THE DOMINICAN CONVENT SCHOOLS OAMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 34, 18 December 1885, Page 23

THE DOMINICAN CONVENT SCHOOLS OAMARU.

(Oamaru Mail, December 5.) Du king the ptst week the Catholic schools in Oamaru have been ezam.ned by the Rev Mother Prioress of the Domm.can Priory Dune ,in. Ou Kndav the cemricate. ,md prizes we.c d.stributed 1 m St. Joseph sby the Yen. Archdeacon Ooleman. In the clas* subiec ts in which the children ha I beeu cx.mmc 1, they generally had gained high percentage,. According to the cu,t Jm , ..f the nuns, priz J were awaided only tor bpeoial subjects as they consid. r that the hand SorneU illuminated ceitificaU-a .re more likely to stimulate the children .0 work than nooks winch a c o£r LU tbiown^ide unread, wheSas the certificates serve : as a lasting record of the industry of the pupils in rf mem"- tbeire^^t.on. The following received certificates Standard I -M. Mullin, K. M-Gee, K. Ford, M. Flaherty A Mahoney K. Wiight, M. O'Giad, , to. Collins, M. Leahy. W M'Gee" A. Costellue. P. 0 Giady, J. Page, J. Leahy. D. O'Brien ' Standaid 11.-X. Andiews, K. Ba.ry, B. Bwwn, C. Kin- J Nolan, L. T A >i c Browne, E. Connelly, M. Mornesey A. Shine"' Standard 111.-M. M yneH| N. M.rtin, B. Mulliu, K. Breen B HeffcrnanM Costelloe, N. Canty, A. Simmons, M.' Donovan W Ah long H K«e K. Uorrissey, J. Haggle, E. Barry, J. Hanley' Standardl\._M. Maxwell, S. Costelloe, A. Power E. Dono/an E M^^a^r&:: To^ *• *-■ ■-• — ; Standard V.— J. Costelloe.

Standard VI.— M. Power. Special prizes.-lst pmein Christian Doctrine and Bible— M Maxell, a. < ostellocA. Povse., E. Donovan. E. M'Elhenny L Bym, A. Toohey, M I'owei, J. O'Urady, and P. Mullen. 2nd pnze-N Martin, B. Mulhn M. costello,. A. Simmons, K. Breen, K. Andrews" Book-keepiug-M. Maxwell, T. Oostelloe, L." Byrne, A Power £. Donovau. M. Power, J. Costelloe, and P. Mullin ' a. coVitiii? 0 "" 6 " Custelloe< B - Donovan< A ' Pow ' er ' A - Shine > and Good Conduct— S. Cosielloe and J. O'Giady Ihe distribution of hououis was interspersed' by choruses, pianotone piece, .and recitation* wh .ch were remarkably well rendered At the close of the proceedings, Ihe Archdeacon sa]d that be was pleased with the result of the esamiuauoru ; that, from the (act of his being in the Bchoole da ly he was able to aihrm that the children that had worked had leceived the reward of their industry ia being awarded the certificates granted SJh? h eX ST Uei - *? f ated , thdt th « «*<** are very succSsfuHy taught by the nuns who have charge of the Oamaru Catholic children and added that* was a pleasure to him to be able to assure the Catholic parent* tf.at the ze*i, devotion, and solicitude of the nuns are worthy of much pra.se and gratitude, and that no labour is spared either in btnving to t e ach their children or in promoting their moral as w^l as t.ieir intellectual well-being. Secular knowledge i Bi B imparted, but, with it, the children learn the sacred truths

