ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 9, 16 December 1892, Page 5

ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES.

(From our own Correspondent.) Wellington, December 10, 1892. THE annual distribution of prises in connection with St Patrick's College took place in the study hall on Tuesday night last in the presence of a crowded audience. The hall was prettily decorated for tke occasion with floral wreathe, festoons, mottoes, Bketches, and etchings representative of the work of the pupils during the year. On the dais at the end of the hall were arranged the college choir, the college orchestra, and the band under the conductorsbip respectively of Very Bey Father Braxmeier and Messrs Trowell and Cimino. On a table in front of the dais were arranged the prizes, consisting in the most part of valuable books, aod various other objects of value. Long before the commencement of the concert the hall was crowded, and a few minutes after the appointed time bis Grace the Archbishop, accompanied by the Very Bey Dr Watters (Rector), and Very Bey Father Devoy, V.G., arrived, bis appearance being greeted with applause by the students and the audience. Shortly afterwards his Worship the Mayor (Mr H. I). Bell), accompanied by the Hon Dr Grace, M.L.0., arrived, they taking their|seats on the left of the Archbishop. There were also present— Clergy : Very Bey Fathers Dawson (Adm.), Kirk (Waoganni), Bmytbe (Hastings), Lane (Lower Hutt),

and Bey Fathers Goggan and Power, and the college faculty and laity, Dr Cahill, Messrs Oeo. Fisher, M.H.8. ; M. Kennedy, P. 6. Garvey, C. N. Crombie, W. M. Maskell, O'Connor, J. J. Define, Davit, Corrigan, McAlister, Hay ward, Houlihan, Brady, and several others whose names I was not able to find out. After a few preliminaries the following programme was gone through in a very able manner : — Selection, " Home Echoes " (S. Oimino), College Brass Band ; chorus, " Gipsy Chorus 4 ' (Von Weber), College Choir ; recitation, " Beth Gelert " (Spenser), Master Charles O'Galligan ; overture on Irish airs (Volti), College Orchestra under Mr Trowell ; pianoforte duet, " Ghilperic" (Herve) (Smith), Masters Eugene E. Kimbell and Nicholas B. Moloney ; chorus, " The Hardy Norseman " (Pearsall), College Choir ; recitation, " The Bells of Shandon " (Prout), Master Walter Orombie ; fantasia, " Luisa Miller " (Verdi), College Brass Band. The choir was led by Father Braxmeier, upon whom tbe proficiency of the students reflected great credit. At the conclusion of this programme the Beotor delivered his annual address. He said : —For the eighth time in hot succession it becomes my duty and my privilege to read to a distinguished audience tbe roll-call of honour, the names of pupils bearing off the rewards of industry and diligence after the work of the past academio year. Iv view of these lists of honour, you will readily relieve me and yourselves of the harden of a speech, more especially as we expect words weightier and more able from those highest in Church and State* Still, I must fairly claim to say that tbe college once more reaches the port of tbe holidays after twelve months' contest with those currents, and mists, and storms, inseparable from the work ot education, in good health and in good time, laden with some grains of knowledge, and enriched by some broadening and deepening of character. To tbe skilled eye it iB surprising— l had almost said die* appointing — how very meagre is the exact result in the best students of a few years' teaching and learning ; how very soon and very easily that result is gauged. Yet on the sound principle that education must not cease with school, much will have been done by the capable educationist if he lays in the young receptive mind a strong and solid

