Sacred Heart College, Auckland

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 52, 27 December 1923, Page 35

Sacred Heart College, Auckland

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES.

The annual distribution of prizes to the scholars of the Sacred Heart College took place on Tuesday evening, December 4, in St. Benedict’s Hall. Bishop Liston presided, and there was a large attendance. An excellent and varied programme of musical and other items was carried out by the boys of the college. Rev. , Brother Borgia, director of the colloge, presented the following report • I am happy this evening to be able to present you with a very satisfactory report of the year’s work at the college. The country had not sufficiently recovered from the slump at the beginning of, the year to warrant our expecting a large influx of new boarders, but, considering the circumstances. I think we bad good reason to be satisfied when the roll-number,, of boarders reached 115 during the first term, and the number of day-boys 65. As I pointed out last year, if Catholic boys were going in for secondary education in the same proportion as other denominations, and if all Catholic parents sent their boys to the only Catholic boys’ secondary school in Auckland, our present number of day-boys would be doubled. Realising that a number of our boys are cut off from the opportunities for getting a higher education through lack of funds, I have recently made a personal appeal to a number of our Catholic citizens, with the following results:Fourteen day-scholarships have been promised, and on© of these is taking the form of a permanent endowment by Mrs. Gleeson and Mr. James Gleeson, who are placing a. capital trust fund at the disposal of the college. It will be known as the “Patrick Gleeson Memorial Scholarship.” This is the first time in its history that the College has received an endowment, and I trust the precedent established will inspire others to do something for Catholic education. Thus there are quite a number of day-scholarships or free places available at the college for next year, for which Catholic boys who have gained their Proficiency certificate and whose parents cannot afford to pay the tuition fees at the college are eligible, preferencebeing given to those who sat for the college scholarships examination on December 1.

The Retreat for the boys was preached this rear bv the Rev. Father Eccleton. S.M., whose practical talks and personal direction are things that will long live in the memory of the boys. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing our great regret at losing the services of our worthy and zealous chaplain, the Rev. Father O’Connor. The general health of the boys, the spirit of piety among them,' the whole tone of the school have been very satisfactory. The interest the boys take in their sports is a fairly good index of the tone of a school. The games this year have been well organised, and, although we did not succeed in annexing any wonderful trophies, it was not from lack of interest or energy or enthusiasm on the part of the sports master or students. 1923 must get a. special notch in the calendar owing to the historic meeting between St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, and ourselves on the football field. This -was the first match between the two colleges, and, after an evenly-contested game, we won by IS points to 11. The college students were highly successful in all public examinations at the end of last year. The following are the details; —Standard VI.; 15 proficiency certificates. Intermediate; 25 passes (including 7 credit passes). Public Service: 5 passes. Matriculation; Out of 10 presented, 9 gained complete passes. University Entrance Scholarship: 4 presented and 4 passed (including 2 credit passes). Oneof these credit passes was secured by Ernest Bailey, who had done but three years’ secondary work and was only 15 years of age. A Junior National Scholarship was won by Fraser Redman. Two Senior National Scholarships were won by Philip Soljak and Ernest Bailey respectively. Out of the 130 candidates who succeeded in winning SeniorNational Scholarships in the Dominion, Ernest Bailey got. sixth place, and Philip Soljak, who was only 14 years of age and had just completed two years’ secondary work, gained the exceptionally meritorious distinction of coming 'second in New Zealand. Had these lads accepted the scholarships they would have had to leave the school which was responsible for their success and enter a State secondary school. But in spite of the fact that by doing so they would get free tuition and a monetary grant as well, they refused the offer, and remained loyal to their old school. The college has certainly helped them, and we are determined to make every effort to meet the parents whose sons win these scholarships from the college. Whether the college should have to boar the brunt of the burden is another question. I think you will agree with me that results such as these speak for themselves. I cannot understand how Catholic parents in country districts who could easily afford to send their boys to the college are satisfied with sending them to the local district high school, where through lack of equipment and insufficiency of teachers it is difficult to provide a sound course of secondary education. No on© can deny, of course, that the State high schools in the city and in the larger towns are efficient, but it is obvious that in a district high school with a roll of between 20 and 30 ‘at the beginning of the year and a ; probable decrease in

