ASHBURTON HIGH SCHOOLS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1439, 23 December 1886, Page 3

ASHBURTON HIGH SCHOOLS

The annual destribntion of pr.zea in connection with the Arthur'on Hsh Schools took place to day. There w»a a fair sprinkling of friends of the pupil present, and among the visitors were the Revs B. 11. tway, A. M. Beattie and A. Blake, Maj ra Steward and I'ouglaa, and Mr D. H. Brown Gli-LS SOHO L

The Girls School was the first visited The room waa nicely decorated f< r the occasion with fl, wers and > vorgreens Mr Buchanan. sav : font in conß-’quenco of a series cf ur.looked for circumstances none of the m-mbeis of the Board of Governors were able to attend Mr D. H. Brown would [make the presentation of i r ces. , Mr C. Hogg, the headmaster, In response to Mr Brown’s request read his repoit which was as follows : “I have the honor to submit the report of the Ashburton Gtrlf High v,chool for the current year. The numbers are about the same as last year, but wo are pleased to feel that there is marked improvement in the attainments of th pupils, and that the school is steadily moving forward to deserve the name of a High School. One pleasing feature of the school is the youth of the scholar*, who have taken the first places In ihe examination that has jusi come to an end. They have been with ns from the beginning, and their position is the result both of ability and good work, and I think we are justified in expecting that In no very long time they will be winning lances for their school. The satisfact-ry state of this school, and the great favor in which we have every season to believe it is held in the district, is due to the ability and energy of our lady principal, and I think the Board is to be congratulated in that they were fortunate encash to secure the services of Miss Saunders to no dertake the arduous task of leading this ins* tution through its first stages and establishing it on a firm basis.” The pr zss were then presented to the pupils, the recipient in each case being the subject of hearty applause. Following is the prize list:— English. Ist Class.—M. Williamson, E. Orr, L. Hsfford. _ ~ 2nd Class, —C. Brown, E. Hayes, M. Pnrkerson. 3rd Class.—May Brown.

4th Class.—R. Buchanan. 6th Class.—K. White. Arithmetic. Ist Class.—M. Williamson, L. Hefford, B. OffSod Class.—R. Hayes, I. Hemng. 3rd Class,—H. Friedlander, M. Brown, 4th Class.—R. Buchanan. sth Class.—E. Shearman. French. Ist Class.—E. Orr, M. Williamson, 2nd Class,—L. Heflord. 3rd Class.—L. Tucker. 4th Class.—H. Friedlander. Latin. Ist Class, —M. Williamson, B. Orr. 2nd Class.—L, Heflord. German. Ist Class.—E, Orr, M. Williamson. Writing J. Brown, A. Fooks, M. Todd. Attendance. R. Hayes. The Chairman, Mr Brown, colled upon the Rev. B. E. Otway to make a few remarks.'

Mr Otway said that he w-a pleased to ■ee so many bright a ,i d harpy f#c#a and to hear the favorable character of t> e report which tad just been read by Mr Hogg. He was cot one of those who thought girls could be too much educated, hut they must not forget that In addition to the intellectual, the moral faculties must also receive their due share of training. He had no great opinion of that class of women who were characterised as 11 blue-stockings,” but he hoped that if any of those present were Inclined to become such that they would not omit learning the art of darning b ns stockings He had been pleased to Earn that the authorities of the Auckland Girls’ High School had determined to at cookery should be one of the subject taught, and he proceeded to speak of the impoi tinea of the duties of the house and their influence on dally life and expressed <he opinion that if the great waste of food which now goes on were avoided there would be ample to provide for the poor, who are now often compelled to go short of the common necessaries of life. Mr Brown bore out the Rev Mr Otway’s remarks, adding tha> he entirely ooncurredfwlth the opinion of Dr Guthrie, who said that he saw no objection to girls learning zoology, -biology and geology, provided they also wore thoroughly grounded in “ Bake-ology, boil-logy and dsru-ology." Mr Brown paid a high tribute to the ability of the mistress, Miss Saunders, and the affection with which she was regarded by 'he children. He geld that he had four children under Miss Saunders’ care, and he found it almost Impossible to keep them away frrra the school. This he could not but regard as an unmistakeable sign of the excellent management of the school.

