DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES AT MISS McGARVEY’S SCHOOL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 136, 20 December 1873, Page 3

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES AT MISS McGARVEY’S SCHOOL.

Miss McUabvkt’b pupil* broke up for the Christmis holidays last Thursday, when prises were distributed to the scholars. \ large number of the friends and the parents of the children were present. The prise*, consisting of some excellent children’s honks, writing desks, work boxes, photograph albums, and toys, were awarded hr auction— an eutioly new system for New Zealand, so far as our experience goes. The particulars are a- follows : —During the year or half year, as the ca«e tnav be, each pupil is awarded marks for good conduct’, cleanliness, efficiency in studies, and for regular attendance; these mark- varied last Ibursda* from 7,000 to 400 odd The prises having been previously tastefully laid out on a large table, and temptingly exposed to tiew. the children were admitted to the school room—the Hoys on one side and the girlt on (he other, the visitors being accommodated with seats a! the upper end imrne* dxately in the rear of the auct ioi*eer*s fost cergeant-Major Heaney, C kindly officiated a» auctioneer on the occasion, and explained to the pupils the manner in which the were to be obtain*i. or in other words, ‘‘the couditons of sale.” which were as follow- : Kvtrv pupn could bid for any prixe provide ) alway* that the rupobrr of marks hid was at. their t -rnli: ; thus a pupil having, say, 0,000 marks, for the year might be enabled to obtain two or three prix-s, or, if he wished to ** spend ” all h s marks on one article be might do so, W« understand that this system

of dirtribu’.ritf f-ri*. •# is in vogue in N»« South Wale#, and was first introduced by Mia* McGsrTey, and whsn tested and duly brought under the notice of the Education Commissioners was highly recommended by them for universal j °P^ lo,J ' Xhe greatest wan apparent during the auction, and one knowing little fellow was particularly careful r o c to throw away nee<Ue»ely, and alwajs bid ju«t one above the bidder. Af.r the pnz.s had been duly auctioned, the pupils ar >d ehiidren of the Bursts were each presented by Mis* McQarvey with a bag containing a large piece of Chrktma* cake, some t»'t», buns, wine biscuits, and two ounce* of lollies. »il «f which articles were of the . u ‘* •»»•<* w*re obtained of Mr W. H. 8« nnet. of Pl us di Bakery. Raspberry vinegar, auj-nr beer, and some excellent cordial# were given to Ihe children h? Mr ( . A. Clarke, comial manu actu-er. Af er the distribution of the goon thing# of ft is life to the children. the parent# and guests were conducted to a large be-wer the timber ior which wh# provided by Mr Shanghncssy. er#, ted by members of the Armed Constabulary, an t thi. kly roofed by bmnche# of evergreens and other tries, Here on a long table was laid out all the delicacies of the #ea>on, and tue writer certainly never remembers having eaten a bet; r salad anywhere than that he pi.r' ock on ! hursday last. The dessert wa# parti ularly noticeable j and be wa# agreeably surpns -d t o and that, gooseberriek. which hiiherto be hid always imagined required kpow and frost in wm-er time, arrived at such perfection in thi# district- those referred to having b<en grown in ■t L 2* vorts ' »S"fd©n, and comparing favorably with English grown gooseberries. The table wa# provid 'd at the sole expense of a. committee of ladies, constating of Mcsdame* Hallott. Carthy Pieroy, Hot n, Fitzgerald, Codin-, and Mcfllarvey ; a-d both as regards recherche viands and tasted.ld rotations reflected the highest credit on the kdiee. Tj lt , greatest good feeling existed throughout the day, and whatever jealousy may exist b-lw.en the district school and Miss Motia- ve.v ’a *»» put to sh .mo yesterday by thepres nee of Mrs D.dziell, district school mistress j and "V “*■• f e, Esq.- Jp. one of the member* of the District School Committee, both of whom expressed themselves highly gratified at the neat oh aiily appearance of Miss McQ-arvey’s pupils and at their evident proficiency. We cannot conclude without congratulating Mias MoOarvey on her excellent school. We wish Miss MoOarvey mdse olara a - Very Merry Christmas and a Happy Jtew Year.”