ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 275, 9 August 1878, Page 5

ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

(Communicated to the Nelson Ecening Mall.) On Tuesday afternoon the boys attending the above school presented the Rev. Father Garin with the following address, accompanied with a handsome and useful book entitled " Hadyn's Dictionary of Dates " The following address was read by Louis Frank :— To the Rev. A. M. Garin, Patron of St. Mary's Schools We, the undersigned pupils attending St. Mary's School, beg to offer you our sincere congratulations on this, the 68th anniversary of your birth, and hope you may be spared to us for many years Though the Government grant is withdrawn from this school, and it is solely supported by school fees and voluntary contributions, we have j|uch pleasure in congratulating you that even under those great disSt. Mary's Schools shall continue to hold the high position lucy always had in Nelson. Wishing you every happiness we are, etc., r ' -, , (Signed by 57 boys.) After having thanked the pupils for their kindness in feelinoterms, the Rev. Father Garin said : There is a remark which on this occasion I wish to pass upon the character of St. Mary's Schools and this remark is grounded upon facts. You will agree with me that these schools have always been highly spoken of. The Inspector of schools in all his annual reports showed how they were excelling on many points, but I must say that this year it has not been so favourable. The report states that this year the school falls somewhat snort of the high standard reached in former years. This report may \n-°\ n -°r e1?e 1 ?- espeC l bGfcruc ' but if Mr - Hodgson had stated the cause of this falling off instead of conveying an unfavourable idea of the teaching powers in the schools it would have, on the reverse, reflected to the credit of the teachers. But being limited in his articles for want of space I suppose he could not enter into details. The matter of fact is this : bmce January it was rumoured that St. Mary's Schools, after six months, would cease to be supported by Government, and on this

account several pupils of the first class of the first division tried to secure for themselves situations before the school would break up. T £ e consequence was that the best pupils by degrees left the school, which consequently could not in the last examination show the same high results as before. Was not this circumstance a mark of great proficiency when pupils who had not even accomplished the studies they intended to go through were yet able to be promoted to advantageous situations? Therefore as the report pointed out a defect in the school without referring to the cause of it I consider it but right that I should tell you that the cause of that defect, far from being disadvantageous, reflects most favourably upon the proficiency of several pupils, who were able to find readily situations on. leaving the schools. As to Mr. Kavanagh, who has been acting as second teacher, I will only pass this remark : He took charge of the second division about fourteen months ago, and during that short period he has had to contend against the greatest disadvantage of having had more children than he could reasonably be expected to attend to, a great number of them being very small children crowded in the small space alloted them. But what shows Mr. Kavanagh's ability is the good name that he has already earned, for he has had to replace a good experienced teacher— Mr. Richards. He has to contend against the great disadvantage of keeping a school which had been for many years free and which must now be supported by fees. And yet, in spite of these disadvantages, children come to place themselves under his charge in great numbers, so much so that he has already been obliged to employ a monitor in order to be able to attend the upper classes, and I have no doubt that his exertions will be repaid with brilliant success. Mr Kavanagh said : Eev. Father Garin and my pupils— l feel proud indeed of the generous manner my boys have acted to-day towards the patron of this Catholic school. Father Garin has done more for Catholic education than any man in New Zealand. When you are older, my dear boys, you will understand what a great obligation you arp under to Father Garin fcr your education. I thank Father Garin for the flattering terms he has spoken of me in. lam perfectly satisfied with the progress of my pupils. I did my best to advance them in their studies, If your parents were not satisfied, you, particularly the Protestant boys, would not be sent here, when you can receive education free in the Government schools in the town. Father Mahoney spoke a few words of advice, and hearty cheers were given for Fathers Garin and Mahoney, and Mr. Kavanagh. Father Garin was also presented with an address and copies of " Chambers' Encyclopedia of Science " and " Roget's Thesaurus " by St. Mary's Branch Hibernian Society, for which he returned thanks in a suitable speech.