ASHBURTON HIGH SCHOOL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2313, 24 December 1889, Page 3

ASHBURTON HIGH SCHOOL

Yesterday was speech day at the Ashburton High School, and on this occasion a departure was made from the programme of former years, by fixing the proceedings for the evening, ( instead of the afternoon, and introducing an agreeable change m the shape of musical performances, recitations etc., by the pupils and members of the teaching staff, which to judge from the large attendance cf parents and friends was generally appreciated. The boys' schoolroom was tastefully decorated with flowers and foiage, the letters A. li.S. and the figures 18S9 being displayed m laurel leaves on the wall facing the platform. On this (the platform) were Mr W. C. Walker' M.H R , Chairman of the Board of Governors, MessTS John Orr aud I). H. Brown, Governors of the school and Messrs Saunders and Steward M.H. R.'s. Mr Walker m opening the proceedings read apologies for the unavoidable absence of Revs E. A- Scott, A. M. Beattie and J. N. Buttle, and Messrs D. Thomas and G-. Jameson, members of the Board of Governors, but congratulated the meeting en the presence of two members of the General Assembly, to one of whom (Mr Saunders) the school was specially indebted m connection with the obtaining of its endowment. He then went on to say that every year previously these annual pioceedings had taken place m the daytime, but they had hitherto been somewhat cold and had failed to exhibit that hilarity and "go" which was desirable. This he thought was due to the Unsuitable hour, and the Beard had this year determined upon a change, of which he was glad to see by the latge attendance the public evidently approved. He hoped tha»t they had tonight witnessed the beginning of tetter things, of brighter days m connection with the school, and that they would have the pleasure from year to year m future of seeing the school more and more successful, because enjoying m an increased degree the confidence and support of the people of t"o borough and county. For the want of tuai hearty support which the school deserve : , and should have, the Board had m the past been considerably straitened. The school was as they knew supported partly by endowment and partly by fees, but their total revenue had been so limited that they had had considerable difficulty m making both, ends meet. Yet al along they had endeavored to provide efficient teaching, and he was happy to say they had succeeded although the task was no easy one, seeing that they had only some .£SOO a yeat to expend m salaries. To make sjch a school as theirs a success they must have good masters, and he hoped that as the excellence of the education afforded by ihe school became more and more known they would more and more be supported by the public sending their Children to be taught. He was g'.ad to say that the after careers of whose who had been old pupils gave evidence of sound satisfactory work at the : r school, such pupils being able to command positions among the workers of the world, and he congratulated the teaching staff on the recent success of two of their o!d pupils at the recent Christchurch examinations. He knew of many other cases which showed how thoroughly good a grounding was gained by those educated at Ashburton. There was no reason why they should not have a much larger number of pupils, and he hoped the people of the district would learn to value their High Schoo! and support it as it ought to te supported. This year too they had taken another new departure. Hitherto the school had been examined by its own teaching staff, but this year the Board had deemed thit it might be more satisfactory to the parents if the work of the school were tested by an outside authority, and they had been fortunate m securing the services as an examiner of a Christchurch gentleman of undoubted attainments, whose report would presently be received. Owing to an illness which had happened since the examination, the detailed report was not ready for presentation that night, but would en i's receipt be published for public information. Meantime they had every reason to believe it would be a satisfactory one, and the results so far as the awards of merit were concerned had been telegraphed and would presently be read. Mr Walker then vrent on to dilate on the importance of education m manners as well as m intellectual knowledge, and expressed the hope that boys and girls educated at the Ashburton High School would be easily lecognisable by tne excellence of their manners. Go : ng on to speak ot the importance of 'he higher education of girls, he said that