CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, WANGANUI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIV, Issue 39, 21 January 1887, Page 9

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, WANGANUI.

SACRED HEART CONVENT SCHOOLS. The annual examination of the Sacred Heart Convent Schools began on Thursday, Dec. 16, at 10 o'clock in the morning. The examiners this year were Rev. Father Braxmeier, M. A., Professor of Mathematics and Physical Science in St. Patrick's College, Wellington, and Mr. M. J. O'Sullivan, Professor of English in the same college. The former of these two gentlemen is well qualified to examine schools, as, besides being well versed not only in mathematics and physical science, and thoroughly familiar with the classical languages, and with four of the modern languages, he has had many years experience in the art of teaching both in Europe and the United States. The Rev. Father Kirk, P.P., and Rev. Father Prendergast, also of Wanganui, were present ; whilst the laity were represented by Mr. D. Lundon. The examination this year was more searching and complete than on former occasions, owing to the fact that the two professors from St. Patrick's College were experts in the art of examining children. The examiners began their work at 10 o'clock, and, with the usual intermission at dinner time, continued it up to five o'clock. From their written report (which was not intended for publication) it appears tint the result of their investigation was highly creditable to the Sisters of St. Joseph, by whom the school is conducted. Speaking generally, they say that the school has attained, both in point of intellectual acquirements and in discipline, a higher degree of excellence than h usually attained in institutions of the same class. In some of the .ibjects the examiners said they were really surprised at the answers given ; the knowledge displayed by the girls being far beyond what they had anticipated. But, like everything human, the Sacred Heart School has imperfections, and these were quickly detected by the observant eye of Father Braxmeier and duly recorded in his report. These blemishes do not need to be particularised any more than the points of excellence. On Monday afternoon the exhibition of the girls' work was held. The work was tastefully aranged around the walls, and on the desks in the Sacred Heart schoolroom. The quantity of work shown tnis year was less than in former years, but the quality of what was exhibited was not in any respect inferior. Another featuro noMceable was that whereas in former displays fancy work predominated, on the present occasion the plain work was by far the more abundant. Amongst the paintings, two in water colours by the Misses Handley were very much admired. One of the visitors who is himself an artist and a professor of painting and drawing, remarked that the tints in these two paintings were executed with exquisite delicacy . Several specimens of penmanship were exhibited, and in these a high degree of skill in the use of the pen was evident. One gentleman of varied scholastic attainments, anl himself an experienced teacher, declared that the writing shown was excellent. The following notice of the work exhibited may be intcrest : ng as coming from a disinterested source. It is taken from tb 1 : columns of the Wanganui Herald, December 21 : — The annual exhibition of work at the Sacred Heart School took place last night in the ConTent schoolroom. The display, though not so varied as at last year's breaking up, was still an extremely creditable one to the Sifters aad the pupils. In pi un needlework, there was perhaps the largest sn jw. and in this department those who were competent to judge said the results were excellent. Among the fancy woik and the articles that caught the eye, may be mentioned, two well-drawn and tastefully painted water colours by the Misses Handley, and several well executed pencil sketcaes of flowers, ir which the pupils had g it away from the stereotyped ideal of school drawings, and had succeeded in producing something artistic. In other departments of scholastic work, as the term is generally understood, there were samples of mapping and writing. New Zealand was chosen as the exhibit map, and with the exception of two, which were creditably drawn, but on which the printing was not up to the mark, the others were not above the average. The writing specimens were all creditable to the school, more especially the espies shown by Misses Ada Handley, Wtutley Jackson, Katie Mullen, and Amy McMinn. In the fancy work line many of the exhibits were not ticketed with the names of the work j rs, among them being some nicely-made paper flowere, point lace, which attracted no little attention from the ladies, and various hand-painted brackets, crewel-workei cushions, and knitted wool work, otc. Among the specimens that were ticketed, we noticed a crewel cushion by Miss E. Fantham, an arrasene bracket by Miss Wnitley Jackson, mantel drape by Miss Katie Mullen, footstools by Misses B. and A. Godson, knitted copame by Miss Ruscoe, piano stool by Miss Bertha Handley, and a crewel cushion by Miss Lottie Wixcey. His Lordship Bishop Redwood arrived about half-past three o'clock ; he was accompanied by the Very Rev. Father McNamura, Y.G,, and by Rev. Father Patterson, who joined him at Palme r ston North. The usual breaking up entertainment was given in the parish school-rooms. All three rooms were brought into requisition as they are so arranged that they can, by removing two partitions, be made into one long hall. The boys' school, which occupies one end, forms the stage — the floor being three feet higher than the fl »ors of the other two rooms. The infant's room, which was built in the part of the present year, when opened into the other two rooms makes the total length ninety feet. Next to the Princess Theatre, the Catholic school-rooms form the largest and best appointed place for an entertainment to be found in Wanganui. The stage was artistically decorated with flags and banners. At the back of the stage and in a prominent position appeared a scroll with the word " Welcome " worked in white letters on a red ground, whilst over the proscenium was placed another scroll bearing the motto " G)d bless our Bishop." A small banner, also suspended at the back of the stage, had the words " God bless our school " inscribed on it. His Lordship the Bishop, Rev. Father McNamara, Father Patterson, Father Braxmeier, Father Kirk, Father Prendergast and Mr. Sullivan occupied the chairs immediately in front of the stage. A large