the number as the year goes on, it is impossible to provide an adequate four years’ course. I do not state this out of any. spirit of animosity, for I have the highest admiration for the teachers and inspectors of New Zealand, Ido think there is room for more co-operation between State and private^schools in building up a national system of education. a national system or causation is by no means necessarily a State system exclusively. Many teachers in private schools give a great deal of thought to the educational problems of the day, but they seem to have no opportunity for voicing their ideas effectively. Not very long ago a Minister of Education in New South Wales declared that he was in no way opposed to the private schools in the State—that on the contrary, he looked upon them as allies. And, in fact, the headmasters and the teachers in charge of subjects in the private schools are regularly consulted there on the form and content of the syllabus for secondary schools. J

It seems to me the time is ripe for reviewing our system of secondary education. For some years the University authorities have been trying to persuade teachers and pupils that the Matriculation examination means a four years course, and yet the old tradition of presenting candidates after one year in Form V. persists. I’m afraid nothing useful will be done in that line until drastic methods are adopted, and the whole system is re-cast, starting out on the principle that a four years’ course is the minimum requirement for admission to- the University, with the emphasis on the course rather than on the examination at the end of it.

In conclusion I wish to thank you for honoring us with your presence here this evening. I thank especially their Lordships the Bishops, the Reverend clergy and all our kind friends whose sympathy and helpfulness have been such an encouragement to us in our strenuous work durin the year. I wish you all health and happiness and all the .blessings of the approaching festive season of Christmas.

ADDRESS BY BISHOP LISTON. The Catholics had_(said Dr. Liston) no reason whatever to make any apology for their schools, either as educationists, as Catholics, or as New Zealanders. Certainly they did not think they had to apologise for the schools on the score of education. In Auckland they were educating some 3500 children, and the number throughout the Dominion was about 20,000. Their educational idea was this—they believed that Christ, Who loved children, should have the care of them during their school years. They believed that they could not possibly teach ‘ morality to children without teaching them religion. Religion was the foundation and support of morality. As New Zealanders ‘they certainly had no call to apes'? 6 . tor their schools. The pioneers who founded the Dominion came from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, and each in his own way brought something toward the foundation of the present very beautiful country and fine nation, hey brought their denominational schools. In the greatest part of the British Empire the denominational schools were on a level with every other kind of school, they were fully recognised, and .the work being don© received its just measure of support. Dr. Liston expressed their thanks to the Brothers who served as teachers. They belonged, he said, to an Order founded 100 years ago in France, the founder of which had two ideals. One was that nothing less than the best secular education should be given by members of the Order, and the other, that the secular education should be combined with a thorough religious training. Very clearly had that man seen that education without religion was like a body without a soul. The prizes were distributed by Bishop Liston as follows :

Special Prizes. Coolahan Gold Medal, for good conduct (presented by Bishop Cleary)—Desmond O’Brien. • Gold medal, for religious knowledge (presented by Monsignor Mahoney)Philip Soljack. J Arthur Foster memorial prize, for best all-round boy— Paul Fogarty. J Dux of school (director’s gold medal)—Ernest Bailey. Mathematics in Form Ernest Bailey. Aggregate merit in Form V.—Rupert Keenan. b ■\t Blake memorial gold medal, for science in Form f.* Francis Bennett. Aggregate merit in Form IV.A — Desmond Maher. Phiih! C S- gl l o em ™i al o ppr ize , ze essay-Rupert Keenan 1, Philip Soljack I Boys P nz e essay—Ernest Bailey 1, Richard^ GiSy” 4 “ arkS “ E<>3,al Academy examinations, Fras?f°RedmM mPlonShip ° r ’ Paul Fogartyi junior,

Class Prizes. 3rd, P° ri Foga I rty7 2nd “ aggregate merit Paul Kennedy; Form Vl.B—lst in languages, mathematics and science. Continued on page 37. ?