education was as necessary for them as for their brothers, and that while it would render them more intelligent and agreeable companions, it would Cot make them any the less likely to be good housewives and useful members of families. He concluded by again urging the claims of the school upon the confidence and support of the parents of the district* Mr Buchanan, head-master, read a telegram from Mr Allpress, M.A. (New Zealand University), the examiner referred to, giving the names of those who had passed first and Second respectively m the various divisions, and subjects, and went on to express the hope and belief that the school was now entering upon a brighter period m its history, when, With the increasing support of the public, the Board would be able to enlarge the curriculum fey developing the scientific side of its coarse of instruction. He also spoke of the pleasant relations which had always subsisted between himself and the Board, and which he hoped Wtuld continue to subsist. The prizes were then presented by the Chairman as per the subjoined list, the several recipients being heartily cheered by their school fellows as they stepped forward m turn on their names being called. Following is the complete list : — GIRLS* SCHOOL. Class I — M. A. Williamson, class prize. Class II— E. Low, class prize. F. Orr amlj. Doigznd, Class HI — Kfay Brown, class prize. Class IV— R. Buchanan, class prize, Special Frizes — B, Brown, general improve* ment Drawing and Painting — C Brown. Conduct and attendance — M. A, Williamson boys' school. Division I — Class prixe, Buchanan ; Latin, Onr N. ; Euclid and Algebra, Curtis H.; g«od conduct and diligence, Williams A. Division ll— Class prize, Jeff W. ; and prize, Clark F. Division Hl— Class prize, Curtis F. ; English and Latin, Steward V. ; French and Composition, Friedlander J. R. SOIREE. A very enjoyable programme of music, recitations etc, was then gone through most successfully. Among the recitations that given by Master Arthur Wflliatns (Lindsay Gordon's " How we beat the favorite ") being specially noticeable as an admirable piece of elocution. All the recitations were indeed excellent, and many of the musical performances were also exceedingly creditable. Following is a list of the items : Pianoforte solo, " Bluebells of Scotland" Miss Grubb ; duet "Far away" Misses Edith and May Brown ; song "The Friar," Mr Lowe ; recitation "The fall of d'Assis," Miss Elsie Lowe; duet (pianoforte), Misses Jessie and Clara Brown; recitation, **How we beat the favorite," Master A'. Williams; solo (pianoforte "Home Swee Home" Miss Rhoda Buchanan; Becitation "Human Nature," Miss Kathleen Orjrj song "The murmur of the shell" MissE. Alcorn; recitation "The death of Marmion," Master H. Curtis ; pianoforte solo, "The Musical Box," Miss G. Steward; recitation, "The Land of St Augustine," Miss Williamson; solo (piano), Miss Emma Orr; recitation, "The last ch»rge of the French at Waterloo," Master L. Buchanan; recitation, " Ivry," Master V. Steward; recitation, "Boys' Rights," Master J. Friedlander, pianoforte duet, Miss Ethel Alcorn and Miss Emma Orr j song, " The Brook" Miss Grubb. The National Anthem closed this part of the proceedings, and an adjournment was made to the girls schoolroom where tea, coffee, and light refreshments were handed round, after which dancing was commenced, and kept op till a late— or thould we not rather say, an early hour. PUGILISTIC THE SLAVIN-SMITH FIGHT* A DISGRACBEUL AFFAIR, 9l MT BKGTBIO TELEGRAPH OOPTBIQHT.J (P«B PMSS ASSOCIATION. (Beoelyed December 24 1.30 p.m.) "_" "•'■' London. Deoembei 23. Tbe fight between Slavin and Smith pok place near Bruges »t eigitf o'clock

this morning and lasted twenty-two minutes. Smith was often knocked i down and left the ring, but afterwards c returned and claimed the fight. After ' fourteen rounds had been fought a dis- \ pufe arose between the seconds. The - referee refused to stop the fight and was | therefore mobbd. Owing to the dread- [ ful conduct of Smith's party a draw was » dec! Mid. Slavin was unmercifully l beaten with sticks by Smith's supporters : but he is now recovering. I A telegram to the " Sportsman " an- . nounced that Slavin was dead but a later message stated that he was only slightly hurt, 1 (Reooived Deoember 24, 145 p.m.) A wellknown sportsman furnished Smith with a mob of roughs and every time Siavin forced Smith into the lattei's corner, the roughs set on Slavin and maltreated him. This occurred during several rounds before the last. It was knowh m London before the, fight took place that it was intended to maltreat Slavin. The latter is comparatively uninjured. Smith is sick.