DOMINICAN CONVENT SCHOOLS QUEENSTOWN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 46, 14 March 1884, Page 21

DOMINICAN CONVENT SCHOO LS QUEENSTOWN.

(LaU Wakatipu Mail, March 7 ) The] annual distribution of prices at above schools took place on Wednesday-those of the High School in the morning, aud those of St. Joseph's School in the afternoon— in the presence of the Ram W. Burke, of Dunedin (who presented the prizes and certificates^ J O'Neill, pastor of the parish, and several parents and^friends-the attendance intne : afternoon being very good. The musical entertainment provided between the respective distributions at the Hi*h School presentations was very enjoyable-aud the various pieces a lotted were rendered or executed with good taste and in capital time— reflecting great crsdit on the teachers. w*i»«u After the distribution of prizes amongst the scholars nf th* High School the Rev. Mother Prioress of to? B^Jn Solvent ex? plained that the present distribution, which should have taken plac* pnor to the Christmas vacation, had been unavoidably postponed in consequence of her inability to make the examinations earlier • other duties requiring her presence at Dimedin. The result of the examination was very satisfactory. Considering that the institution had only been established a few months, the young ladies had shown an unusually marked facihty for learning French, music and singing, m which accomplishments she hoped they would be proficient next year. The pupils had been more or lesa undergoing a course of studies as a louudation to prepare them for the standards required. The prize for good conduct had been awarded by the votes of the young ladies to the pupU who had been uniformly the most obedient, amiable and honourable throughout the year. Miss Eunice Robertson received the majority of votes and was consequently crowned. The Rev. Father Burke here came forward and said that, in the absence of Father Mackay, it became his pleasine duty to make some observations called for by the presen? oJcaaln. He should first congratulate those children who had received prizes-some had received so .many that he did not think they could be able to carry home so great a burden. They should not look upon these priSS the lull reward of the work they had doae during the IJst i tSm The reward of their present labours in school awaited thenfin X success which should be theirs in the different spheres of life in which theyshoald be afterwards placed. They seemed to have very fairly attained the ends for wtuch the institution had been established l and for which they daily came within its walls-to obtain information they had ]ust gone-aad which had been witnessed h vail nrlS with unconcealed satisfaction-showed theTr acquSd gentleEo carnage, obedience of disposition and gr aC a of movement Then in reference to the improvement of their moral facnlties-their act vancingingoodness-a. passing suunger could say S little ; but he thought their parents and superiors had expressed no dis«t is£p JSeSd SS e this On mat4J ca T. **??"* ties ; who embraced lives of °L\ XnS *%"£ fcfiffi p^erty^r obedience, humility and retirement, in order to devote KmSvS exclusively to the service O f God aud or their neighbour- wh?w thout expecting fee or reward or any recompense Lre b°low days to the hard work of informing th/ mind of tie with necessary knowledge, and to the higher work of cultivS^ their wills aud elevating tb el r affections'* by kind counsTl an I %iund example. Words persuade, but example forces us to follol the woids and the example of their teachers could not but exercise a lnis success was owing chiefly to application, industry aud Delivering work. The rev. gentleman ß*i&Uwovk\S-£ 00 W 7 £™toV* then, to your lessons-not alone here iv school bufaio at home where no eye may be upon you, and where ycur own determinSn X £ m?nd LthST f™* W"* yOU to ™ k Be goS tooT Lear in mind that thj i-asou of the existence of this house is not m vS 1C ;;\L^ Ut al8 °/ OUr O trl?nLg-Tot S alone weltare ot society, it "oouiusd and truth, virtue and knowledge negLcuug hi^ae f, considers the course of the he.iva..s." Hence the Catholic Church looking not alone to the true but to the goo*! not alone to the infoimmg of the mind but to the training of the heart, aot alone to this world but also to the next, love ?topub her little ones for training into the hands of her religious-faer best sons and daughters, models of the h lg hest and rarest virtuea-i i order that their j oung and tender minds and hearts should be imbued with fpH^n PCBl ,T S',^hgoOdhabitS ',^ hgoOdhabit3 ' with the virtues taught by their religion, and should become early used to the self-restraint and Belf-

denial oE good breeding and to the pure and elevated refinements which should characterise our life. Be then not alone industrious and studious, bxit be also gooi, modest, gentle, religious. A great deal is expected from the pupils of this school ; entertain a profound self-respect -a respect equalled only by that you entertain for others, Acting in this way, yours will be the cheering consciousness of progressing in your studies and of doing what is right ; you will be now the joy and crown of your parents and afterwards good members of society ; you will be a credit to your teachers, an honor to this institution, and your names— the names of its first pupils— will bj amongst its best and happiest memories. St. Joseph's School. After the distribution of prizes in this school the Rev. Mother Prioress remarked that the children had been, on the whole, successful at their examinations, but that they had not yet attained the standard of their respective classes— especially in arithmetic. This was chiefly owing to the fact that the Convent had been oaly abouc a year in existence. Many of the pupils had not been previously at school ; therefore they were ignorant of the rudiments of an English education. In fact, they hai only reached the point at which a correct classification could be made. The Rev. Mother concluded by expressing great satisfaction at the regular -attendance, docility and general good conduct of the pupils during the first year they had been under the care of the Dominican nuns. The Rev. Father Burke, in addressing the pupil*, said he could add little to what he had said ia the morning to the el ler pupils. He enjoined them to be attentive, to apply themselves c nutmitly to the lessons set them, to endeavour to learn their le-s >ns at home, before coming to school again, to behave themselv.s-i 1.1 and out of school, to conduct themselves in a becoming manner always, and finally, above all, to endeavour to be good, to be humble, obedient to their superiors and devoted to good works.