Philip Soljak; 2nd in aggregate merit, Francis Sweeney; 3rd in aggregate merit, Desmond O'Brien. Form V. —2nd in aggregate and Ist in French, Thomas Carroll; 3rd in aggregate and Ist in English, Ken Griffin. Form —2nd in aggregate and Ist in mathematics and science, Edgar Murphy; 3rd in aggregate, N. Bradanovich; Ist in religious knowledge, Peter Burke. Form IV.B—lst in aggregate ? English, mathematics, and science, Keith Richards; 2nd in aggregate and Ist in geography, Raymond Lynch; 3rd in aggregate and Ist in arithmetic and bookkeeping, Roy Oallinan. Form 111.A — in aggregate, English, arithmetic, mathematics, and science, James O'Farrell; 2nd in aggregate, Mervyn Hannan; 3rd in aggregate, Eric Mahoney; religious knowledge, Francis O'Brien. Form 111.B — in aggregate, English, French, and mathematics, Wilfred Boyes; 2nd in aggregate, and Ist in history and science, Roy O'Mailey; 3rd in aggregate, Bernard Ooneglan; religious knowledge, John Keady. Standard VI. —Ist in aggregate and spelling, John Bowling: good conduct, R. David; religious knowledge, N. Cook; English, R. Parker; arithmetic, W. Dempsey; history, N. Jones,;' writing, J. Quirk; drawing, R. Ward; geography, F. Hills; recitation, J. Duncan. I Standard V.lst in aggregate, H. Zuckschwerdt; 2nd in aggregate, D. Sheath; 3rd in aggregate, J. Lynch; good conduct, M. Lynch; religious knowledge, S. Whitfield; English, A. Macdonald; arithmetic, A. Zuckschwerdt; reading, L. Fuller-Sandys; spelling, G. McGovern; geography, G. Brunt; drawing and writing, E. O'Reilly; application, 0. Hayward. , W> Convent High School, St. John's Hill, Wanganui PRIZE LIST. Amiability Crown (Chosen by vote of companions)— L. Engel. Christian Doctrine (gold medal, gift of Rev. Father Outtrim) —Senior Division: A. Hoist 1, E. Rauch 2, R. Donovan 3. Junior Division: R. Mullins 1, E. O'Brien 2, B. Beechey 3. Elementary Division, Stds. V. and VI.: E. Howard (gold medal) 1, M. Beechey 2, M. Holden 3. Stds. 111. and IV.: G. Beechey 1, M. Purcell 2, M. Heffernan 3. Conduct (gold medal, gift of Mr. Lloyd) —Boarders: E. Eggers 1, S. Benefield and R. Nolan 2, L. Howard 3. Day Pupils: 0. Graham 1, M. McDonald 2, M. Purcell 3. Dux (gold medal, gift of Mr. Donald McDonald, Auckland) —E. Rauch. Proxime Accessit to Dux —K. Muir and K. Kennedy. Languages (Latin, French, and English)—the Ruscoe Gift Medal: K. Kennedy 1, K. Muir 2. Matriculation (gold medal, gift of the Convent) —A. Hoist. Elocution (the Kathleen Carroll Gift Medal) • —Senior Division: K. Muir 1, K. Kennedy 2. Junior Division: C. McGreevey 1, R. Uttinger 2, M. McCormaek next in merit. Diligence, Form V.. (Special Prize)K. Trehey and L. McLean 1, S. Benefield 2; Form IV.: L. Howard. Essay (the Mollie O'Meara Gift Medal) —Senior Division: Marjorie Keegan 1, E. Rauch 2, K. Trehey and K. Kennedy next in merit; Intermediate Division: E. Louisson 1, E. Eggers 2, E. Wilson next in merit; Junior Division: N. O'Meara and 0. Graham. Instrumental Music (Pianoforte), Very Advanced Grade — Heinold and B. Bremer. L.T.C.L. (gold medal, gift of the Convent) —D. Robertson 1, Marjorie Keegan 2. A.T.C.L. (gold medal) R. Nolan 1, M. Punch and Marjorie Missen 2. Advanced Grade, R.A.M. (gold medal) — Read. Higher Local A. Hoist 1, E. McDonald 2. Z. Haybittle next in merit. Senior GradeL. Price 1, Maureen Keegan 2, K. Trehey and D. Doig next in merit. Intermediate Gradeo. Whiteford 1, E. Howard 2, E. Collins next in merit. Junior Grade O'Meara 1, C. McGreevy 2. Preparatory Grade —E. Brown 1, E. Lynskey 2, M. Anderson next in merit. Violin Senior Grade: B. Bremer 1, E. McDonald 2; Junior Grade-Maureen Keegan 1, K. Herlihy 2. Theory of Music —Advanced Harmony: Marjorie Keegan; T. C. Rudiments and Art of Teaching: Marjorie Missen; Rudiments: M. Punch; Intermediate Grade: D. Doig and Z. Haybittle 1, K. Trehey 2, A. Hoist next in merit; Junior Grade: G. Culling 1, M, O'Halloran 2, E. Howard next in merit. Singing (gold medal)M. O'Halloran 1, B. Beechey 2. Physical Drill (gold medal, gift of Mrs. Gellatly)Senior Division: B. Bremer 1, M. Punch 2, E. McDonald 3; Junior Division: P. McGreevy 1, M. Beechey 2. Sports (gold medal, gift of ■ Miss Rita Foster) —Senior Division: M. Punch 1, B. Bremer and D. Robertson 2, E. McGrail and M. Kearns next in merit; Junior Division: N. Cooper 1, G. Beechey 2, M. Boulton next in merit. Painting (gift of Mr. Poynter)M. Punch and G. Culling 1, A. Bennett and Mary Missen 2. Drawing— Bennett 1, T. McDonald 2, R. Uttinger next in merit. Art Needlework (gold medal, gift of Miss Bennett)Senior Division: E. McDonald 1, M. Punch 2, L. Butler next in merit. Embroidery and Mount Mellick Work (gold medal, gift of Mrs. Selby Morton) —Senior Division: E. Louisson 1, E. McDonald and A. Bennett 2, N. Bennett and M. Missen next in merit; Intermediate Division: E. Howard 1, L. Butler and M. McCormack 2, L. Cameron next in merit; Junior Division: E. Brown 1, M. Vance 2, M. Purcell next in merit. Plain Sewing— Howard 1, K. Herlihy 2. Politeness —Senior Boarders: M. O'Halloran 1, C. Hickey 2; Junior Boarders:

R. Mullins 1 P. McGreevy 2; Day Scholars: E. Collins 1, O. Graham Z. Commercial Course.—Book-keepingSenior Division: M. Punch 1, E. Eggers 2, E. Rauch next in merit Advanced: S. Benefield 1, H. Missen 2, E. McDonald next in merit; Intermediate: E. Brown 1, L. Howard 2, G. Culling next in merit Elementary R. Uttinger 1, O. Graham 2, C. McGreevy next in merit. Shorthand Senior Division: E. Eggers 1, Z. Haybittle 2, A. Bennett 3. Junior Division: 0. McGreevy 1, M. McCormack 2, N. Alger next in merit. Typewriting Advanced Grade: E. McDonald 1, D. Robertson 2, E. Eggers next in merit; Intermediate Grade: A. Bennett 1, E. McGrail 2, E. Brown next in merit; Junior Grade: 0. McGreevy 1, R. Uttinger 2, N. Alger next in merit. . Cookery— Collins 1, L. Butler 2. Science—Senior Division: E. Rauch 1, L. McLean 2Intermediate Division: G. Culling and R. Donovan 1L. Engel 2, G. McGrath next in merit; Junior Division: B. Beechey 1, M. Beech 2, M. Fletcher next in merit. House Prize and Tidiness— Bennett 1, b. Benefield and L. McLean 2, L. Howard and E. McGrail o. ■' ■ CLASS PRIZES. Form Vl.—l English Language and Literature, 1 J rench, 1 Geography, 1 General Hygiene, 1 School Methods, 1 History 1 8.8., Drawing: A. Hoist. 1 Needlework, 1 Freehand Dwg., 2 French, 2 Geog., 2 Hyg, 2 Sch. Meth.: K. Nolan. t Form V.—l Arith, ISc 1 Hist., 1 Geog., 2 Eng. Lang., 2 Eng. Lit., 2 Essay: E. Rauch. 1 Latin, 1 Eng. Lang., 1 Eng. Lit., 2 Maths., 2 French, 3 Sc, 3 Essay, 1 French Diet.: K. Kennedy. 1 French, 1 Maths., 2 Latin 3 Eng Lang., 3 Eng. Lit., 3 Sc, 1 Eloc, 3 Arith.: k! Muir. 1 Essay, 3 Eng. Lang., 3 Eng. Lit., 3 Maths.: Marjorie Keegan. 2 Sc, 3 French, 2 History, 2 Geog., L McLean 2 Arith., 2 Hist., 3 Geog.: S. Benefield. 2 Maths., 3 Geog., 3 Hist., 3 Essay: K. Trehey. c Form J . IVa-1 French, 1 Arith., 1 Alg., 1 Geom, 2 Sc., 3 Hist : L. Engel 1 Eng. Lang., 1 Eng. Lit., 1 Sc, 2 French, 3 Geom 2. Alg. : R. Donovan. 1 Hist., 2 Geom. 2 Essay, 1 French, 3 Eng. Lit. N. Cooper. 2 Hist, 1 eog : * Howard. T - French > 3 Alg.: P. McGreevy, 3 Sc, 2 Arith., 3 Eng. Lit., 3 Geog.: G. McGrath. 3 Essay, 3 Eng. Lang., 2 Wtg.: E. Wilson. 2 Eng. Lang., 1 Wtg. • R. Dwyer. 1 Sc, 3 Arith., 2 Geog.: G. Culling. Diligence and General Improvement: M. O'Halloran and R. Dwyer. a -J° ri % I rH h -~ 1 Eng. Lang., 2 Eng. Lit., 2 Essay, 1 Ar c th ' : E. Eggers. 