THE HIGH SCHOOL.

Evening Star, Issue 3996, 15 December 1875, Page 3

THE HIGH SCHOOL.

The annual distribution of prizes. In connection with the Boys' High School, was held at the University Hall this afternoon, his Honor the Superintendent presiding. The Chancellor and Vies-Cbancellor of the University also occupied stats on the platform. There was a large attendance. After the Re". Dr. Stcaßt had pronounced a short but impressive prayer, feThc Rector, MrNoRKIE, M.A./read a very exhaustive but exceedingly interesting report, dealing with the work of the school during the year. He stated that there had been a change in the organic constitution of the department since his appointment necessitating an increase in the teaching staff. Since' then the attendance had allowed a steady increase. For the first quarter there were 119 scholars, in the second 134, in the third 146, and in the last it reached 159. Owing to the untiring effort of Messrs Brent Mid Petrie, who undertook the.management of the school duiingthe first quarter, he found the school work being carried on steadily on his arrival—(applause) and to thoso gentlemen he offered hi« hearty thanks for"prepat hog the achool in the mmner in which he found it. —(Loud applause.) Several friends of the school had given a number of prizes, and he begged to convey to them his B'ncere thanks for the kindness which they had

shown. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEDALS. For the three medals presented annually for arithmetic by the Chamber of Commerce there were twenty-one competitors this year—six competitors over fifteen, eight between fifteen and thirtren years of age, and seven under thirteen. The same paper was set to' the two senior divisions, and a simpler one to the junior division. The medals are open for competition to the whole school, and the above twenty-one were selected as the best in each class. The gold medal this year was won by Milne, a boy in the second division, or under fifteen, who obtained 152 P er °f tue whole marks. The subsequent order is A mstrong, 70 ; Crawshaw, G7A, aid Chapman 64 per cent., all over fifteen, nn'l M'Dcrrmd 621} per cent under fifteen. Fro-

lessor Shand, who acted as chief examiner, teEorts, " If the thi ee firct named are disqualified y their age for holding the second medal, as I presume is the case, the prize will fall to M'berniid, who comes next after Milne in "the secoud division, and whose paper is quite worthy of the distinction. The third medal—that for juniors—has been won by Lindsay, who widely distanced all tie other competitors His paper, which obtained 81i per cent, of tne whole marks, gave evidence ci great into'ligence and industry. I may add that as on f imrr occasions when I looked over the papers of the competitions for these meda's I have been much pi flse 1 not only with the general accuracy of the work, but also with the almost invariable neatness of the methods exhibited."

In the absence of Mr E, B. Cargill, Chancellor of the Chamber, these prizes were pre sentcd by Mr M'Neill, the Vice-Ohancdlor, who explained that the medals had not arrived but were on their way out. The pr'zes were presented by the Superintendent and Sir J. L» C. L\ichard*on, each of whom addressed a few words of encouragement to the recipients. In presenting Crawshaw with the science prize, Sir John t ;ld him that if ho mastered the book which he received he thought hin head would be addled. Tho Mayor's inkstand, which was open to the whole school, wa* won by a boy in the second or lower clasp. Subjoined is the prize list :

Form V.—Dux of School, Win. Milne (Provincial Government gold medal). Dux of Modern Side, Wm Crawshaw (High School Club prize). Foem IV. —Classical Side, Ist prize, A. Purdie ; 2nd do, A. Montgomery. Modern Side, Ist prize, Wm. Armstrong; 2nd do, 11. Halliwcll. Form lll.—Dux of Lower Schjol, Peter Lindsay (Provincial Government silver medal). Classical Side, 2nd prize, A. Brodrick ; 3rd do, E. Brodrick. Modern side, Ist prize, F. Calvert; 2nd do, A. Brown ; 3rd, D. Burn. P'Form ll.—Classical Side, Wm. Watson and James Bathgate, equal. Modern Side, Ist prize, P. Laing; 2nd, do, P. Barr : 3rd do, James liemr.e; 4th do, F. Smith. Form I.—Division A, Ist prize, E. Austin • 2nd do, Bsrtie Pyke; 3rd do, C. Butterworth. Division B, Ist prizo, Charles Gillies ; 2nd do, John Watson.