audience consisting of the parents of the children, their friends, and others who had been invited, occupied the body of the hall. The entertainment was divided into two parts ; the first consisted of musical selections both vocal and instrumental, and the second waa a play entitled " A Christmas Gambol." Concerning the execution of the musical portion of the programme I will q uote from a critique written by G. P. Allen, Esq. Thi9 critique was intended for publication in one of the local papers, but being a little Ute, waa not inserted. The critiq ie runs thus. " The concert given by the girls of the Sacred Heart school was to me a real treat. I have been accustomed for so many years — now over a quarter of a century — to conduct choirs, musical societies, and theatrical performances, and often to take leading parts both in singing and acting , so that a quiet evening in the auditorium is a very pleasant change, when the performance is passable. But much conducting has made me critical, and, alas I far more apt to perceive faults than beauties. Therefore it is with the more pleasure that I can speak of the performances of these girls as being almost faultless, both in the vocal and instrumental parts of the programme. The rocal music consisted of a chorus for two trebles ' Gently, oh, Gently ;' song with chorus for two trebles, ' From yonder Hill ;' son? with chorus for two trebles ' The Ass and the Flute ;' and the ' Hunter's Song,' chorus. Except where (I think, unadvisedly) in ' The Ass and the Flute ' two young ladies were made to sing the solo together, there was not a haw throughout all the vocal music. The instrumental pieces were called ' solos ' and 1 duets ' by the M. C, but they were really quartettes and sexettes, the ' solos ' being played by three girls on three pianofortes and a harmonium, and the ' duets' by six girls on three pianofortes. Of the ' solos ' (three pianos and harmonium), Rossini's ' Stabat Mater,' and • The Musical Box ' were simply perfect. The • dueta ' (six performers on three pianos) were (except that called ' Faust ') comparatively simple, but when it is taken into consideration that the pianofortes were scattered about the stage, that there was no conductor, and that, except at the start, and in occasional rests, there was no count given, and yet that all through tbe twelve hands worked together as if they were all moved by one person, the exact timekeeping, and the accurate crescendo, dimi?iuendo, accellerando, and rallentand* passages were really surprising. It is no doubt allowable on such occasions to show what may be done in the way of rapid execution, and this was accomplished in a real solo on one pianoforte, ' The Blue Bells of Scotland,' with variations. This specimen of musical gymnastics was capitally performed, and was submitted to patiently by the audience." At the conclusion of the entertainmont the prizes were distributed by his Lordship the Bishop and the proceedings terminated. The following account is clipped from the Wanganui Herald, Dec. 21 : — After examining the work, the visitors walked round to the parish schoolroom, in which the children were to give their usual entertainment, and which bad been decorated for the occasion with mottoes and flags, prominent among the former being, " Welcome," " God bless our Bishop," and God bless our School." Bishop Redwood, who had arrived in the afternoon, together with the Rev. Father Kirk and several of the visiting priests and professors, occupied seats in fiont. The room was well filled by parents and friends, who took considerable interest in the different events on the programme. The vocal and instrumental selections were well i> ndered. Three pianos and a harmonium were used for the latter, and the excellent time kept showed that the children had been carefully taught. The programme waa as follows: — Song, " Gently oh Gently," all ; pianoforte duet, " Erin Go Bragh," Misses A. and B. Goodson, K. Mullins, A. M'Minn, L. Wixcey, and A. Jlandley ; recitation, "The Slaves Dream," Miss Lizzie M'Kay ; Bong, "From Yonder Hill," all ; pianoforte duet. " Peri Waltz, Misses K. Ruscoe, M. Murray, E. Fantham, K. Mahoney, E. Barnott, and E. M'Kay ; pianoforte solo, " Stabat Mater," Mit-ses B. Goodson, L. Wixcey, A. M'Minn, and A. Handley ; recitation, "The Captive," Miss L. Wixcey ; song and chorus, "The As 3 and Flute," Misses Bertha Handley, and Lizzie M'Kay ; pianoforte solo, " Sea Shells," Misses E. Ruscoe, L. M'Kay, K. Mahoney, and A. Handley ; pianoforte duet. '■Faust, "Misses B. Goodson, A. M'Minn, L. Wixcey,A. and B. Handley, and M. Perrett ; song, " The Hunters' Song," all ; pianoforte solo, " The Musical Box," Misses B. Goodson, M. Perrett, and A. and B. Handley; pianoforte duet, "Goldfinch," Misses B. and A. Goodson, B. and A. Handley, A. M'Minn, and K. Mullins ; pianoforte solo, ' Blue Bells,"MißsAda Handley; recitation,"The Pauper's Deathbead," Miss A. M'Minn. Play, "A Christmas Gambol," characters: Mademoiselle D'Orleans, Miss Lottie Wixcey ; Toinette, Katie Mahoney ; Madame De Navaret, A. Handley ; Madame De Bleimer, B. Goodson ; Hennette, L. M'Kay ; Estelle, Ella Fantham ; Caroline, A. Goodson. Bishop Redwood then addressed the scholars, congratulating them on the success attained, and the parents on the fact that they were obtaining a thoroughly sound education. He also remarked on the irregular attendance on the part of some of the children, which militated against success, and advised parents to see that their children were sent regularly to school. He then presented the prizes.