1 Hist., 1 Eng. Lit., 1 »g., 1 French, 1 Sc: B. Beechey. 2 Arith., 3 Eng. Lit.: M. Punch. 2 Eng. Lang. 1 Wtg., 3 Hist., 2 Geog., 3 Sc: E. McGrail. 1 Essay, 3 Arith.: E. Louisson. 3 Eng. Lang. 3 Geoe 3 Eng. Lit.: E. Brown. 2 Hist 2 Sc: N' BeSt! Diligence and General Improvement: E. Brown and N .Bennett. Til F ? v Ula "T\ *£ g ' H ng +l X S P g - and Dict -z. 2 Eng. Lit., 2 Essay, 1 Arith.: Z. Haybittle. 3 Eng. Lang., 1 2S 1 ifr l J*&'\ 3 £ Pg^ Dict - : N O'Mlara. 2 Eloc 2 Rdg 3 Hist.: D. Robertson. 1 Eng. Lit., 2 Eng Lang. 2 Spg and Diet 3 Eloc: Maureen Keegan. v AUg -'-> n , g ' Lit., 3 Arith.: A. Bennett. 1 Wtg, 3 Essay: E. Collins 3 Rdg., 2 Arith.: E. McDonald. tv ?° 1 m 1 Eng. Lit., 1 Eng. Lang., 2 Spg. and Pfe 1 IP?' \ E Q Say ' 1 I%"*' 3 Hist ' : °- &aham. 1 Eloc, 1 Rdg., 1 Spg. and Diet., 1 Wtg, 3 Eng. Lit, 2 Essay: C. McGreevy. 1 Arith, 1 Alg, 2 Geom, 2 Eng Lit 3 Eng Lang i' 3 Essay, 3 French 2 Sc.: M. Beech. 1 Geog, 3 Rdg, 1 Hist, 3 Geom, 3 Alg, 3 Arith • R. S U MV? A ng " m £-> 2 3 eom 3 *StL; 2 Geog, 3 Sc: M Fletcher. 3 Spg. and Diet., 3 Wtg, 1 Geom 2 : ?V°' BriC oV 2 f dg " 2 Arith : Wtg 2 Essay 2 French 2 Hist. 0. Nixon. 3 Eloc, 2 j h ,V M- McCormaek. General Improvement: L. Butler and C. Hickey. 1 V t~\ E Xvf' l E r SSa 7r'- 1 Ge °Z-> 1 Hist, 1 Dwg., 1 Rdg 2 Sc, 2! Wtg.: M. Missen. 1 Eng, 1 Essay, 1 ft 1 His L ISc 1 Arith, 1 Dwg, 3 Wig*/ E. Howard" 2 Geog 2 Hist,2 Rdg 2 Dwg, 2 Rec, 3 Eng.: N. Ward. 1 Arith Ist Dwg 1 Geog, 1 Hist.: L. Cameron. 2 Eng, 2 Essay, 3 Hist.: M. Beechey. 1 Wtg, 2 Arith. 3 Essay 'l i Geog 3 Rdg AV 3 Dwg, 3 Rec - : C.'Carolan ' 1 Rec, 1 Wtg., i? Dg: M. l^ olden General Improvement: K. Herlihy, E. Cox, M. Kearns. iv+o. 1 g kr 1 Essa y' 1 Rec - 2 Dw g-> 2 Rdg, 3 S + tg "' o nth -= ¥' Vance - 1 Arith., 1 Dwg, 1 Rdl 1 Wtg 2 Eng, 2 Essay 2 Rec: M. Boulton. g 2 Arith 3 En %'w' :k - E g T L 3 Dwg " 3 3 M S-. 3 Reef PhilHpT-M.fenald ° Vement: E ' E. Mc " q t? ol^^l^ -1 ATit hJ En S- 2 Essa 2 Wtg, 3 Rdg, 3 Rec.: E Brown 1 Eng, 1 Essay, 1 Rdg, 2 Rec: G Beechey 'i 1 Dwg, 2 Arith, 3 Essa 3 Wtg.7 A Cameron 1 Wtg, 1 Rec, 2 Dwg, 2 Rdg, 3 Eng.: D g Gray General Improvement: W. Plunkett, M. Brady. J General nri. Class III.—I Eng, 1 Arith, 1 Dwg, 1 Rd e 1 Rec ,3 Wtg.: M Purcell. 2 Eng, 2 Essay, 2 Rdg, 2 Wtg? 2 Rec: J. Cochrane. 1 Essay, 1 Wtg, 3 Arith.; 3 Dwl,' 33 E lwg.y3 o E^y nd : - M 2A Hetrn 3 an Rdg -' 3 ** * A^

