COLLEGE OF ST. ALOYSIUS, WAIKARI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 26, Issue 349, 26 December 1879, Page 16

COLLEGE OF ST. ALOYSIUS, WAIKARI.

On Fnday last the first annual breaking-up and distribution of prizes took place at the Jesuits' College, at Waikari, near Dunedin. His Lordship the Bishop of the Diocese distributed the piizes, and there were also present the rev. clergy of Dunedin, and several ladies and gentlemen. Drawings, maps, and specimens of handwiiting executed by the pupils were exhibited, and deservedly gained much approbation. The writing was especially neat and regular, and some of the maps could hardly be surpassed. The following progiamme was gone thiough with : (> See our oars with feathered spray," glee, 6ung with correctness and taste by the pupils, accompanied on the pianofoite by Mr. Waud, organist of St. Joseph's Church, Dunedin, who is also teacher of instrumental music at the College. Spelling, by Masteis A. White and D. M'Carthy, who were examined by the Eev. Faiher O'Malley, S.J. "Isle of the Sea," pianoforte duet, by Masters E. Lee and B. Baiker, a very creditable performance, English and Latin grammar, by Master McGuinness, who answered with promptitude and concciness the questions put to him. " A tenible situation, reading by Mazier A. "White, with good emphasis and clearly. Pianoforte solo. '• O chide not my heart," very nicely played by Master B. Baiker. Geography of Ireland, an exercise on the map which displayed most accurate knowledge of the subject by the pupils taking part in it (Master A. "White and J. McGuinness). " Come let us all go MayiDg," an extremely pretty round sung with much spirit by the pupils, "Mr. Waud accompanying them. Geography of Europe, by Master J. Weavers and J. McGuinness, who evinced a perfect acquaintanceship with their subject. •' Wieck of the Hesperus," recitation by Master McCaithy, given with good expression and fluency. Phonography, by Masters W. Banning and J. Weavers ; this was an examination in the art of short-hand writing. in which the pupils displayed mv.eh proficiency. Chorus, "To all you ladies now on land," very pleasantly sung by the pupils to Mr. Waud's accompaniment. Recitation, "An order for a picture," by Master B. Baiker, who recited with feeling, clearness and fluency. Pianoforte solo, "'Jenny of the Mil],"' played with correctness and expression by Master W. 'Hann'ng. Pioblcm, by Master G. Weavers ; this was a question relative to the scoies gained in a certain match by a number of cricketers, it involved difficult working in fractions. and was correctly solved by the pupil. Pianofoite boX " Sweet Brier," very nicely given by Master E. Lee. Recitation, " The King and the Miller of Man&fi eld," by Masters D. McCarthy and J. McGuinness, remarkaby well given. The "Music* Board," by Master McGuinness and McCarthy, also an examination in the rales for singing at sight, for composition, harmony, &c, which proved the excellence of the manner in which the pupils are being grounded. French reading, a scene from Molieres " Lc medectn maigrc lid," by Master W. Hanninjj, who read