basis of future operations ; if he impresses on batty youth the grave lesson that what we know is as nothing to what we have yet to learn ; if be opens op avenues of thought and study ; if he convinces his pupils that before them lies for discussion and possession the great treasure of truth. A healthy area this for young ambition— a strong stimulus hert for enlarging tbe boundaries of human knowledge. If at school in the budding days of life we succeed in engendering a love of learning, in showing a passage thereto, the learning itself is sure to follow. A wise system of education — while discountenancing pedantry and sesqaipedalianism— will teach us how very little tbe average mind is receptive of, how much more it has to absorb, what attractions and possibilities there are before the student. Your knowledge iB pleasure as well as power, and as has been well said, " There is no pleasure comparable to the pleasure of standing on the vantage ground of truth." Let us realise to ourselves the sacred trusts of health, vigour, energy and time ; let us in a spirit of thankfulness turn to the best account for ourselves and others the inestimable gifts of faith and life. However much in principle and means tbe system of education pursued in this college differentiates from other schemes obtaining more widely about vs — and on this point the public will allow that we have shown tbe courage of our convictions —I still make bold to say that one overmastering desire with us is, with the means at our disposal, to turn out of this college accomplished men, useful and loyal and self-reliant citutne. Is it vain to hope that the idyllic frame of mind neatly phrased by the bard will yet survive and actuate us all ? | Then none was for a party, Then all were for the State, Then the great man helped the poor And the poor man loved the great. The lands were fairly portioned, The spoilt were fairly Bold, Then Romans were like brothers, In tbe brave dajs of old. At tbe conclusion of his address the rector heartily thanked the many donors of prises, which were more numerous and more valuable than

on any other previona oeoMion. Amongit the donon were Hii Grace the Arebbiihop, Hit Worship the Mayor, Sir P. A. Buckley, Hoo Dr Grace, Dr Oahill, Very Be? Father Devoy, the Father Provincial *nd many others. The prices were then distributed, each boy, as he came forward to receive his reward, being loudly applauded by his schoolfellows. We append the prize list : — Special Prises.— Good conduct— lntern students, senior division —prise medal presented by Archbishop Redwood, Hugh McDonnell* Diligence— prise medal presented by Sir Patrick Buckley for highest aggregate of marks attained in class work daring the year, James Taylor. Christian doctrine— Matriculation class— prise medal presented by Very Bey Father Leterrier, James Taylor. The Mayor's pri«e«— English history and geography— lst class of English, William J. Organ ; 2nd clan of English, Martin Ryan. Essay writingSpecial prise presented by Mr John Oornio, K.0.8.G., William J. Organ. Excellence in mathematics— prise medal presented by Very Re* J. Macnamara, S.M., Joseph J. L. Burke. Irish history— prise medal presented by Dr Cahill, Bernard McCarthy. Fine Arts— Medal for excellence in drawing, presented by the Bector, Eugene E. Kimbel ; Oratory and debateprise medal presented by Very Bey Father Devoy, 8.M., V.G., Wil. liam J. Organ ; College brass band— prise, Patrick Barton. Good Conduct — Intern student*, junior division — prise, Lawrence Flan* agan; extern students — prise, Morgan H. Grace. Preparatory . school— priss, Frederick Orombie. Christian Doctrine— Second class prise Martin Byan ; third class — prise, Lawrence Flanagan ; fourth class— lst prise, Morgan Grace, 2nd James Butler ; fifth class— lst prise, Francis Beid, 2nd prise, Philip Mulligan. Preparatary school —Senior Division— prise, Austin Walsh ; juuior division, first classprise Neil Ewart ; second class— prise, Norman Crombie. English Jfartriculation class— Literature and Authors— prize, Melville J. Crombie ; historical and syntactical grammar, analysis, etc. — prise , James Taylor; second class— English composition— prise, John O'Connell ; literature and authors— prise, Martin Byan ; grammar and analysis— prise, Martin Byan; Irish history— prise, Angus McDonald , third class, English composition— prise, Patrick Burton ;

