ST. MARY'S HIGH SCHOOL, WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 454, 23 December 1881, Page 20

ST. MARY'S HIGH SCHOOL, WELLINGTON.

The Sisters of St. Mary's and their pupils afforded a very pleasurable three days enjoyment to the patrons, parents and friends of the Institute this week. It commenced on Monday evening with two plays, one in French " Charles II," and the other in English entitled the "Sleeping Beauty" with interludes of charming vocal and instramental music. It would be invidious to select any of the performers for special praise, as all played their parts well. In " Charles II," the following ladies took parts, Misses Redwood, Grace, Worthington, Reeves, Archibald, Taylor, Hamerton, McGaire, Saunders, Scully, M. Grace and May Redwood. They enunciated the French with ease and precision, and their style of acting showed that their preceptors did not lay as much stress on the inculcation of vulgar demonstrativeness, as on the attainment of a natural, graceful, pleasing style of delivery and action, with just that sufficient vivacity which certain portions of the play required. The " properties " and scenery were admirable, and the objects of much pleasing criticism. " The Sleeping Beauty " was performed by the more juvenile pupils who played their parts remarkably well, and elicited great interest, one of them, Miss Rome, being only five years old, created quite a sensation. The young ladies who took part in this play were : — Misses McGuire, Bedwood M. Grace, N. Redwood, A. Grace, L. Scully, May Bedwood, Bennett, McCaffrey, J. Worthington, Rome and Bradley. The Misses Chavannes, Hnmerton, Reeves, Hare^ McDonald, *S. Reeves, N. Redwood, May Redwood, B. McCaffrey, and Hilda and Blanch Hamerton contributed some well selected pieces of of vocal and instrumental music in admirable style. A German recitation was given by Mies Redwood, and one in Italian by Miss Scully. The entertainment on Tuesday evening was even more successful; " Tyborne and who went there in the days of Queen Elizabeth " was the title of the play, and the followiug young ladies took characters. Misses Worthington, Reeves, Scully, M. Grace, Redwood. Grace, McDonald, Mary Redwood, J. Worthington, Hamerton, A. Waithington, Gardner, Hasell, A. Hasell, A. Saunders, O. Redwood, N. Redwood, M. Brown, and Ahem. The overture to " William Tell " arranged for two pianos was admirably executed by Misses Hare and Reeves. Amongst the audience were his Lordship the Bishop. Reverend Fathers McNamara, Herrigan, Aherne and Tracy, the Marist Brothers, Hon. Morgan, S. Grace, Messrs Hart, Hamerton, Reeves. Hasell, Madden, Maher, Sheridan, Meara, Brown, Bishop, and others whose names I did not ascertain. The following is the Evening Poet's report of the Convent Bchools :— There was a large gathering of parents and friends of the young lady pupils at the Convent School yesterday to witness the distribution of prizes prior to the usual Christmas vacation. The proceedings were of the pleasantest character, and everyone present appeared delighted with the entertainment which preceded the distribution, and at the thorough manner in which the pupils have been grounded in all the branches of education, such as must tend to make them dutiful children, sterling housewives, and accomplished young ladies. Indeed, nothing seems to be omitted in the education of the children which may be found useful in after life. Well grounded i.n primary knowledge at the outset, they are subsequently taught something of languages, science, art, literature, and music, and so far as can be done in a public institution of the kind, they are well drilled in domestic duties. From the lowest form to the highest, needle-work (plain and fancy) is taught in all branches, and the samples exhibited yesterday displayed proficiency even in the youngest children that reflects the greatest credit on the skill, patience, and perseverance on the Mother Superior and the teachers under her. The examinations which have been conducted during the past few days have shown excellent results in all the departments of knowledge taught, and so pleased were some of the parents at the progress of their children that Mr. Reeves, at the conclusion of the proceedings, came forward and publicly thanked on his own behalf and oa behalf of others, the Mother Superior and the sisters tor the thorough manner in which they had instructed the children. Our space does not permit of as lengthened a notice of yesterday's proceedings as their merits and the merits of the school generally deserve. Of the concert therefore all we cau say is that it was pleasing in every respect. Amoog other things an ode to the Bishop was read by Miss Grace, the words of which had an appropriate bearing on his Lordship 8 position in connection with the Convent School. Another interesting feature was the " Crowniig of the most amiable " by the Bishop, the young ladies being the Misses Cbavannes (Ist), Hamerton (2nd), and Archibald (3rd). The following is the prize list. Fikst Class.— Good Conduct— B. Chavannes; accessit, Ist, Beeves ; 2nd, A. Worthington. Religions Knowledge (prize £1, eift of the Rev. Father M'Namara)— Scully ; do.— 2nd prize, E. Grace • accessit, Ist, Connell ; 2nd, B. Tabor. History, Geography, Grammar and Composition— lst prize, £5, gift of his Lordship, Dr. Redwood, Beeves. History and Geography— Accessit, Ist, Scully ; 2nd, Hare. Grammar and Compo*ition~2nd prize, B. Redwood ; aocessit, Ist division, Hare; 2nd Carrick ; accessit, Ist division, Archibald: 2nd, Reeves. Special Subjects— E. Grace ; accessit, Reeves. Writing— E. Worthington : accessit, Ist E. Chavannes ; 2nd, B Bedwood. Music— E. Chavannes; accessit, Hamerton. Recitation— h. Grace; accessit, Ist, Reeves; 2nd, Scully. French Language— M. Reeves; accessit, Ist, B. Redwood; 2nd, Grace. French Conversation— B. Redwood; accessit, K. Worthington German Language— Reeves ; accessit, B. Redwood. German and French Recitation— B. Redwood ; accessit Ist, Reeves ; 2nd, Scully Italian Language— Scully ; accessit, Hare. Needlework— E. Chavannes ; accessit, Hare and Worthington. Drawing— lot, Hare ; 2nd ChavaniKs. Singing— Reeves ; accessit, Ist, E. Worthington ; 2nd, A. Worthington. Second C^ass.— Religious Knowledge— lsr, Mary Redwood; 2nd, M. Grace ; accessit, Ist, Chapman ; 2nd, M. Bkerrett ; 3rd, B. Chmino. Arithmetic -M. Haseil ; accessit, Ist, M\ Skerrett; 2nd Hamerton. Grammar— A. Hasell ; accessit, Ist, M. Hasell ; 2nd BeeVes, M. Ahem. History— H. Archibald ; accessit, M. Grace, M

