WOMAN'S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2644, 15 December 1915, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Continued from Page 2.) WELLINGTON GIRLS' COLLEGE PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES. llio annual breaking-up ceremony and presentation of prizes (certificates) in connection with the Wellington Girls' College was held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last evening. There was a very large attendance of parents and friends, for all of whom seating accommodation was not available. Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool presented the certificates, which for the second time took the place of prizes, and the proceedings were presided over by Mr. W. F. Ward in the absence of the chairman of the College Board of Governors, the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, who was not able to be present. In addition to Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool, Miss M'Lean, and Mr. Ward, there were also present upon the platform Mr. Powles, -Mr. Barber, Mrs. W. F. Ward, and members of the college teaching staff. In the course of-his speech Mr. Ward made special reference to Mr. A. de B. Brandon, who had resigned at the beginning of the year from the chairmanship of the College Board of Governors. Mr. Brandon had held office from 1897 till January, 1915,' and Mr. Ward referred to the fact that when ho had first taken office the finanoes of the college wore not in too good a condition: By his judgment and a zeal for economy that was not allowed to impair the efficiency of,tho college, the former state of the .finances was altogether changed. The board and the college were greatly indebted to Mr. Brandon for the work which he had accomplished during the period in which be had been connected with them. Of late the number of pupils attending the college had greatly increased, Mr. Ward pointed out, and every effort had been made to take them in. As a result overcrowding ensiled, and rooms were used for classrooms which had never been designed for such a purpose. It had now been decided to add tbree class-rooms to the present brick buildings, and it was hoped the congestion would be a thing of the past. Mr. Ward also referred to the fact that last year, at the request of the pupils, tho money whioh_ had'hitherto been devoted -to the prizes had been instead handed over to the Belgian Fund, and this year, according to request, it was again to be devoted to patriotic purposes. r

Miss M'Lean, kdy principal of the college, presented her report of the year's work, first of all, however, thanking Her Excellency for her presence among them on such an occasion. It was an encouragement of their work which was greatly appreciated by the staff and the school. Miss M'Lean touched upon the inconvenience which all had suffered owing to overcrowding, and gave figures to show how the at* tendances of pupils had grown. To meet the imperative demands of a time in which girls would be needed to fill the gaps left vacant by .the men who had gone to the front, a full commercial course had been arranged at the college, given in school hours, of which Miss Hilda Ward. was in charge. Miss M'Lean gave in some detail the successes which had been achieved by pupils in the matter of scholarships, burearies, and the passing of examinations, the percentage,in matriculation being most commendable. The work in home science i and its .branches, sports, etc., was also touched upon, and a special tribute was paid to Mrs. Dawson (nee Miss Ward) aid Miss Constance Smith, both former members of the staff, for their excellent work. Miss M'Lean concluded by making a special appeal to parents to assist the work of the school by seeing that the girls went to school regularly and worked steadily at their lessons, also by seeing that they had a proper amount of sunshine and exercise.' , ' , Her Exccllency v .the Countess of Liver.pool, at the conclusion of the report of the work, presented the certificates to the girls.

The sports which were held at Day's Boy yesterday afternoon in connection with the Croydon Boys' Preparatory School, attracted many visitors. The weather was perfect for the occasion, though somewhat hot for t'he competitors, and some interesting events were witnessed. The performance of a !/ French play in ono of the classrooms preceded tlie sports, and an excellent performance was given by the boys who were made up and dressed fb suit their parts. Following tlie sports came after--1 goon tea, which was served :both outl side and inside the house, and after- ' wards Miss Coates presented the prizes, r As well as the certificates- which,■ in 3 accordance with the boys' wish, were 3 given inJieCyof the usual prizes, a few 5 cups tliat had been specially donated r wkre intoluded in t'he presentations. 1 Among those who were present, in ad--5 dit-iou to Miss Sommerville, and the , members of her staff, were: Mrs. Somr merville, Mrs. Sloman, Miss Kennedy, f Mrs. W. Johnston, Mrs. Powell, Mrs. f 'W. Blundell, Mrs. Tennant, Mrs. John , Blundell, Mr. and Mrs. Warburton, i and Miss Warburton, Mr. and Mrs. F. > Maunsell, Mrs. J. Barton, Mrs. and . Miss Elder, Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Bali linger, Mrs. Harvey, Mrs. Duncan, Mr. . and Mrs. Zohrab, Mrs. T. Young. The - money which would otherwise have been spent upon prizes goes towards patl riot-ic needs. Mr. R. W. Holmes and Mrs.. Holmes . are visiting Auckland.'

,■' ' le .'.'breaking up" of tlie Methodist Free Kindergarten, in Taranaki Street, takes place this afternoon in Wesley Schoolroom. That of tho Webb Street Kindergarten takes place the following day. Mr. and Mrs. F. Maunsell (Tinui) are visiting Wellington. To-day at 3 o'clock Miss Una Carter will give a cooking demonstration at the Gas Company's promises, Courtenay Place, the subject being "Decorating Christmas Cakes and Poultry." Mrs. Reece (Christchuroh) arrived in Wellington yesterday for the wedding j of her sister, Miss D'Oyly. ; For the holidays.—Boys' tussore silk tennis shiTts. for boys 10 years to 16 years, 5 fe. to 7s. 6d. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Man- - rare Street.—Advt.