literature and authors— prize, Lawrence Flanagan ; .analysis and parsing — prise, Lawrence Flanagan ; history and geography — prize, Lawrence Flanagan. Fourth class— English composition— lst prise, James Butler, 2nd prize, Morgan Grace ; grammar and parsing — let prise Harvey Weight, 2nd prize, Morgan Grace ; Irish history — Ist prise, James Butler ; 2nd prize, Morgan Grace ; outlines of history and geography — Ist prize, Morgan Grace, 2nd prize, James Butler ; penmanship — Ist prise, Harvey Weight, 2nd prize, Stanley Hickion. Fifth class — Reproduction — Ist prize, James Barber, 2 ad prise Harold Anderson ; reading and recitation — Ist prize, Peter McColl, 2nd prize, Philip Ryan; grammar and parsing— lst ptise, Peter J. McArdle, 2ad prize, Walter Ctuney ; Irish history — Ist prize, John O'Hagan, 2nd pr ze, Stanley Kirby ; outlines of history and geography — Ist prize, John O'Hagan ; 2nd price, Peter J. McArdle ; penmanship— lst prise, James Barber ; 2nd prise, P McColl. Preparatory echool— Diligence— prize, Fred Price. Senior division — Exercises— lst prize, Herbert Watson ; 2nd prize, Lawrence Byan ; reading and spelling— prize, Austin Walsh ; recitation—prize, F. Price ; geography — prize, Herbert Watson ; penmanship— prite, James Hoghes. Junior division— Exercisei — prize, John Brady ; upper division— Beading and spelling— prize, John Nash ; lower division— prize, Arthur Garvey ; recitation — first class — priza, Niel Ewart ; second claas— prize, James Murphy. Latin — Matriculation — Grammar and composition — prize, Melville Crombie ; transla. tion — prize, William Organ ; second class — Translation — prize, Charles Sellers ; composition — prize, George Grimstone ; third class — Grammar and composition — prize, Leger Gribben ; translation— prise, Leger Gribben ; fourth class— Grammar and compositionprize, Patrick Barton ; translation— prize, Joseph Fortune ; fifth class— First division — prize, Alexander Mcßae; second division, l9t prize, Walter Cbaney ; 2nd prize, Robert J Lougbnan. French — Matriculation — prize, Melville Orombie ; second class — Translation — prize, Martin Byan ; composition— prize, George Grimstone ; third class — Translation— prize, William Kelly ; grammar and composition —prize, Leger Gribben ; fourth class — Ist prize, John Kiely ; 2nd prise, Morgan Grace ; fifth class— First division — Ist prise, Alexanier Mcßae ; second division — Ist prise, William Love ; 2nd prize,

Walter Chanty ; German, hon mention, Hugo Wollerman. Mathematics— Matriculation— Arithmetic pr*se, Patrick Fay ; algebra, prise, Beinard McCarthy ; geometry, prise, James Taylor. Second class— Arithmetic, prise, Martin Byan ; algebra, prise, William Kelly; geometry, prise, Engene Kimbell. Third class Arithmetic, Ist prise, John Kiely ; 2nd prise, Lawrence Flanagan ; algebra, Ist prise, Hugo Wollerman, 2nd prise, John Kie y ; euclid, Ist prize, Francis Kerley, 2nd prise, Lawrence Flanagan. Fourth class— Arithmetic, Ist prize, Henry Fitssimmons, 2nd prise, Arthur O'Brien ; gecmetety, Ist prise, Arthur O'Brien, 2nd prise, Morgan Grace. • Fifth class —Arithmetic, lit prise, Bernard Devine, 2nd prise, Philip Mulligan ; mensuration, boo mention, Willian Fallon and John Oullen. Preparatory school— Senior division —Arithmetic, prise, Herbert Watson. Junion division— Arithmetic, prise, John Nash. Bcience— Senior division — Astronomy, Ist prise, Joseph Burke, 2nd prise, Bernard McCarthy ; junior division— botany, Ist prise, Hugo Wollerman, 2nd prise, Lawrence Flanagan ; 3rd prise, Arthur O'Brien. Commercial coarse— Book-keeping-Senior division, prise, Hugo Wollerman; junior division, prise, Florence McCarthy. Commercial correspondence— Senior division, prise, William Fallon ; junior division, prise, Joseph Mahar. Collegiate coarse— Book-keeping, hon mention, Joseph Burke, John O'Connor and Henry Hay ward. Phonetic language, hon mention, Bernard McCarthy, William J Organ and Angus MacDonnell. Fine arts — Mechanical drawing, prise, John Listoo ; architectural draw* ing, prise, William Organ ; freehand drawing— first division, prise, Charles Byley ; second division, prise, Herman Pell ; third division, prise, Henry Fitziimmons. Muisic— Piano, prize, Nicholas Moloney ; violin— senior division, prise, Reginald D'Ath ; junior division, prise, John Brady. College choir— lst prise, John Brady, 2nd prise, Frederick Price. Drill and gymnastics — Senior division, prise, Hugh 1 McDonnell ; junior division, prize, Lawrence Flanagan, Preparatory school — prise, Edward Cnllen. Prises obtained by foot next in merits — John Bourke, Henry Eccles, Francis Grace, Michael Hanley, Austin Henderson, John O'Connor, Francis o' Sullivan, Patrick Quinn, and Matthew Scanlon.

