GISBORNE HIGH SCHOOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 851, 27 March 1903, Page 2

GISBORNE HIGH SCHOOL.

ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OF

PRIZES. Tbero was a large gathering of pupils and their friends at the Gisborne High School last evening, when the prizes won m connection with the recent civil service

id matriculation examinations were pre

sented. Advantage was aiso taken of the opportunity to present the prizes won in the recent Capt. Cook essay competition. In the absence of Mr J. W. Bright, Chair-

man of Committee, Mr A. Graham presided, and ail other members of the committee were in attendance. Those present also included the Hon. James Carroll, Inspector Hill, Mr C. A. DeLuutour, and several members of tho Borough Council.

Mr Graham, in welcoming those present, explained that the Committee were anxious that the advantages offered by the High School should be more widely known, and for that reason they were pleased to see such a largo attendance. It was felt that the free education at the High School was not being taken advautage of to the fullest extent, and two speakers would that evening place before parents the advantages that their children would obtain in attending the school. Mr Graham concluded by calling upon Mr Carroll to present the prizes to the successful competitors in the Captain Cook essay competition, The Hon. James Carroll, on rising, was received with loud applause. Ho apologised for the absence of His Worship the Mayor, who was absent on important business, and in whose place he was acting. He referred to the success that had attended the competition and the high

order of merit of most of the essays, fifteen of which had already been published, and been much admired. The subject of the essays was one that tho rising veneration of New Zealand would hold in reverence, and the residents of this district had good reason to claim seniority in this matter, inasmuch as Gisborne was the first landing place iu New Zealand of the great navigator. (Applause.) Tho name ! that Captain Cook had given the place was a very ouphonious one, although it was recognised by their critics as rather a misnomer. But be that aB it may, there were many old associations which it conveyed, and the name of Poverty Bay carried them back to the early dawn of a distriot of which they were all proud to belong and reside in. The early associations of the district were calculated to

inspire one and all with, feelings of love, devotion, and patriotism. (Applause.) Mr Carroll ooucluded by stating that i money prizes were offered, but if any of the prize-winners preferred to have books or other trophies to the value of the prize they could do so. Tho following are the names of the winners :—Standard IV. : Muriel Wright, Mutawhero, 1 ; Cecil Steele, Gisborne, 2 ; Mary Herewiwi, Patutahi, 3. Standard V. : K. Morgan, Gisborne, 1; Ethel Cumtning, Patutahi, 2 ; Noel Bull, Gisborne, 3. Standard VI. : Mortimer Colebrook, Gisborne, 1 ; Hilda Hogg, Gisborne, 2 ; Sarah Hawkins, Gisborne, 3. High School : Alfred East 1, Ethel Ambridge 2, Bessie Maclaurin 3. The winners were heartily applauded ; as they went forward to receive their prizes eaoh of the competitors was congratulated by Mr Carroll. Mr H. Hill delivered an interesting address, urging the claims of the school, and pointing out tho many advantages that it I offered, not only to those who were preparing for examinations but to pupils who were qualifying for commercial and industrial pursuits. He specially emphasised the value of scholarship examinations and I the giving of prizes, as the spirit of emulation it created was good for the pupils and for the school. Tho speaker highly eulogised the action of the Board of Governors and School Committee iu making secondary education free, and in this connection paid a high tribute to the work done by Messrs DeLautour and Morgan, whom he had known for tho past quarter of a century. (Applauso.) Roth gentlemen had done yeoman service for the children of Poverty Bay, and had sparod no efforts to forward tho cause of education in tho district. (Applause.) The lead takon by Gisborne in making secondary education free had been taken up elsewhere, and was producing excellent results. Mr Hill spoke at length of tho value of technical education, and pointed out that the Board of Governors of the High School had offered a large sum towards tho erection of a technical school, provided the Government found the same amount. Ho hoped at an early date to see such a school established, and he was sure that it would provo a groat, boon to the district. He congratulated the winners of tho prizo essays, and urged upon Mr Carroll the necessity of the Government at once taking steps to reserve Cook’s Cove at Tolago Bay and the land in the vicinity. He hoped that Mr Carroll upon his return to Wellington would bring the matter under the attention of tho Ministry. Mr DeLautour was called upon to present the prizes in conneetiou with the matriculation and Civil service examinations, and prior to doing so ho gave an earnest and instructive address upon the value of a secondary education. He made lengthy reference to tho views held in I past years on the subject of education and tho everch anting methods that were being instituted. He considered that at the present time theie was a tendency on the part of graduates and others to overeducate the mind to tho neglect of the body, and this ho thought was to be deplored. They required to make the manhood and womanhood of New Zealand as perfect as God intended they should be, and they should not negleet the body whilst improving the mind A? some length Mr DeLautour enforced the value of technical education, pointing out that there was no education complete in itself which was not more or I less technical in character. Tho Board of Governors had the hearty support of the ! School Committee in regard to the erection of a technical college, and they hoped soon Ito see this established. At an early date steps would be taken to ascertain what course of technical instruction would be most popular with the young people of tho district. In conclusion Mr DeLautour I remarked : “ The district is growing very fast, and will soon be full of people. Opportunities that only arise once in your life are opening to you now. If you miss them in the world’s history it will not make much difference, but it will make a great deal of difference to you.” The presentation of prizes was then proceeded with, Master Ernest McGregor, who passed the civil service examination, taking 23rd place, being the first to go forward. “We have here a young friend who has done better for us than any other boy has ever done in Gisborne,” remarked Mr DeLautour. “In the New Zealand competition he has taken 23rd place, and that is exceedingly good.” “It is very creditable indeed,” added Mr Hill. Mr DeLautour : We take it as an omen that ho will become greater. Mr Hill: He is already assured of a position in the civil servioe. Mr DeLautour: I havo not got such points in the civil service as my friend Mr Hill has. (Laughter.) The High School prize-list was as follows :—Passing Civil Service examination (taking 23rd place), Ernest McGregor; annual examination (junior division), Lois Sheen Ist, Bessie Maclaurin 2nd ; passing matriculation examination, Daisy Bright, Katie Wildish, Isabel Shaw, Ethel Siddells, Alfred East, and Cecil McClure. Referring to the question as to whether or not the Board’s scholarships should be competed for, Mr DeLautour said that it was hardly fair whilst the question was being threshed out by the school committee to pass judgment upon it. He would like to say, however, that prima facie his judgment was dead against relinquishing the competition, although it may be that tho scholarship candidates did require some extra attention from the masters, and that to some slight extent the less brjljjgpt Dupils might suffer. He did not K-t the latter would result, as a think tha - t „. R3 ijjjg a well-trained well-tramed teach., *«« « u (hg instrument, the “ ore a >f better the sTnd.Tn relinquishing the scholarship examinations they did away with one of the chief things that tended to create a feeling of emulation arnODg the pupils. Cheers having been given for the dona- ( tors of the prizes, Mr Carroll moved a vote , of thanks to the chairman. Cheers were . also given far Mr Carroll and the teachers,