Special Prizes.—Upper School, Classical prize (presented by H. S. Crab), Wm. Milne. English prize (presented by his Worship the Mayor), A. Montgomery. History and geography prize, A. Purdie. French prize (presented by Mrs Burn), H. Halliwell. Extra French prize, Win. Crawshaw. Mathematical Prize (presented by Mr Wilkie), It. Chapman; Scienco Prize (presented by Profossor Coughtrey), A. Purdie; Herbarium Prize (presented by Mr Thomson), A. Purdio; Drawing free hand (presented by Mr Hodgkins), It. Bntherford): Drawing, mechanical (presented by Mr Hodgkins), A. Purdie; (presented by Mr Hutton) C. Wilson ; Writing Prizes (silver pen presented by Mr J. S.Webb), Wm. Haworth; extra prizo (presented by Mr J. S. Webb), Wm. Crawshaw. Lower School.—Classical prize (presented by H. S. Club), A. Brodrick; English Prize (presentedby Messrs Eeith and Wilkie), F. Calvert; History and Geography Prize. D. Burn; French Prize (presented by Mr M. Joel), J. C. Nichols; Mathematical Prize (presented by Mr Jas. Wilkie), D. Burn; Science Prize (presented by Mr M. Joel), F. Clapperton; Writing Prize (pieseuted by Mr M. Joel), Jno. Gow. Kxtra Writing Prizes, 2nd form, E. Maitland; Ist form, H. Stronach and W. Brent. Tenuis Prl7.es.—Ladieß' cup, Wm. Crawshaw. H. S. Club's silver medn.l, W. Finch. Boys under fifteen, E. Wheeler, John Mallard. Boys under thirheen, C Battray, C. Nichols. Chamber op Commerce Medals. For arithmetic, gold medal, open to whole school, William Milne. Silver medal (for boys under 15), G M'Deanid. Silver medal (for boys under 15), Peter Lindsay

Gymkastics.—First form (open to .the whole school).—H. Crawshaw, 1, silver medal; R. M'Leau 2, gold pencil caße. Second form: M'Kenzie, 1* *rold pencil case; Laing, 2, book. Third form •' C* Brent, 1, gold pencil case; Austin, Anderson, and Marris, equal, hooks.

His Honor, in congratulating the boys on the near approach of the midsummer holidays expressed the ho; e thHthey would enjoy themselves to their hearts' content, and that wh>»n the holidays were over all would come back t • their lesson? and studies like giants refreshed. He had very great pleasure in presiding and in taking his humble part in the distribution of prx&eß. Ho should have liked very much had all been prize-takeiß; but of course that was impossible. He hoped, however, that all would majce a print to persevere so as to obtain prizes not only at school but idso in the battle of life upon which all would very soon onte<\ He was BureaU present had baen very much pleased with the cheering account which Mr Norrie had given <i the present position and fntme prospects of the scliool. Re (Lib Honor) trusted that the

attendance might further increase, and that the usefulness of the echool might bo on a pace wi»h it. It was very gratifying to all, and pa-r----licaWily _ to Mr Nome, to find that the anticipations formed cf his advent wire likely to he and indeed had been so far realised. He was only expressing the sentiments of all connected with the school when he stated his desire that the scholars might be associated with all that -was noble and* good, not only in thought or deed, but in action. He would like to see an esprit de tw/is—let them look down on everythin° that was mean, shabby, untruthful, and insulting. Like the mark of distinction by which the old Roman citizens were known, he hoped when they (the boys) became old meu that they would be able to look back with pride on their younger days, and to say to their children that they were Dunedin High School boys.—(Cheers.) Sir Jofry Richardson*, ns Mr Macandrow left the chair, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to his Honor. Addressing the boys Sir John said that one thing had commended i(s'.'lf to him that afternoon—the impartial way in which the boys had accorded praj\c to every one who came up for a prize. He hoped ho might be permitted to be present on a future interesting occasion like this, and if so, he would not fail to avail himself of it.. Speaking of the battalion company in connection with the school, ho told the b-.ys that unless they wc-ro prepared to defend their country when the time came, it was useless for thein to Ikc me volunteers.

Three cheers were then given for Sir John three for the ladies, and three for Mr 1- orrie' and his assistants.

Before the | roceedings terminated t-e boys preKented the Janitor (Mr Wilson) with ' a purse of soverci th.