of religion, and are taught to do all their work for the glory and honour of God. The Rev. Father urged that parents should cooperate with the teachers by giving good example to the children at home, by seeing that they learn their lessons, by keeping them oft the streets at night, and by guarding them from the evil influences or baa example ; that unless the parents co-operate in the right direction, and are models of goodness to their little ones, the good instruction received in the schools could not produce lastine impressions on the children's minds, and the result would not be satisfactory. The Archdeacon called attention to the unjust treatment of Catholics at the hands of the Government. He said this colony has a system of education established by the Government • that it is secular, U., without any religious instruction connected with it ; that for each child taught in the Government schools the f^nL W^ Seated by the Government; that close upon £500,000 are given yearly for this State education ; that Catholics are compelled to pay a share of the taxes to provide that money • that for the sake of the faith and morals of their children the Catholics have to make an effort to maintain schools for themselves ; and that the Government does not give one penny towards the maintenance of these Catholic schools; that if the Government acted justly the Oamaru Catholic schools would be iv receipt of £800 pet -annum for children taught in them. He further said, Oould the Government help these schools and yet be consistent?" He replied, •• Certainly. The Government need only say •If you Catholics cannot send your children to the common schools place your schools under the control of our inspectors, and for every child that passes inspection with them, in secular knowledge, according to the standard laid down for the common schools, we will grant you an amount equal to that granted for each child in the Government schools. ' Such a course would be just, and would promote peace and good-will, whereas now, the Catholics are writhing under the treatment received from an unjust Government. Let us hope, he said, that some honest man will arise who will deal fairly with all members of the community, and who will free us Catholics from this fn ™£ ?° v Thou g h ' the rev. Father added, we are at present oniy 70,000 m the colony, the majority have no right, ought not to continue to perpetrate a grievous injustice that may produce evil fruit when not expected. Perhaps, the Ministers by their present line of action may be trying to crush out the Catholic schools : if so he begged to assure them that such a hope was a vain one ; that seit-sacrifice and co-operation of the Catholics of the colony, under the influence of faith and of the justice of their action, would make them persevere bravely in the fulfilment of their duties to teach their children and in their efforts to secure to them the faith of their fathers. Moreover, the religious societies will, in the interest of It gg A 0A 01 V make every a* 0 " 606 rat her that abandon the little ones of the Catholic Church to the guidance of the enemies of their faith. If the Government of New Zealand would only give the Catholics here their rights, as the Government of Canada give to the Catholics o. that country, in no other land would the Catholic body feel more at home and more attached to the land of their adoption. This morning at 10 o'clock the pupils of the High School assembled in the school-room to receive their prizes, and the presentation of prizes was interspersed with an entertainment of which the following was the programme :— Juvenile performance by the younger pupils; pianoforte duet, •• Marche aux Flambeaux " Misses Dansey and Dooley ; chorus, " Canadian Boat Song " • pianoforte solo, "Birthday Party," Miss Dooley ; chorus, "Our Jacks Come Home," sinking class; pianoforte duet, Grand Marche •Le Prophete " (Meyerbeer), Misses Harming and Richmond ; recitahou, J. Martin and M. Harming ; pianoforte solo, " The Gipsy Couutess," Miss Richmond ; chorus. " Home, Sweet Home "; pianoforte solo, " Kathleen Mavourneen," L. Harming ; vocal duet "Oh UT^ u y , BB lark 1 ark !; 00 TErm T Erin ' 8 Isl e>" E- and M. Harming ; pianoforte duet| The Holidays," L. and M. Harming. The prizes were distributed as follows :— JUNIOR SCHOOL. Miss Rowland, grammar and geography ; Miss Cagney catechiam, arithmetic, reading, grammar, and geography ; Miss Man iion, catechism, arithmetic, reading, grammar, and geography • Misd Collins, catechism, arithmetic, reading, grammar, and geography ; Miss Boyle, catechism, arithmetic, reading, and geography • Master Hannon, catbechism, arithmetic, reading, grammar, and geography ; Master Collins, catechism, arithmetic, reading, grammar and geography; Master Hill, catechism, arithmetic, reading, grammar and geography ; Master Boyle, catechism, arithmetic reading, and geography.

SENIOR SCHOOL. English— J. Martin, 1 ; E, Harming, 2 ; S. Martin, S Arithmetic— J. Martin. French — L. Harming, J. Martin. Wriiing — L. Harming, J. Martin. Drawing— Misses Dansey and Eicbtnond. Painting— Misses Dansey and Richmond. Music— Misses Richmond and L. Harming. Prize for Politeness— Miss M. Richmond. Edwa^d^ 8 f ° r Order ~ MiBBeB L - R »chmond, L. Harming, and N. Plain Needlework— Miss.L. Harming. Fancy Needlework— Ist prize, Misses Richmond, Dooley, Edwards aud Casey. Pnzes in Scripture History and Christian Doctrine— J. Martin, M. Manning, L. Harming, S. Martin, and K. Dooley. Attendance— J. Martin, M. Harming, B. Hannine, B. Martin T Casey, and C. Dooley. ' ' Good Conduct— L. Harming. Miss Lizzie Harming was crowned for good conduct by the votes of her companions.