CONVENT SCHOOLS, WANGANUI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 456, 6 January 1882, Page 20

CONVENT SCHOOLS, WANGANUI.

(Wanganui Herald, Dec. 19, 1881.) In common with other schools of the town Friday witnessed the breaking: up of the schools connected with the Sacred Heart Content. Hia Lordship Bishop Redwood happened to be in town (on his way to Patea where he opens a new Church to-motrow) and the advantage was taken of the occasion to give an entertainment in the evening, by the young lady scholars, in the schoolroom at the rear of the Convent. The Bishop was present and seemed greatly pleased at the highly creditable manner in which the followipg programme was gone through : — Prologue (composed by the Sisters), Miss Lottie Wixcey ; glee, "Home again," School ; chorus, choir ; recitation, "The philosopher's scales," Miss Mary M'Grath ; duett (2 pianos), " Canary bird quadrilles," Misses M. Cronin, K. Shennan, M. Price,^ and M. O'Rielly ; song, " Come where the moonbeams linger," Misses N. Mullins, S. Hartnett, O. Holcroft, and G. Eddie ; pianoforte duet, " Pulaski's banner," Misses M. Kreger and L. Wixcey ; pianoforte solo, " Lucretia Borgia," Misses K. Shennan and M. Cronin ; recitation, " The Leper," Miss Julia Roache ; glee, " See our oars," choir ; duet (pianos), " Woodland whispers waltzes," Miss K. Fox, M. Nathan, M. O'Reilly, and J. Shortall ; song, " Remember or forge*," Miss Maude and Nettie Nathan ; recitation, " Downfall of Poland," Master D. Roland ; pianoforte solo (2 pianos), " War expedition," Misses M. Price and M. Nathan ; song, " The flower girl," Miss Bffic Gerse ; duet (on pianos), " Morning star waltz," Misses L. Cameron, N. Mullins, C. Ballam, and J. Roache ; recitation, "The Sister of Mercy," Miss Julia Donovan ; song, " Ould Ireland," Miss Mary O'Rielly ; recitation, " Boyhood's years," Master R. Keen ; play, " Martyrdom of St. Cecilia," by the children ; epilogue (composed by the Sisters), Miss Gertrude Holcroft ; the New Zealand Anthem. Every item in the programme was greatly applauded, especially the song *' Ould Ireland," which was encored. The elocutionary and musical powers which have been developed in the girls by the good Sisters is perfectly surprising. Both the prologue and epilogue were well spoken, •nd whoever may be their author or authors, possessed much literary merit. Inside the Convent was displayed a collection of work executed by ti*e pupils, consisting of cushions, slippers, wrappers, articles of clothing, water colour drawings, flower paintings and so forth. These articles received much and close inspection, and were well worthy of it. Some point lace, worked by Miss Effie Gerse, and Limerick lace by Miss Lizzie Cameron, were excellent specimens of the art. A water colour by Miss Kate Shennan, in which the delicate and subdued tints of the flowers are capitally blended and arranged, was one of the gems of a very interesting collection. Crewel work, embroidery, and in fact almost every kind of occupation to which busy female fingers devote themselves, were well represented. The Sisters are greatly to be complimented on the marked progress made by the girls during the short term they have been under their tuition. We may add that the total number of girls attending the school is 38, pf whom fourteen are boarders. The Bishop examined all the schools on Friday in the principal classes, and expressed himself thoroughly satisfied in every respect with the state of education and the work done by the pupils. The Bishop very much desired to bestow the prizes, bnt it was found impossible to prepare the list^ in time, as his Lordship left for Patea by the train on the following morning. The prizes gained by the children attending the various Bchools held in connection with the Catholic Church were distributed yesterday by the Rev. Father Kirk. We subjoin the prize list : — Sacked Hkabt Supbbiob School. Fifth Class.— Conduct, Kate Shennan and Mary O'Reilly ; Christian Doctrine, Anastasia Malone ; reading, Mary Buckley and Ellen Cullum; composition, Kate Shennan, Mary Buckley, and Julia Roache ; penmanship, Julia Roache, M. O'Rielly, Jane Shortall; arithmetic, Mary Cronin ; mental do., E. Cullum ; geography, K. Shennan, Mary Bowden, and M. Buckley ; grammar, Mary Connery, Kate Shennan, M. Cronin ; spelling, Amelia Neill and Mary Connery; general application, Mary O'Reilly, Mary Price, and Jane Shortall ; dictation, Lizzie Cameron and Jane Shortall ; history, Mary Bowden, A. Neill, M. Price ; fancy work, Lizzie Cameron (for lace), Kate Fox ; music— instrumental, M. Cronin, M. O'Reilly, Maude Nathan ; vocal, Mary Cronia and Julia Roache ; drawing and painting, (water colours), Kate Bhennan, M. O'Reilly, and J. Roache. Fourth Class. — Christian Doctrine, Mary Dais ; reading, Norah Mullins and Theresa Hartnett; spelling, M. Nathan and Maggie Edwards ; letter writing, M. Nathan and Norah Mullins ; grammar, M. Edwards and Effie Gerse ; geography, M. Nathan and Lizzie Brown ; arithmetic, Effie Gerse and Lizzie Brown ; penmanship, N. Mullins and Mary Dais ; composition, Theresa Hartnett and M. Edwards ; dictation, Theresa Hartnett and M. Dais ; fancy work, Maggie Edwards (plain work), E. Gerse (lace); regularity and music, N. Mullins ; regularity, E. Gerse. Third Class.— Christian Doctrine, Agnes Turner; regularity, Gertrude Holcroft ; reading, A. Turner and Mary Cooper ; spelling, Constance Ballam and G. Holcroft ; grammar, G. Holcroft ; arithmetic, Mary Cooper and C. Ballam ; writing and dictation, A. Turner, G. Holcroft, and C. Ballam ; instrumental music, C. Ballam ; vocal, G. Holcroft. Second Class.—Christian Doctrine, Lottie Wixey ; conduct, K. Mahoney ; reading, K. Mahoney and M. Kreger ; spelling, L. Wixey and M. Kreger ; geography, M. Kreger and G. Eddie ; writing, K. Maboney and L. Wixey ; recitation and singing, L. Wixey ; pianoforte, M. Kreger and L. Wixey. First Class.— Conduct, Clara Eddie ; reading Mary McCulloch and Maude Holcroft ; spellins, M. McCullock and M. Holcroft ; writing, Maude Holcroft and Clara Eddie ; tables, Mary McCulloch and C. Eddie ; sewing, C. Eddie ; Christian Doctrine, Mary McCulloch.