fluently and with such expression as showed that he understood and appreciated the meaning and wit of the scene represented. "Le Vieux Ramponneau," a French round, sang capitally by the pupils to Mr. Waud's accompaniment. " The Geography of Caesar," by Masters J. and G. Weavers ; this examination was conducted with the aid of the map to which one of the pupils pointed, while the other translated from the Latin ; in this way the divisions of Gaul and the topography of Britain were gone through witbout an error. "A Stratagem," from sth book of the same author, was translated byMaster B. Barker, and Master W. Ahem rendered the difficult passage describing the position of the bridge upon the Rhine, without a. fault or so much as a hesitation. A passage from the seventh book or\ the author, which as yet had not been begun by the pupils was then selected by the Bishop, and construed with wonderful correctness by Masters W. Harming and E. Lee. Then followed a humorous reading, " The Art Critic," by Master J. Weavers, who gave it very well, and the chorup, " Christmas," concluded the list. On the conclusion the Rev. Father O'Malley, in requesting the Bishop to distribute the prizes, said that during the first year of their College the attendance had been small, but there was one thing that made him pleased at this : it had afforded an opportunity for establishing on a firm basis a proper spirit of study as the characteristic of the establishment. The conduct of the boys had been excellent, and in a great degree, he might say, this was due to the good example set them by W. Harming and E. Lee, the most advanced of the pupils. The rev. gentleman then alluded to the studies that bad been carried on, and said he had deiermined on teaching phonography, since lie found it so highly recommended by many eminent men, and as an art likely to be of use to any of those who might have much writing to do. He also pointed to the drawings executed by the pupils, and to some of the maps which had been enlarged by them from originals of smaller size. They bad challenged two of the Melbourne Colleges to compete with their pupils in mapping, but the challenge had not been accepted. Ibe Bishop prefaced the distribution of the prizes by a few remarks to the following effect. He said the improvement manifest had been excellent, reading, geography, spelling, everything was very good ; but the progress in French and Latin was astonishing. The College had only been established one year, and all that was witnessed was the fruit of one year's work only. He might truly say in one year the boys had done more than it was the babit of hoys to do in two years. He had had considerable experience of student life, Besides his early home studies he had been away from home engaged in regular studying for thirteen years, and ever since he had had experience of schools and colleges, and he had never seen anything before like the work done by the boys here. With the exception of one boy who had previously learned a little Latin grammar, and of one who had learned a little French grammar, none of them had a year ago commenced either Latin or French, and now they were advanced in both languages, and in Latin some of them could even construe with correctness passages unprepared from a difficult author. He thought it was right he should say this. It not only spoke well for the boys, and showed their docility and industry, and their good mental powers, but it also testified to the ability and application of their teachers. The good Fathers had laboured zealously, and their pupils were bound to show they appreciated their labours, as indeed they had shown. It was a great advantage to have such an institution within reach, and there was no doubt that those who profited by it would find themsoves advanced in an incredibly short time beyond all expectations. His lordship had great pleasure in congratulating the Eev. Father O'Malley on the success of the year, which was amply borne evidence to by all that had been witnessed. The Bishop then dismissed the boys until February 3rd. We append the PRIZE LIST. English. — Grammar and composition, Wm. Afeern ; reading and declamation, Benj. Barker, 1 ; Jas. M'Guinness, 2 ; geography, Geo. Weavers, Jas. M'Guinness, Alfred White ; map drawing, W. Harming, Edmund Lee, Dan. M'Cartby, Jas. M'Guinness ; book-keeping, Ed. Lee, Geo. Weavers ; arithmetic, Wm. Harming, Geo. Weavers, James M'Guinness, Alf. White ; spelling and English exercises, Alf. White. French. — Freoch grammar, Wm. Harming. Latin. — Cseesar and Latin grammar, Wm. Harming ; Latin grammar, Geo. Weavors, Jas. M"Guinness. Drawing. — Excellence, Benj. Barker, 1 ; Ed. Lee, 2 ; improvement, W. Harming, Dan. M'Carthy. Singing. — Excellence, Ed. Lee ; improvement, Jas. M'Guinness. Writing. — Excellence, B. Barker, J. M'Guinness ; improvement, W. Harming, D. M'Carthy. Phonography. — W. Harming. Piano. — Excellence, W. Harming ; improvement, E. Lee. Christian Doctrine. — Wm. Ahem, Jas. M'Guinness. Good conduct.— W. Harming.

Mr. T. Black, late of Messrs. G. and T. Young's, is about to open an establishment as watchmaker and jeweller. Mr. Black has made arrangements by which his stock will be constantly replenished from the best European markets, and in addition he is himself a thoroughly skilled workman, in every branch connected **ith his trade. The annual gathering of the Caledonian Society of Otago will be held at their grounds, Dunedin, on Jau. Ist, 2nd, and 3rd. £580 will be given in prizes, and the sports will be as usual of great interest, and maintained with all the spirit for which the society is reroa^.able. Everything- will be done to insure the enjoyment of visitors. Almost within a stoic's throw of St. Mary Major in Rome were three churches of which uot a tiacc has been left, save in the case of San Antonio Abato, part of which was preserved on account of its valuable frescoes, but the church, as a building for divine service, has utterly disappeared. The church and convent of San Giulinno, wherein the. nun of Minsk, Madr<> Macrina, dwelt when in Rome, and wherein shft died, has brvn demolished, and that completely, The church and convent of tha Franciscan Nuns of the Purification has been also demolished. Tle Municipality of Rome sold the convent to an American named Field, who has built a splendid house- on the ruins of the church aud convent,