THE HIGH SCHOOL.
The annual speech day and distribution of prizes in connection* with the High School, took placa at noon to-day. The Hon. the Premier presided, and among those present we noticed the Superintendent, the Hon. Mr Reynolds, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, the Provincial Solicitor, and Mr Stout, M.P.C. There was a good attendance of ladies and gentlemen. The proceedings were opened by The Superintendent, who expressed his regret at hot being able to remain, an engagement rendering his presence elsewhere necessary. 'He thought the boys would be more pleased that the duty of presiding would devolve on a man so distinguished as the Hon. Mr Vcgel —a man whose name would live in the history of New Zealand, as being associated with perhaps the best legislation the country had yet underMr Webb then stated the result of his examination of the papers for the Chamber of Commerce gold medal, which is open to boys of over 15, under 15, and under 13 years of age. The medal had been awarded to Low; but Leri was very close upon him, the difference between them laying in what might be considered the difference of age—greater power and mastery of figures, together with rapidity and neatness of method. Low’s second paper was much better than his first; and but for it the prize would have gone from him. Secular’s positionj was very good for a boy of thirteen. Of a tota of 150 murks given for all the papers, he obtained, 113, and considering that in half the questions put, he had no instruction whatever, the result was very good. The medals had not arrived, being on board the Agnes Nuir; but the Chamber had given the pvizetakers books as an earnest that the medals belonged to thorn. Out of 150 marks Low obtained 139, his second papers gaining all the marks practicable ; Levi (silver medallist), 133 ; M'Nicol, 118; Stilling, 117; Scoular, 113. Wilson’s paners did not show a mistake, and against them he had placed “very accurate;” and Wheeler’s and I amt’s were “ commendable ” for the same reason. The silver pen (awarded by Mr Webb for the best writer in the school) was awarded to Hardy, though Stilling was so close that ho (Mr Webb) had determined to give the latter a prize. He thought he expressed the regret of the parents that the school was to be shifted to some other location. Although he had the highest confidence in the Board, it was but another argument in proof of what hail been often said, that the Board such as the Education Board was not entitled to deal with such a difficult and important as the education of the people.—(Applause.) The Kectob explained that, notwithstanding the prevailing prosperity, the Education Board had, as was the case last year, been unable to give prizes for the school, which had been dependent upon private donations for thein.f He here read a list of donors.] Mr Vogel had just given L 5, to be awarded as might be hereafter decided upon.—(Cheers.) With reference to the natural sciences as taught at the school, some misapprehension existed. With the exception of botany during the early part of the year, no branch of natural science has been taught through the medium of books; they preferred to adopt the more rational plan of teaching the sciences from the objects themselves. The boys collected their own specimens, on which they were examined in their classes by the masters. He referred to the want of a decent playground, the fives competition, and in conclusion said the .Superintendent and Education Board had granted the boys a longer holiday than usual viz., seven weeks,—(Vociferous cheering by the boys.) Some person# might think the period hitherto allowed quite long enough, hut he might state for their information that the quarters would be as long as usual, because it was intended to make next and future breakings up about Christmas. The average attendance at the school during the last five years was as follows ; 1809, 70; 1870, 88 ; 1871, 126 ; 1872,120, and this year 116. The great increase since 1870 took place in. spite of the entrance examination, established in that year, winch a large number of boys fail to pass. There was a slight falling off this year, but to those who knew the circumstances it would not be surprising, because at the end of last year the elder boys finished their schooling, and between 05 and 70 of them left school altogether to enter upon the active duties of life. Noth withstanding this large exodus, the average attendance this year was 107, showing a falling off of nineteen. His surprise was that it had not been more. In previous years the attendance fell off towards the latter end, but this year the attendance was larger during the last two quarters. The Hon. the Premier addressed the boys at some length, and recommended that his gift should he awarded to the boy chosen by ballot a# the most popular lad in the school. The result showed that no lad was sufficiently popular among his comrades to allow the Rector to award the prize, and the matter will therefore be referred back to Mr Vogel. Three cheers were given for the Premier, for the Rector, and for Mr Webb. The following is the honor U«t Medalists.— Gold, Low; Jb’irst silver, Levi; Second silver, Scoullar. Classics. —Upper Five, Low (dm); Second Five, Stilling (Mrs Burn’* prize); Five, Smith; Four, Webster j Three, Chapman. Second Upper, Liggins, i; Burn, ii; Woolf, in. Second Lower, Brodrick, i. Mathematics. Medalists: Gold medal, Low; First silver (under 15), Levi; Second .silver (under 13), Scoullar. Four, Mollison (dux); Shand, Euclid. Third Upper, Chapman (dux) ; _ Third Lower, Wilson ; Second Lower, Liggins, i; Hawkins and Woolf equal, ii. English.— Upper Five, Low (honorable mention) 366; Second Five, Stilling (Mr Turton’a prize), 352. Honorable mention ; Harper, 297: M'Nicol, 289; Tewslv (i), 272; M'Lean, £6B. Four, Tewsley ii, ana Black 144. equal prize I Three, Burn and Reid, equal prise; Three, Murdoch ii, and Hume honorable mention; Two, Robin, Tojniie (geography), Hume ii (history). Head of form throughout the year —Special prize : Woolf. Natural Science. —Five (geology), Low, M'Nicol, Stilling (equal) honorable mention; Four, Tewsley ii, and Beal, honorable mention. Three, Botany; E. Burn, Mr Thomson’s special prize ; Adams, Roid i, M'Kenzie ii, Johnston, honorable mention. Drawing. -Freehand ; First, Leri; Second, Tewsley i; Three, C. Low. Mechanical : First, M'Nicol; Second and Third, Hardy and Allan, honorable mention. Mapping. —Edwards, Ist and for writing; Pyke, 2nd. WuiTiNG;, —Form Five, Stilling, honorable mention ; Four, Hardy, silver pen ; Edwards, writing and mapping; Three, Hume ; Two, Haworth let, Liggins 2nd, Gow and Edwards 3rd, equal.
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Evening Star, Issue 3375, 13 December 1873, Page 2
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1,119THE HIGH SCHOOL. Evening Star, Issue 3375, 13 December 1873, Page 2
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