St. Joseph's School. Fonrth Class.— J. Henry, Maggie Carmody, and Lizzie Fox are the best in all subjects.

Third Class. — Needlework, M. Oarmody ; conduct and Christian Doctrine, M. McQrath, B. Farrell ; reading, J. Ryan, M. McGrath t spoiling, M. McGrath, J. Ryan, A, O'Hara ; writing, Phoebe Fox, A. O'Hara, M. Fan* ; geography. H. O'Leary, M. Brown ; composition, B. Farrell, M. J. Whelan P. Fox ; plain needlework, B. Farrell ; Application, A. O'Hara, H. O'Leary ; fancy work, M. Farr, P. Fox ; arithmetic, A. O'Hara, J. Ryan, M. Farr ; conduct, J. Henry, H. O'Leary, M. Farr ; regularity, M. y'cGratb. All the junior classe* receive prizes from thy Christmas Tree. St. Maby'h Boys' School. The junior boys received prizes from the Christmas Tree. In the senior classes the prizes are not yet distributed. How* ever, the following are the names of the prizetakers :—: — Fifth Class.— W. Connery, W. Wixcey, M. McGrath, D. Byan, T. Bowden. Fourth Class.— R. Keen, Henry O'Hara, G. Hartnett, John Durong, M. O'Connor, G. Carroll, T. Turner, Fred. Oliver. Third Class.— J. McMahon, John Kershaw, W. Lee, F. Oliver. Next in meiit : W. Durong, P. PurceU, 11. O'Hanlan, P. O'Hara* G. Kershaw, T. Lee, J. Maher.