly p*iTcrmed on three pianos and harmonium by Beven little ladies of about nine years of age. Next followed an address to his Lordship Dr OroKo and tho' audience generally, delivered by a youne hdy in v manner that a girl of riper years might be proud of. Then

came a lengthy examination of the various school nUasn. i« „ i v English, Scotch, Roman, and Irish histories in all of which rtS° ?' a great promptness and accuracy of answer also £ j£f reoitaHo^' grammar, parsing, arithmetic, geography (topographS SfrSj *™l political, with special reference to ITe* f Zealand), an d aho dSeS economy. In all these subjects, notwithstanding a nervous bSSSt visible in one or two instances, there was a general proaoiencjsh^w? The whole programme was interspersed with pianoforte pieces -Si" and duets, vocal and kstruniental,-m which several of the duS! took part. After some exercises in spelling, poetry, and f*blL P SJS he younger portion of the children/the proWme concluded S the chorus, « Chough and Crow," sung by the whole school, bLrTnd little the accompaniment being played by some of the pupils Hia tributed at three p.anos.-His Lordship then rose and defied an address remarkable for its eloquent simplicity, in the course of which he expressed bimself-and he believed in common with all presentgratified at the efficient manner in which the pupils had EuTtfed themselves. He was much pleased in this, as in the caseTf to. Orphanage School, to see the practical ingredients of domestk economy introduced concurrently with the other items of in?™ turn. He believed it to be an important element in the educaof a la Jj- After a humorous and instructive address his Lordshro concluded by congratulating the Sisters of Mercy upon the eenenS proficiency of their pupils, and the pupils upon the efficiency ot their devoted teachers. There was no reason to complain as to the patronage accorded to these schools, the attendance being greater now than afc any previous period. This, he said, was the best sign that theJ we held in high estimation by the public, and were as ffficienfc and afforded as h,gh a standard of education as any school in the comma. Mty. After expressing his pleasure at seeing so laree an «^iZ present his Lordship told the pupils to continue to progress as th £ had hitherto done; and at their earnest request graced them a S day. The visitors havmg inspected the very creditable drawing maps, fancy work of every description, &c, done by the pupiirand ST™* ?l™ h ™ idm &™ d S r ° un(i8 ' aUlefthi BWy Phased and i. fled with the afternoon's proceedings.