DOMINICAN CONVENT SCHOOLS, QUEENSTOWN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 50, 4 April 1890, Page 13

DOMINICAN CONVENT SCHOOLS, QUEENSTOWN.

{Lake Wakatipu Mail, March 21.) An entertainment was given at the Town Hall on Monday evening by the pupils of the above schools in aid of the fundß of an extensive addition recently made to tbe institution. The attendance was good — especially in the front seats — bat not so large as is usual on inch occasions, owing probably to the fact of many residents being away either at the Exhibition or the Arthur's Point Races. Still, we hear that a number of tickets bad been disposed of that were not represented at the entertainment. The audience was an appreciative one, and some of the pieces were much applauded. The exercises by the little band of some twenty youngsters in the Kindergarten caused amusement, and at times elicited manifestations of approbation at the clever way in which such small specimens of humanity went through their drill. Want of space prevents a full notice of the rest of the programme, which was of a musical character, and the performance of some of tbe pieces wae ■much applauded. The first and last choruses by the pupils of St. Joseph's went very nicely, and their voices blended well. The same remark may be made concerning " The Vesper Hymn," by the pupils of St. Catherine's. The two pianoforte pieces allotted to Miss B. Allen were skilfully executed, especially " Dinorah," notwithstanding that some of its passages were really difficult. " Echoes from the Green Isle," by the Misses Firth, was well rendered, and showed a marked improvement in the fair instrumentalists, as compared with their performance at the previous concert a few months ago. The Misses Gudgeon in " Tarantella " displayed great talent, which marked them as very promising musicians. The airs in " Whispers from Erin "were also cleverly played by Miss M. Gudgeon. " Won't you buy my Pretty Flowers" was nicely sung by the Muses Hampton and Warren. Of the solob, there were only two, namely, "Love Tide," which was nicely flung (although its effectiveness was somewhat marred through the natural reserve of the singer), and " The Auld Hoo8e," in which the Misses Lloyd, Betts, and Allan acquitted themselves admirably. Before concluding we must not omit to mention that the Rev. Father Burke superintended the management of aff«irs, in which office he was ably assisted by Mr. C. E. Gudgeon. The material comforts of the pupils were not overlooked by Mesdames M'Bride and Eichardt>nd Messrs Woodrow and St. Omer, who very kindly provided an abundance of refreshments in the way of lemonade, ginger beer, cakes, etc. Below is the programme :— Chorus, " St. Patrick's Day," Pupils of both schools ; pianoforte solo, " Heather Bells," Miss B. Allan ; round, Pupils of St. Joseph's School ; pianoforte duet, " Echoee from the Green Isle," Misses Frith ; song and chorus, " Oh ! gently breathe," Pupils of St. Catherine's School ; vocal trio, " Won't you buy my pretty flowers," Misses Hampton and Warren. Kindergarten performance. Chorus, " Go where glory waits thee," Pupils of St. Joseph's School ; pianoforte duet, " Tarantella," Misses Gudgeon ; vocal solo. " Love tide," Mies M. Robertson ; pianoforte solo, " Dinorah," Miss B. Allan ; vocal trio, " The auld noose," Misses Black and Robertson ; pianoforte 1010, " Whispers from Erin," Miss Gudgeon ; chorus, " The Vesper hour," Pupils of St. Catherine's School ; pianoforte trio, " Don JuaD," Misses Lloyd, Allan, and Betts ; chorus, " Good-night, ' Pupils of St. Joseph's School. During the interval that followed the Kindergarten exercises the Rev. Father Burke thanked, in an interesting and at times humorous address, those present for assisting. He was accompanied by two little four-year-old fellows (Masters A. O'Meara and H. Robertson) called by their mates of the kindergarten " father " and " uncle." He referred to the liberal support which all classes and denominations here rendered in attending the entertainments got up in aid of Catholic schools, and spoke of the intelligence and forbearance of communities in the colonies generally as compared with many places in the Hoate countries, where the deplorable religious antipathies begot ao intolerance that did great mischief. The pretty general support given here to the Catholic schools spoke well for the intelligence and right-mindedness of those who gave it. People who cared to look into the matter must recognise the usefulness of these schools. He thought those who had visited the Education Court in the Dunedii Exhibition had seen sufficient proof that the standards in the Catholic schools are very high and the work done in them of a superior kind. Such, too, was the judgment of the press. The Otago Datiby Times of February 28, in ita review of the Education Court say*: — *The two prettiest bays of the Education Court are occupied by the exhibits of the Catholic schools A glance at the exhibits of the Catholic schools soon convinces the visitor that here he has ocular demonstration of a fact not generally known, that the work of theae schools stands on a mucn higher plane than the work done in the Government schools. The teachers of the Catholic schools stamp all their work with the impress of individuality. Perfection is aimed at in every department of school work, and nothing very far short of the best work attainable will pass muster in these schools. This is amply borne out by the excellence of the exhibits from the Catholic schools of the Colony now on view at the Exhibition No one can compare the work shown with the general work of the State schools, without admitting, unpleasant though the admission may be, that in many of tbe essentials of a first-class educstion, the Catholic schools are far ahead of our public schools. Here, at least, the advantage of a certain amount of freedom on the part of the teachers, coupled with earnestness and enthusiasm, are strikingly apparent ; for with tbe teachers of the Convent schools their work is a labour of love." Such was the verdict of connoisseurs aB well as the public. These Bcbools, therefore, should elicit tbe kindly appreciation of all who were prepared to value good honest work, wheresoever done, and get tbe sympathy and support of all who admire thoroughness and excellence in the great work of education. A fair measure of these, the intelligent people of Queenstown, be perceived, were not slow or niggardly in giving. The rev.

