CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, THAMES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 245, 11 January 1878, Page 3

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, THAMES.

We abridge' the following from the Thames Advertiser :— The annual examination and distribution of prizes at the St. Joseph's School took place on Tuesday December 18. The proceedings commenced at 10 a.m. and lasted until 1 p.m. The Rev. S. Chastagnon presided. There was a considerable attendance, but principally oE the parents of the pupils. The ladies of the Convent of Mercy were also present. The room was decorated with flowers, evergreens, &c, and a stage was erected in the middle, upon which the examination &c, of the children was carried out. The children were very neatly attired, and 200 of them sitting in the gallery presented an attractive and pleasant appearance. This school is divided into two sections. The infant department was first examined. If commenced by a hymn, "Jesus, Gentle Saviour," which was veiy well sung by all the children. The first and third classes read very-well, ' and acquitted themselves creditably upon the other subjects. ' The recitations and the singing exercises were highly creditable to the teachings of the Sisters in charge. The pupils of this department are very young, the average age is not above seven years, and still their discipline, singing, and answering reflect the highest credit on their teachers. The infants then received prizes and were dismissed. SECOND SISCTIOX. Tbcsingiiigpf the song "I Remember" (accompanied on the harmonium by Mis*, Smith) was tKe first item on the programme This was admirably given. The children of the 4th class read and spelled vary correctly, and answered remarkably well in usefulknowledge. Ihc third class answered very well in geography, grammar and tables. The 2nd class was examined in the geography of New Zealand, English history, and grammarr. They answered readily and accurately. The Ist class was subjecte Ito a searching- examination in grammar, English history, geography qf Australia and the world, principles of arithmetic, &c, and their answering was remarkably comprehensive 'and accurate. Then "came the distribution of prizes. The children in this school were very -polite and orderly, and their answering on the general subjects of ordinary education, singing, and discipline was excellent. The sympathy between the good nuns and their pupils was touching to all present. All the classes were examined by Mr. O'Donoghue ST. THOMAS'S (BOYS') SCHOOL. Tte examination, exhibition, &c, of the pupils of this school began at 2 p.m. There were nearly 100 pupils present. Immediately on the Eev. S. Chastagnon taking the chair, Master Andrew R. Dunn stepped forward on the platform and read with great taste and clearness of expression an address on behalf of his young companions. The

fifth class then came forward. Their reading was' good, and was audible throughout the school ; and they answcrklVery Veil questions ;on useful knowledge, and on the subject matter of what they, read. The answering in spelling, tables, Sec., was very good for &o 'young a class., The 4th Cln«s wore npxt examined' and' acquitted themselves very well in the {roop-aphy of New Zealand, arithmetic, tables, spelling, &c. The, 2nd class next came forward and answered correctly /questions on the geography of Europe, Australia, and on the history of New'Ze&land, Australia, as well as English history. Their parsing .and analysing of simple sentences were, good.; i they were also able.to the .distances of places on riinps'aud to /mcLaa-oughT estimate^ of, the areas of .countries. The Ist class were next brought forward. , 7^8 y jl un . d .epw*pufc.j»« 1 unusually severe and general examination.' ;ori history, elementary chemistry,"- principles. >of arithmetic, 'aualysis-cof tides/ mathematics, &c. Dr. Kilgour, Rev. S. .Chastagnon ,• ' and Mr. • Q'D.qnQgtiue each examined them. Their answering pleased every; orfe present./ Master John Dunn then recited the " Sister of -.Mercy." MasteivM. Schidler, " Bygone Schooldays ; "Master A. Cornwall, Brutus to the Romans," and all three' recited well. "The " Best l offering to O'Connell," by Master A. Dunn, was exceedingly 'well recited, aud the prelude, a rapid sketch 6f this greatest Irishman, composed by Mr. O'Donoghue, is worthy of reproduction :—: — , 'Daniel O'Coxnell.' - - Darnel O'Connell; tnc hero and the liberator of Ireland, was born m 1J76. He was as pure a patriot as George Washington, arid a more effective orator than Demosthenes or Pericles. • No nation has had his equal. He roused his long down-troddencountrynien— he made them remember that they were men ; and, for the first time in the world's history, without firing a shot or taking away the life or liberty of a single fellow-creature, he smashed to pieces the rusty and blood- <■ stained penal laws of centuries of ages. . ' He frightened the great .Wellington, the conqueror of Napoleon; and he f.orced from his iron grasp the emancipation of 8,000,000 of ■' He, was a" most devoted Catholic, but he would never ask a privilege of freedom" or religious toleration for i himself or his creed that he was not most willing the. professors of every other opinion' should also enjoy. He fought for the abolition of slavery -more ardently than any man in Europe, and he died a martyr to freedom — a martyr to his creed and his countiy, — after suffering in the latter part of his career six months of the most unjust imprisonment. The great Judge Dcnham declared before the world that the law that made O'Connell suffer was a mockery, a delusion and a snare. He died at Genoa in 1847. He bequeathed his soul to God, his heart to Rome, and his body to Ireland. ' The school . reflects the result of Mr. . O'Donoghuc's_cxcellent teaching. The prizes being distributed, the proceedings broke up by the pupils giving three j cheers for' their teacher,- Mr. R. 'McDonald (who had made a present of a cricket ball, bats, &c-V and 1 the. Rev. S. Chastagnon., THE CONVENT SUPERIOR $CHOOL. The annual exhibition and examination of the young ladies of this school,- and the distribution of prizes; took place yesterday, in the St Joseph's school, -before a very large andirespectable audience; The number of pupils was about 50. -They 'presented a neat -and attract tive appearance, creditable alike to the parents as weUasthc children. The examination was principally conducted by, the children, who were themselves the examiners and the ■ examined, varied" sometimes by Mi-. O'Donoghue .asking a few questions. It was extremely pleasant' to witness the spirit and vivacity, -the readiness and the precision, of the young children in both answering .and .proposing the questionss. Even the younger classes showed as. -much aptitude in this -way as the senior classes. " The amount "of general and specific knowledge displayed by all the classes of this school, the ' order and politeness of the children, while it certainly pleased and often astonished the audience, unquestionably sustained the appropriatcuss of the title Select School, and the Thames may be congratulated upon having in-its midst so excellent a school, 'ilie exhibition and examination of the children must be gratifying to all who take an interest in education. . The answering and deportment of the pupils also reflect great credit on the Sisters of Mercy, and the system of tdaching carried out by them. < But the intellectual display was not the only attraction. Musical selections, singing, &c, were numerous, the specimens of fancy work and drawing ■ were - excellent,' and in these accomplishments the children exhibited a cultivation and taste really admirable. A section of the first class was 1 examined in Algebra, geo'- r metry, and book-keeping, and their answering was remarkably cor--rect. Problems in geometry and equations in Algebra were solved on the black-board before ;the audience, who were hardly ever more surprised. „,.,-,