ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE, WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 33, 11 December 1896, Page 25

ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE, WELLINGTON.

ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. MOST REV. DR. GRIMES PRESIDES. (From our own correspondent.) The annual distribution of prizes in connection with St. Patrick's College took place on Thursday evening in the presence of a large and distinguished audience. Amongst those present were the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes, the Very Rev. Father Devoy, V.G , the Very Rev Father Lane, the Very Rev. Father McKenna, the Very Rev. Dr. Watters (rector), the college faculty, and many of the local clergy, Count Jouft'roy D'Abbans, Hon. Dr. Grace, M.L.0., Dr. Cahill, Messrs. M. O'Connor, J. J. Devine. R. P. Collins, A. D. Riley, J. Curiner, K.C.S.G., Amelius Smith, J. C. Martin (Public Trustee), L\ Garvey, etc. The lecture hall, in which the ceremony took place, was tastefully draped and decorated with plants and evergreens, the effect being very good, the draperies being kindly contributed by Te Aro House. The friends of the college and visitors were received by the popular rector and the other professors. Shortly before eight o'clock his Lordship Dr. Grimes arrived, accompanied by the Very Rev. Father Devoy and other clergy, his arrival being the signal for applause by the students and visitors present. An excellent programme of vocal, instrumental and orchestral music was very ably performed by the students. The college brass band was under the conductorship of Mr. S. Cimino, Mr. Trowell led the orchestra, Masters C. McDonald and David Kenny presided at the piano, and Master Reginald Collins acted as master of ceremonies. The following is the programme : — Selection, '• Gems of Columbia" (Round), College Brass Band; overture, "La Souveraine " (Hermann), College Orchestra ; piano duet •' Martha " (arranged by S. Smith), Charles McDonald and Francis J. Morrell ; song, " The little hero " (with orchestral accompaniment specially arranged by Mr. Trowell), Frank Holley ; violin solo, " Fantasie de concert "—" —

Sur popera Faust de Gounod (Slard), W. Fitzgerald ; selection, " II Trovatore " (Verdi), College Orchestra. One of the features of the entertainment was the delivery of _ one of ©rattan's speeches by Master Morgan H. Grace, which was given with fine declamatory effect and good enunciation, and for which he was loudly applauded. Master Bernard J. Devine delivered an original speech, taking for his theme the much-discussed question of " Athletics," which he dealt with in an exhaustive manner, in fluent and well-chosen language, and for which he was loudly applauded, and was afterwards specially complimented by Bishop Grimes. At the conclusion of the musical programme, the Very Rev. Dr. Watters said it was now his pleasant duty to read the awards and ask the Most Rev. Dr. Grimes to distribute the prizes. He did not intend to take up their time with any lengthy remarks, but he wished to say that since this time last year they had not been asleep, that they had done some excellent work, and that the efficiency and discipline of the school had been well maintained. During the yeay one of the students, Master Leo S. Fanning, had passed the junior scholarship of the New Zealand University, and had also passed the Senior Civil Service examination. Six students — Masters D. F. Holland, F. Lynch, F. J. Morrell, C. J. McDonald, and Smith— passed the Matriculation examination, these being the only candidates presented. Masters W. Campbell, P. J. Garvey, Sydney Kent. J. Madden, and Albert Casey were successful in the Junior Civil Service examination. Master Charles McDonald passed the intermediate division of the Trinity College, London, musical examination, securing 98 per cent of marks. He also took honours 95 per cent. Four other candidates had also been entered for this examination, and by the advice of the local secretary recorded their names for centres other than Wellington, on the assumption that the examination would take place during the winter holidays. The test, however, was applied towards the end of the first half, with the result that no notice had been taken of their papers, though written. These candidates were : — F. J. Morrell, H. J. Loughnan, C. Yenning, W. Fitzgerald. Taking the results in C. McDonald's case as a class standard, it was not too much to claim that the overlooked candidates, who were also examined, would have scored high, had the returns been given, Speaking further of the awards, he said that the fact that a boy did not succeed in getting a prize was no reflection on his ability or industry, nor was it always an absolute test of his merits. There were many hard-working boys in the college who from one cause or another failed to obtain a prize. It was said that the students of the upper classes generally succeeded in securing the more valuable prizes, which was what might be expected, as these boys had been for a number of years at the college. He said he had received apologies for the unavoidable absence of his Excellency the Governor, the Premier, the Minister of Education, the Mayor, Mr. H. D. Bell, and the Very Rev. Father Dawson. The gold medal for good conduct, presented by his Grace Archbishop Redwood, had been awarded to John Francis O'Connor, a boy who had passed four years at the college and had never lost a mark. The Buckley medal, for diligence, which had been originally founded by the late Sir Patrick Buckley, and which Lady Buckley kindly intimated would be continued, had been awarded to James Tynions. of Greymouth. The presentation of prizes then took place, the recipients being loudly applauded by their fellow -students as they came forward to receive the awards. At the conclusion of this part of the proceedings the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes addressed those present. He said he did not intend at that late hour to say much, as the subject, viz. athletics, on w hich ho had inteneed to address them, had been exhaustively dealt with by one of the students. He had listened with deep interest to the remarks of their beloved rector, and he had heard with great pleasure of the success of the students in the various branches of education. He was especially pleased to notice that a number of Christchurch boys had distinguished themselves. He had been speaking to a leading statesman of the Colony some time ago. who admitted that the success of the college had been phenomenal. He would ask them what was the cau«e of this success ? He replied that, after God. the flourishing condition of the college was due to the fact that their beloved rector and his able colleagues worked so energetically and conscientiously towards this end, being influenced by no personal pecuniary benefit to themselves, but as a rUity they owed to God, Who had given the training of these pupils to their care. They had worked with a will for the love of God so as to bring out all that was best and noblest in the btudents. both physically and morally. He had no doubt he had been invited to be present because he had been at one time a schoolmaster like their beloved rector and consequently was well aAvare of the many difficulties to be contended with in such a position. The professors of the college not only taught the students, but educated them so as to bring out their faculties ; they taught the students to grow up with the strength of their convictions and to be fully alive to their great responsibilities. He agreed with the rector that the ga'ning 1 of valuable prizes was not an infallible test of the students' industry. Addressing the students, he impressed upon them to put into practice the principles of morality which had been inculcated at the college. He congratulated the rector and his colleagues and the students on the work of the year and thanked them for the admirable concert given that evening, and in conclusion told the students not to forget the motto of the college — sect arc fulem — and keep before their minds God, New Zealand and liberty. The Hon Dr. Grace in proposing a vote of thanks to Dr. Grimes for presiding, said it was well understood that in this age of so-called democracy, the truest type of democracy was the Catholic Church, in which the humblest individual might rise to the highest dignity. It was of interest to them to know that a peasant had been Pope of Rome. The humblest peasant who entered the Church had opportunities of fitting himself by scholarly attainments for the very highest positions, and the boys now at college he hoped would make the most of their opportunities.