BOYS' SCHOOL.

After the proceedings at (he Girls’ Sfchool had terminated an adjournment Was made to the Boys’ School. Major Steward, M.HR, who had, in response to a request, accepted the duty of distributing the prlzra, made a few remarks cf a congratulatory char e'er, and addressed some words of encouragement and advice to the boys. He had been glad to find the school wed appointed but ha would have been be’tor pleased to have seen another classroom, a better playground and a few more trees planted. As they were aware, he was a member of Parliament, and although no' for this district, it occupied his regard, and if he saw any opportunity of assisting the Ashburton High School it certainly would have his support. (Applause) He exhorted the boys to take evrry cVnne of acquiring knowledge and to fit themselves to use that knowledge ; and further to cultivate In the playground those qualities—forbearance assistance of the weak, interpre'lng for the best the actions of their felows-wbloh would fit them in after life to be gent'emen in the true at sense of the word. Mr Hogg then read the report relating to this school, which showed a very satisfactory state of afftira. Although the number on the roll was leas than at las' Christmas, a number of new pupils had been admitted during the yrar and at thr end of next t raa he was confident any deficiency would be made up. Two of the boys who had been sent np for matriculation were successful ; two more had been Bent up this year and he hoped they al c would succeed. The report further referred t> the work which was being accomplished by the scholars at present on the roll and concluded by bearing testimony to the ever-ready afsistacc* and sympathy in the work of the school rendered by Air Buchanan i The Rev A, Blake endorsed the r rinsra* of Major Steward with regard to those qualities which the boys s'"uld cultivate, oad also in regard to tl e or-c“Bsity that existed for an additional clissronra. He had bepn very much pleas?d wi'h the demeanor of the young persons whom h u had seen about the playground that day. He had had many opportunities o' observing the ways of school pupils and he thought the general beating of those attending the Aahbu ton High ..School yri s a matter for credit both to themselves and to their tescheraThe Rev A. Beattie made a short speech. He said that he had been ask*d to propose a vote of thank* to the teaching staff and tiMn was a duty be oonld conscientiously k undertake, pd ope whlohta tad BBoh

_p!oa»ure in doing. Two or three years ago he had acted aa examiner and he had ! iron an opportunity of Be°lng how thoroughly grounded in the workthe capita were. Ho bo? e hU testimony to the n< cessity for an additional room, saying • hat it was a matter he had urged upon the Board of Governors some tens ago, and that he wae. gud to find it h::d been sc s'roDgly advanced that day, for probably the an hoi idea would take the angg sdon. In spite of many drawbacks the tewhe's had done ‘heir w<rk in an admir b o manner and hev dcse vod the bear y thauka of all weli-wishera of the school. Mr -ogg in re’-mning 'banks took ad-vuit-go of the pjcacoc:'! of a member of Parliament to dra-.v attention to a great deficiency in the High School iya f rm of the colony, especially in regard to country High Schools. Ho should like to see something in the form of competitive examinations esfablished, for th e would give the pupils something to work for. Many of them now left school before they had attained the age of 16 years, the minimum which they could er ter for matriculation and if they had nothing t ngibla to work for it was hot natural that, ’hey would not make their

best endeavor*. Mr Buchanan also returned thanks. He refer'ed to the difficulties with wh'.oh In the past Mr Hosg and Kitnaelf had hod to contend, but he exp-essed confidence that they bad left it»e worst behind The Ashburton High School was the only one io New Zealand which had net received a Government grant, but he hoped Major Steward would use his influence in the direction of securing them about £6OO towards the erection of an addition to the building which as could be seen was sadly needed. Votes of thanks to Mr Brown and Major steward for presiding, moved hy Mr Buchanan, on behalf of the Board of Governors brought the proceedings to a oioae.

FoMowmg is the hoy* priz? list: — Class I. Examination—Buchanan, I. Mathematics—Buchanan, If. Class II Examination—Campbell. Mathematics and French—Chapman,. Class 111

Examination —Buchanan, III; Jameson Special Prize for Home Work.—Whittle