His Grace the Archbishop said, addressing the bojs, that before separating that evening, he hoped they would allow him, at the request of the Bector, to make a few remarks, which naturally occurred to him, on education. He expressed his pleasure at the presence of so large and distinguished an audience, and congratulated the prize-winners, as well as those who had trained them to snch a point of proficiency, and be congratulated the students generally on the very successful year which they had just concluded. The report for the year showed that their mental and physical well-being was well looked after, and on no previous one had the tone, discipline, and conduct of the students been of such a high order. This was no doubt due to the excellent example set to the juniors by the senior pupils. He wished once more to express in clear and forcible terms their idea of the great work of education undertaken in the institution. It was oot a work for the mere improvement of the students' temporal interests. Tney had to consider what was a Christian school and what was Christian culture. A Christian school was one as far as our weakness would allow, which was conducted in accordance with the gospel of Christ. This did not imply that it should be a school of technical theology, but one where the knwledge of God was deserving of the moat honoured place on the programme of the institution. It likewise meant that every other knowledge shall have this knowledge for its standard. This proposition is unquestionable if we remember that man's last end is life eternal, and we know by the testimony of the gospel that this is the knowledge of the one true God and the Saviour he has sent. And, moreover, this knowledge must permeate the whole range of the studies of the student, and fortify and guide him. These ideas cannot be too< or too fully inculcated. The Christian school mast give to its students a true knowledge of their state,* which must be based npon the supernatural and divine mission to fallen man: The student must be Unght alike bis weakness and bis strength. He mast be phown that man's intellect has been more or less darkened, and that I in this institution he is watched over by wakeful eyes, that there are tender hands to assist him should he fall, He has, moreover, the divine efficacy of prayer and the sacraments to assist him in the battle of life. The student has his ideal continually raised, and all

his actions should be guided by the highest motives. He is taught not to work for money or profit, but for the highest motive of doty, for his parents, his country, and God. And surely a student will not work less assiduously because he keeps his soul free from sin, for if he fails, humanly Bpeaking, he will not lose his reward. Such is the standard set up at St Patrick's College, and when such principles pervade the life of a nation— its social and political life — you hare Christian culture and education, Their idea was to thoroughly educate the youth up to a true Christian standard, so that they might go forth and help to purify society. This cannot be done by any other system save Christianity. They knew that everything valuable and lasting is the outcome of Christianity, which also preserves tbe highest kind of civilisation. Remove this and society will degenerate into barbarism. But it was their object and their duty to prevent bo dire a consummation. His Grace concluded by wishing all the students a merry Christmas, and those who were about to leave the College for good, success in the battle of life.

His Worship the Mayor was requested by the Rector to address the audience. In the course of bis remarks he said that the community could not fail to watch with great interest the experiment of carrying on a sectarian college, whose curriculum was gronnded upon religions teaching, against the competition of ths secular and State institutions of the same kind. Although a heretic in their midst he himself watched the experiment with much interest. It rested with the pupils themselves to make St Patrick's College a truly great school, of which past and present pupils would ever be proud. There was another seat of learning in this Colony, though identified with a different religion, which has attained the distinction, and whose pupils were proud of their association with it. He referred to Christ's College in Christchurch. If the pupils of St Patrick's College cherished this feeling And acted up to it they would not only have a pleasant life at the College and a pleasant recollection of it afterwards, but the education they would gain would equip them for faithfully discharging their dnty both as men and as citizens.

A Tyrolean piece, " In Trantem Heim," followed by the National Anthem brought the proceedings to a close, As the audience was leaving ths students gave thres cheers each for His Grace the Archbishop, His Worship the Mayor, and the Rector.