I

This brought the proceedings to a close, cheers being given for the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes, the rector and the college staff. The college will reopen on Monday, Ist February 1897. Prizes were received from the following : — His Grace the Archbishop, the Most Rev. Dr. Redwood, S.M. ; His Lordship, the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes, Bishop of Christchurch ; Very Rev. Dr. Pestre, S.M., Prov. ; Very Rev. Father Devoy, S.M , V.G. ; Very Rev. Father Cummings, S M., V.G.. Christchurch ; Very Rev. Father Walsh, Westport ; Very Rev. Father Dawson, Adm., Wellington ; Very Rev. Father McNamara, S M., Blenheim ; Very Rev. Father Lane, Hutt ; Very Rev. Father Kirk. S.M., Wanganui ; Very Rev. Father Mahoney, S.M., Nelson ; Very Rev. Father Binsfield. S M.. Meanee ; Very Rev. Father O'Connor, Itan<?iora ; Very Rev. Father Walsh, Kaikoura ; Very Rev. Father Carew, S M . Grey mouth ; Very Rev. Father Foley, S.M., Lincoln ; Very Rev. Father Lewis. S.M., Timaru ; Very Rev. Father Marnane, R.M.. Christchurch ; Very Rev. Father McKenna, Masterton ; Very Rev. Father Smyth, S.M., Hastings ; Rev. Father Tymons, S.M , Wanganui ; Rev. Father Keegan, N.S W. ; Rev. Father Thomas McKenna, Pahiatua ; Rev. Father Regnault, S.M., Waimate ; Rev. Father Patterson, Palmerston ; Rev. Father Power, Waipawa ; Rev. Father Tubinan, Timaru ; Rev. Father Goggan, Blenheim ; Rev. Father Doherty. Blenheim ; the Hon Count Grace, M.L.C., C.M.G. ; the Hon. W. W.Johnson; the Hon. Charles J. Johnson, M.L.C. ; Mr. Cumin, K.C.S.G. ; Mr. Martin Kennedy, Wellington ; Dr. Cahill, Wellington ; Mr. Robert O'Connor, Wellington ; Mr. Amelias E. Smith, Wellington ; Mr. William Naughton. Wellington; Mr. W. Raymond, Wellington ; Mr. J. G. Devine, Wellington; Mr. Felix Campbell. Greymouth ; Mr. R. P. Collins, Wellington ; Mr. Palmer, Wellington ; Mr. John Hickson, Auckland (ex-pupil) ; Mr. M. J. Hodgins, Pahiatua ; Mr. H. Gribben, Hokitika ; Mr. Armstrong, Wellington ; Mr. O. McArdle, Wellington ; Mr. John Fay, Doyleston ; Mr. P. McEvely, Southbridge ; Mr. M. Segrief , Wellington ; Mr. B. P. McMahon. Reefton (ex-pupil) ; Mr. Organ, Westport ; Mr. James Walker, Longburn ; Mr. James Ward, jun., Wellington (ex-pupil) ; Mr. T. O'Rourke, Otaki ; Mr. W. Smith, Otaki ; Mr. D. Quill, Otaki ; Mr. Devlin, Wellington ; Mr. Hugo Kummer, Kummerstein (expupil) ; Mr. W. B. Missen, Hamilton (ex-pupil); A Friend to the college, Wellington ; Lady Buckley, Hutt ; Mrs. Watson, Wellington ; Mrs. R. P. Collins, Wellington ; Mr. Kimbell, Wellington , Mrs. Devine, Wellington ; Mrs. Quinlivan, Hastings ; Mrs. Crombie, Wellington. The following is the prize li'-t :—: — SPECIAL PHIZES. Good Conduct :—lntern: — Intern Students. — Senior division (prize medal presented by His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Redwood, S.M., Archbishop of Wellington) — John Francis O'Connor ; junior division — prize, Montague Peters. Extern Students. — Frederick Crombie. Diligence (for highest marks attained in class work during the year) :— The Buckley medal — James Tymons. Christian Doctrine . — Undergraduates' class (prize medal presented by Very Rev. Provincial, S.M.) — Francis J. Morrell. '• Carolan Prize Medal" (tor excellence in music) : — Awarded to William E. Fitzgerald. Oratory and Debate (prize modal presented by Very Rev. Thomas Devoy. S.M., V.G.) — Awarded (by votes of members of the College Debating Society) to Morgan H. Grace ; second prize — Bernard J. Devino. English Essay Writing (special prize presented by Mr. John Cumin, K.C.S.G.) . — Awarded to Francis Morrell. Irish History (gold medal presented by Dr. Cahill) — Awarded to John Madden. Excellence in Mathematics (prize medal presented by Very Rev. Father Macnamara, S.M.) — Charles McDonald. Excellence