My dear Little People, This is our last page for the year and we have just enough letters for a short trip. Before starting out I want to tell you. all that you have been the most loyal and interesting little friends anyone could have and you have stuck to me faithfully through all this busy year. I have really enjoyed getting your letters, although I've lost count of them long ago, and you were so patient waiting for your answers when 1 was too busy to hurry them along. Well, the bustling year is almost over, even Christinas is past, and the best thing we can do is to get the last of our letters answered so that we may start the New Year out of debt. This little trip we're going to take now clears me right up, so, I've turned my mail bag inside out, closed up my typewriter and have given the postman a holiday. Well now, dears, the first letter in the list is from Kathleen Fake who has forgo! to tell me where she lives. However, she is just a little girl, only eight years old, so she- can just come along with us. Bring Noreen and Pat and Larry too Kathleen and we'll all have a line time together. Now on to Clifden, to see Cissy O'Brien who wrote to us before. I received the stamps al safely, Cissy and will give them someone who sends nips away to the Missioners. ) m must have a busy time indeed feeding eight hungry (fives and a ml) Would you like "Fleecy" for his name? Please to hear from you again. Next is Cor by vale where Fannie Elizabeth Murphy lives, and her home is on a farm. They have a pet cow called Polly, and Fannie has a riddle for us. Does anyone knew it? "What's the difference between to-day and to-mor-row?" I think very likely the difference is "To-night." Next is Dannevirke, have we been there before? Our little friend Philip Parker "tells me that their new Post Office'Ts finished and was opened at the end of November. Also he says that the Convent boys', won the B team football shield this season. Now on to Dunedin where we have two or three to call on. First are Valerie and Jack Egerton. We will make a lot of new friends there because Valerie and Jack, who are twins, have a big brother Pat and a big sister Peggie, and besides they have Nancy and Bobby Penrose for mates. They all live near the Gardens, and once they made a raft but it tipped up because Nancy and Valerie wouldn't sit on the end. So, they all got wet. Then we will go and see Betty Wynne who tells me that Dunedin is the loveliest city in New Zealand. We will have a good look round and see if she is right, and while we're in Dunedin we'll call at the Tablet Office. Perhaps they'll show us how they print the Tablet and what our page looks like. We'll take Betty along with us. Next is Dipton and Ileen O'Callaghan who is most anxious for some little girl about eight or ten years old to write to her. The address is "Ileen O'Callaghan, Dipton, Southland," would one of my Little People like to write to Ileen? Now we go to Hastings, we've been there often, the Little -People there are so friendly. Now that school is over I hardly know how we'll find all the little pupils of Standard 11., but perhaps Sister will tell us where they live because we must thank them for their donation of 10/6 to the Orphanage fund. This gift from Std.' 11., Hastings, closes our list which has arrived at exactly fourteen guineas, and I'll send the last of the money away before the end of the year. Perhaps some of the children