A. McDonald. Special Subjects (Botany, Astronomy^ Geology) — M. Grace ; accessit, Ist, H. Archibald ; 2nd, Gardner. Geography— H. Archibald ; accessit, Ist, McDonald ; 2nd, Koch. Writing— A. Connell ; accessit, Ist, H. Archibald ; 2nd, M. Skerrett. Frenoh Language— Hamerton ; accessit, A. Saunders. Music, Ist Divirioa (harmonium)— McDonald ; accessit, S. Reeves. 2nd Division— B. Tabor. Application to Music — M. Hasell. German Language — B. Worthington ; accessit, B. Grace. Needlework and Domestic Duties— A. Worthington; accessit, A. Brown. Application— H. Ahem. Memory Lessons— M. Skerrett. Third Class.— Religions Knowledge— lst division, B. Bennett ; 2nd division, B. Brown ; accessit, May Redwood. Grammar — A. Truman ; accessit, Ist, A Brown ; 2nd, May Redwood. HistoryMary Bedwood ; accessit, M. Brown and M. Millner. Geography*F. Frankel; accessit, B. Redwood and A. Hare. Writing— M. Brown ; accessit, M. Boss. Application — A. Home ; accessit, A. Hare. Needlework — B. Magnire ; accessit, Ist, A. Home ; 2nd, J. Worthington. General Progress -A. Chapman. Recitation — May Redwood ; accessit, E. Bennett. Drawing — K. Mulligan ; accessit, Mary Redwood. Music— E. Maguire ; accessit, J. Worthington. Arithmetic— A. Brown ; accessit, Buckeridge aad Milliter. Focbth Class.— Writing— M. Bradley. Geography— M'Caffery. Grammar — F. Tabor. Regular Attendance — I. Maginaity. Application—E. Fitzgerald. Music— N. Redwood. Fifth Class. — Writing— L. Maguire. Good Conduct— L. Collins. Recitation— O. Redwood. Arithmetic— Casey. Spelling— M. O'Connor. Application— A. Grace. His Lordship addressed the children after the distribution, and expressed the great pleasure it afforded him at being present to distribute the prizes which were the reward of their good conduct, their diligence, perseverance, and application. The most searching examination had been gone into, and the pupils had been found to have made the very best use of their time. They had shown their earnestness and determination to advance themselves, and to attain to the greatest perfection in their power. Not only had great progress been made in the ordinary branches of education, but they had. become proficient in various domestic duties, and also to some extent in the fine arts. He thanked them for the beautiful address they had presented him with, and for the consideration they had always shown him, and said no sacrifice would be grudged on his part, in order that they might become an honour to themselves, to their parents, and to society. He strongly urged them to study in their homes those household duties which could not be taught in the school, but a knowledge of which, however high their rank, would never be derogatory to them, but would rather add to their scholastic accomplishments. Mr. Reeves as we have already indicated, expressed his gratification at the manner in which his girls and the daughters of others had been instructed in the school. The proceedings were brought to a close by the children singing " God save the Pope."