in the Latin Lan^ua^e (special prize presented by the Hon. Walter W. Johnston) — James Tymons. Drawing (prize medal presented by Mr. W. B. Missen. ex-pupil ) — Awarded to John Guthrie (perspective) ; prize, John Mor land (treehand) ; second prize, William Sanders Johnstone (freehand). English literature and English authors (prize medal presented by Mr. S. Kohn) : — Awarded to Morgan H. Grace. GUXERAL PRI/.l>. Christian Doctrine : — Matriculation class — Prize. Patrick McGrath. Second class — Prize. James Gaff aney. Third class — Prize, Philip Sheridan. Fourth class — Ist prize, Daniel Sullivan ; 2nd prize. Edward Wilson. Fifth class— Prize, William Frofat. Preparatory school. — First division — Prize, Edward Brady. Second division — Prize, Joseph McCarthy. Course of English : — Historical grammar, analysis, etc. — Prize, Charles McDonald. English history and geography — Prize. John Madden. Second class. — Composition — Prize, Fred Evans. Literature and authors — Prize, Charles Graham. Grammar and analysis — Prize, Charles Yenning. English history — Prize, Albert Casey. Irish history — Prize, Charles Graham. Geography — Prize, Albert Casey. Third class — English composition — Prize, Thomas Campbell. English authors — Prize, Sydney Organ. Grammar and analysis — prize, John Smith. History and geography — Prize. Franci* Cullen. Fourth class. — Grammar, analysis, and composition — Ist prize. Daniel Sullivan ; 2nd prize, Xie Ewart. English authors — Ist prize. Thomas Lawlor ; 2nd prize, Edward Wilson Handwriting — Ist prize, Edgar Watson : 2nd prize, Daniel Sullivan. Geography — Ist prize, David Kenny ; 2nd prize, Edward Wilson. Scriptural history — Ist prize, Edward Wilson ; 2nd prize, John Nash. Irish history — Ist prize, Thomas Lawlor; 2nd prize, Albert De\ me and William Burke, rw (eqiu . Fifth class. — Reproduction — Prize, Creagh O'Connor. Reading and recitation — Prize, James Monahan. Grammar and parsing — Prize, Clarence Arthur. History and geography — Prize, Charles O'Malley. Writing — Prize, Ferdinand de Jouffroy d'Abbans. Preparatory School : — Reading, spelling, grammar and geography. — First division — Prize, Henry Hodgins. Second divisionPrize, Ernebt McCardell. Writing and exercises — Prize. Stanilaus Whitaker.

Course of Latin : — Second class — Prize. Robert J. Loughnan ; third class — Prize, Chas. Yenning ; fourth class — Prize, Daniel Sullivan : fifth class — Ist prize, Albert Casey ; 2nd prize, Arthur Lynch. French : — First class — Prize, John Madden ; second class — Prize, John McCarthy ; third class — Prize. Charles Yenning ; fourth class — prize. Cyril Collins ; fifth class (higher division) — Prize, Arthur Sutton ; fifth class (lower division), Prize. David Kenny. Mathematics : — Undergraduates' and matriculation class. — Arithmetic — Prize, Stanislaus Moran : geometry — Prize, Morgan Grace : algebra — Prize. Daniel O'Reilly. Second clas^. — Arithmetic — Prize. Albert Casey ; geometry — Prize, Fred Crombie ; algebra — Prize, Albert Casey. Third class. — Arithmetic — Prize, Patrick McEvedy : geometry — Prize, Patrick McEvedy ; algebra — Prize, John Smith. Fourth class. — Arithmetic — Prize, Herbert Watson ; geometry — Prize, Daniel Sullivan. Fifth class. — Arithmetic — Prize, Clarence Arthur. Preparatory school : — First division— Prize, Henry Hodgins. Second division — Prize, Henry Kirkwood. Undergraduates' science. — Mechanics, sound, light — Hon. mention, Leo Fanning. Commercial course: — Book-keeping and accounts — Prize, John Smith. Drawing: — (model and freehand) — Ist prize, JohnMorland ; 2nd, William Sanders Johnstone. Music: — Piano — Hon. Imention, Charles McDonald, Francis Morrell. Violin — Prize, John Brady. Prizes obtained by four mentions in class work : James Eccleton, Arthur Garvey, Francis Smith.