gentleman continued— On the part of the " father " of the kindergarten I have also to thank you for the applause you so freely gave himself and his sons and daughters whilst going through their exercises. As neither he nor the venerable "uncle" of that inititution is at preisnt fit for publio speaking—advancing age| has lately laid his crnel hands on both and carried off their front teeth— so they have deputed me to speak for them. Tou have now seen some of the exercises ani " occupations " of the kindergarten ; true, you have seen hardly the alphabet of the system, yet you see bow it improves upon the old method of teaching children— talking words and figures into a row of listless little ones sitting for hours on a form by the school wall — mechanically pouring information into them without developing their powersmuch teaching and little learning. Here, in Froebel'a system, you have a series of physical exercises— moving, swaying, singing ; of interesting employments, comparing, inventing, building up, analysing ; of mental occupations, counting, naming, talking, getting and giving explanations — all so mixed up as to absorb the attention and exerciße the faculties of the little learners whilst amusing them. Here lessons are learned in the best of all ways, without being looked upon as lessons but as so much amusement ; it is play— play organised with a direct educational purpose. By means of the kindergarten appliances— the balls, cylinders, spheres, squares, cubes, triangles, coloured sticks, variegated strings, toys and devices of puzzling variety— the children, whilst amusing themselves, learn forms and colours ; they learn to count, to compare, to contrast, to invent, to use their eyes and hands and mind. They learn new words and meanings, how to pronounce distinctly, and, if the teacher be good and careful, how to speak correctly, as they explain their little " occupations." In the drill, marching, simultaneous movements of the limbs, " action songs," and other charming bodily exercises of this system, the children learn grace of movement, nobility and flexibility of muscle, keenness of eye and ear, power of attention, obedience, habits of discipline, bow to act with others, and how to be nice and gentle with them. What a valuable help to the ordinary school work must not Froebel's exercises prove I How little boys and girls should bless M. Proebel 1 " Father," here, thinks it was so good of that old man to spend his years studying the habits and ways and wicked pranks of children with the view of turning them all— even childish destructiveness — to good account in the work of education, and he thinks it so fortunate that M. Proebel succeeded so admirably I Those who have experience in the working of this system say that children disciplined in it are much better than others at writing, drawing, counting, and all the ordinary subjects of school instruction, and that they show the superiority of their training ia quickness of the senses, accuracy of hand, grace of movement, and a proper intelligence. But looking at the system in theory only these results are just what one would expect from it. People might fancy a kindergarten in advance of this town and inland locality ; the big city of Dunedin had not one three years ago. But (said the rev. gentleman) if we can conduct and support it, as we can, why nat have it ? As it becomes better known the support from the immediate district will become greater, and I am sure tbat, in the future, our Italian sky, our Swiss scenery, our charming bracing climate and our educational facilities will attract from afar the children of parents able to value such really grand advantages.

Dr. Bernard O'Connor, brother of the patriotic member for East Donegal, is at present engaged in spreading the fame of an antiseptic medicine, which he claims to have tested with the most striking results. It destroys entirely the Cacillus of cholera and typhoid fever ; and Dr. O'Connor hopes that in it doctors have at last met with a weapon against consumption. "In fact," he writes, " there seems to be no limit to the field of its operations as a germ destroyer.'

The Irish Presbyterian Church has lost a distinguished cleric in the person of Dr. Witherow, the Professor of Church History and Pastoral Theology in Magee College, Londonderry. He was the author of many works on the theological controversies among dissenters, and for nearly a quarter of « century filled the position in which death found him. For many years he acted as editor of the Londonderry Standard, The son of a tenant-farmer, he gave through that organ the weight of his support to the cause of Land Reform. His death leaves empty a place which the Irish Presbyterians will not easily fill.

A correspondent writes to ask me {Truth) whether the Government or the Opposition M.P.'s are the better-looking. Well, I am not Paris, so I might reply that handsome is as handsome does, and tbat consequently my verdict is in favour of the Opposition. Physically, however, I am bound to admit that the Government M.P.'s are the better-looking. So far as looks are concerned, I should range the Parties thus : — Tories, Irish, Liberals, Liberal-Unionists. The two best-looking men in the House are, I think, Mr. George Windham aad Mr. Sidney Herbert ; the best-looking Irishman is Mr. Parnell, and next to him are Mr. Arthur and Mr. John O'Connor ; the best-looking Liberal is Mi. Herbert Gardner ; the least ill-looking Liberal-Unionist is Sir Henry James ; the best-looking man on the Government Bench is Mr. Ritchie ; and the best-looking man on the Front Opposition Bench is Sir Charles Russell. The youngest -looking man for his age (he is above 80) is Mr. Isaac Holden ; and of the aged the handsomest man is The O'Gorman Mahon. The Speaker, in his wig and gown, is a remarkably handsome man. The best debater on the Government Bench is Sir John Gorst, and next to him Mr. Balfour ; the best on the Front Opposition Bench is (I exclude Mr. Gladstone) Sir William Harcourt, and the second best is, I think, Mr. H. Fowler. The best debater among the Irish is Mr. T. P. O'Connor. The best debater below the gangway on the Government side is Colonel Saunderson and the best below the Opposition gangway iB Mr. Bradlaugb. Ido not wish to be disagreeably personal, therefore I shall keep to myself who ia the ugliest man and who is the worst debater. Of bores there are many, and most intolerable. As I am writing with perfect impartiality, I do not think tbat I can honestly assert that the bores are all on the Government side.