who have written to me are in Std. 11. First is Joan Pees who tells me there are nearly four hundred children going to the Convent School. Joan wants me to guess: "When does a caterpillar improve"? Does anyone know? Next is Kathleen Pownall who lives with her Auntie, because her own mother died when she was a wee girl only seven days' old. Kathleen and her Auntie will be pleased to see lis I'm sure. Next is John Gallagher who tells me he likes reading our page and would be so pleased to see his own letter in the Tablet. You understand John how it is that we cannot put in whole letters, because we're so short of space. Some day perhaps we'll get another page as well. John has five brothers and four sisters, and six of them go to school. Next is Robert Sturrock who goes to the Convent school and sits by Austin Donovan. I'm afraid we've missed the school concert, hut our little friends will tell us all about it as so many of them were taking part in it. Next is Jean Walsh who writes to wish us all a Merry Christmas. Thank you Jean, we hope you and all the Hastings friends will get full stockings on Christmas morning. Next is Marie Buck who has a riddle for us. "What is it that is black when you buy it, red when you use it and grey when you have finished with it?" That sounds a good riddle, does anyone know it? Last in Hastings is lan Moran who tells me that his eat Jumbo has three kittens? lan too has a riddle for us, "What is the difference between rabbits and hares?" Well lan dear, is there much difference after all? I daren't say I don't know in case you tell me I'd be a fine one to be sent to look for rabbits. Now off to PomahakiFwhere Frances Scott lives, and she tells me they have 16 little calves which she helps to feed, and 42 chickens. That will be a nice place to spend a little time and ...we'll see some fluffy ducks as well. Next is Pahiatua, and Monica Corrigan lives there, and she says Pahiatua is "the home of the gods." There is a lot of pretty scenery round about there so, we'll have a look at some of it. The last place of all is Tarakohe, and here we'll call on Beatrice Lynch who was living in Havelock when she wrote last. Beatrice tells me Tarakohe is in Golden Bay, and that her father works at the Cement Works there. Wouldn't it be a wonderful treat to be shown over the works? Beatrice also says she is enjoying our trips so much, that she has never travelled so much before and that she would like us all to come and pick her up if we have room. We'll do it of course, won't we, and be happy as sandboys. Now my own Little People, good-night. Scamper home as fast as you can and get into bed so that you'll be nice and fresh in the morning ,and the grown-ups won't even know you've been travelling in the night.—Yours lovingly, Anne.

Little Helpers Sweeping, and washing the dishes, Bringing the wood from the shed, Ironing, sewing and knitting,

Helping to make up the bed, Taking good care of ' the baby, Watching her lest she should fall We little children are busy Oh, there is work for us all, Helping mamma.