WANGANUI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIV, Issue 39, 21 January 1887, Page 18

WANGANUI.

Catholic Parish Schools; Besides the Sacred Heart school (the report of which appeared last week) there are in Wanganui two parish schools, St. Mary's for boys and St. Joseph's for girls. The infants are taught in a room attached to St. Joseph's. The annual examinations in these schools were conducted this year by Rev. Father Braxmeier M.A., and Mr. M J O'Sullivan, both professors in St. Patrick's College, Wellington The Rev. Fathers Kirk and Prendergast were also present, and Mr.' D. Lundon assisted at portions of the examinations. The examiners were well satisfied with the results of the year's work in these schools. The work was not of so high a class as that done in the Sacred Heart school, but this is accounted for by the fact that day schools can never cempete successfully with boarding schools. The annual ent> rtainment, followed by the distributed of prizes, took place on Tuesday, Dec. 21. The Wanganui Chronicle of Dec. 22 thus describes the proceedings :—: — A concert was given last night in the Catholic schoolroom prior to the presentation of prizes in connection with the parish schools. There was a large attendance, and the following programme was creditably gone througu :— The opening chorus, " Anniversary Day " and the glee, " Won't you buy my pretty flowers ?" were received with marked appreciation, while the recitations by Michael M'Duff and Michael M'Cullock weie particulatly well deliveied :— Chorus " Anniversary Day," all ; '• Good night, and good morning," Miss J. Dernngs; recitation, "Saul's Address," H. Stead man ; song and' chorus, " Won't you buy my pretty flowi rs ? " sth class girls ; recitation, " The spring journey," W. O'Hara ; recitation, "Two little kittens," Miss Mary Ball ; song, •' Come, brothers, come," boys of St Mary's school ; recitation, " The memory of the dead," M. M'Duff" recitation. " Report of an adjudged case," M. M'Cullock ; song and chorus, " Come, birdie, come," all ; scene from " The heir at law," H. O'Hura and J. and M. M-Duff ; " The dying Christian to his soul," John Cronin ; song and chorus, •' Kiss me and I'll go to bleep," little girls ; recitation, " The harper and his dog." F. Loftus ; recitation " Faith in God," Miss K. Turner. A play entitled " •• Gaffer Gray's Legacy," was then performed, the characters being taken by the girls of St. Joseph's School. After this Father Kirk stepped forward to distribute the prizes, but before doing so read the report of the Professors of St. Patrick's College upon the papers of the Sacred Heart, and also St. Joseph's and St. Mary's Schools, which had been submitted. Their report was on the whole very satisfactory, and showed that great credit is due to the teachers of all the schools^ and also to the pupils for their diligence in study. Their thanks were due (Father Kirk said) to Professor Sullivan and Father Braxmeier for so kindly going through the papers ; to Mr. Lundon who had liiven a silver medal for St. Mary 'a and one for the Sacred Heart School, and who, as well as Dr. Connolly, had manifested great interest in the schools, and also to Mr. Kennedy and others who had liberally subscribed towards a fund for the prizes. Dr. Connolly intended next year to give a prize for the most regular attendance and they might look for medals also. The rmdal presented to St' Mary's by Mr. Lundon, was won by H. O'Hara, the Caledonian Society's medal by John M'Duff, and the Rev. Father Kirk's medal by Thomas Hogan. We may here mention that the infants of the school each received a gift from the Christmas tree during the afternoon. The Wanganui Herald of the same date lias the following account : — The usual breaking-up entertainment, by the children attending the Catholic Schools was given last evening when there was a large assemblage of parents and friends. Atter the programme hid been gone through the Rev. Father Kirk made a few remarks on the examinations, and read the report handed in by Piofessors Brax meier and O't-ullivan on the papers submitted to them, in which the T examiners stated that they were well satisfied with the work done Father Kirk also alluded to ths interest taken in the schools by Dr. Connolly, Mr- Lundon, and Mr. Kennedy, all of whom had contributed to the list of prizes. Mr. Lundon, had given a medal which was won by H: O'Hara, and Dr. Connolly promised a prize for the most regular attendant next year. The Caledonian Society's medal went to John M'Duff, and a medal presented by Father Kirk himself to Tho masHogan.