LYTTELTON BOROUGH SCHOOL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 167, 18 December 1874, Page 2

LYTTELTON BOROUGH SCHOOL.

The annual distribution of prizes took place last evening in the Colonists' Hall, at 7 o'clock, which hour had been lixed on by the committee, for the purpose of enabling the parents and friends of the children to be present. The crowded attendance showed that the choice of the eveniug instead of the afternoon as heretofore, had been a wise one. The children of the several divisions of the school met. at the old schools at (5.80, and were marched to the hall by their respective teachers.

Mr H. ft, Webb, as chairman of the borough school committee, presided, and was supported by Dr Donald, Mr Nalder, and other members of tbe committee, and at a later period of the evening by the newly elected Mayor, Dr House, and Crs Hawkins, Grange, Graham, and Young. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, expressed his pleasure at seeing so crowded an attendance, l.o'hoC children and adults. As the election of Mayor was then proceed ins ho would commence the distribution of the prizes, which would take some time, The Borough Council had subscribed very liberally towards the prize fund, and he would reserve any remarks he might have to make until later, when some of them would be present. The prices were then distributed. During the ceremony the. CmuoU entered, ami the

chairman introduced the new Mayor, Dr House, to the meeting, who was received with prolonged cheering. Mr Webb thanked the Council for the interest shown by them in the schools, and asked his Worship to distribute the Borough Council prizes, which he accordingly did. The ehfiirman then announced that the Mayor lad promised a prize for the neatest girl in each of the three divisions of the school. [Cheers.]. The chairman said it was au old saying that "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." They had done their work for the time, and now they might play, as the holidays had come. They had seen the last of the old schools which had b eu veiy much overcrowded, and where their teachers had not had a good opportunity of instructing them in consequence. They had not had proper appliances. lie supposed some were going to leave the school soon, and there was nothing he regretted more than that go many should go just as they were beginning to appreciate the education provided for them. lie hoped those that did so would do their duty and be good citizens of Lyttelton. The number of children in the school had been nearly doubled since the new system had been inaugurated. There were f>72 on the books, but the average daily attendance was only 386, and he thought it ought to be larger, and he would take this opportunity of asking parents to send their children more regularly to school. Much depended on this, and he himself was in favor of a compulsory clause, as he thought that those who neglected their children were doing an injustice to other ratepayers, as these neglected children helped to fill the gaols, and therefore increased the expenditure of public money. The present sys'em was a good one, and if it was clearly proved that any person could not afford to pay the rates they were remitted. The Borough Council had voted them the handsome sum of £2O. £5 of this had been spent in prizes, and the rest would go towards the expenses of a pic-nic to be held at the opening of the new school. He had also to thank the Oddfellows of Lyttelton for the handsome present of £4 Is 6d ; this, £5 from the Borough Council grant, and the 6d a head capitation grant from the Board of Education, was the money that had been expended in prizes. He must thank Mr Boss, and also the other gentlemen and ladies, for the able manner in which they had done their duty under very great disadvantages; he was in the second division the other day, and noticed the children were nearly as thick as they were there that night, and yet, in spite of all this, he was happy to say that Mr Boss reported favorably of the school. The new schools would be opened on the 25th January, and a picnic would be held on the 20th, to which all the children of Lyttelton would be invited. [Cheers. | They had elected Mr Edge as the new head master of the school. This gentleman possessed testimonials of the highest character, and the committee had every confidence in him. That gentleman had stated that from what he bad seen of the schools he thought the children of Lyttelton better than those of Timaru. He would now ask them to give three cheers for the Borough Council, the Oddfellows, and their masters and mistresses. [Cheers]. His Worship said that some ladies had reminded him that boys might be tidy as well as girls, and therefore he would offer a prize for the tidiest boy in each division. [Cheers]. Dr Donald then spoke. He said that he found it more difficult to address children than grown up people, but in spite of the inefficiency of his speaking his heart yearned towards them. He was old enough to be their grandfather, and he often thought of the time to come, and what sort of people they would make when they grew up. They were all taught to read, and those who could read could learn anything ; there were good books in the library now, and there would be more. They were all learning to write, and those who could write could communicate their knowledge and render themselves illustrious. They must remember not to waste time, as there was nothing they would so seriously regret in after years. The chairman had referred to the irregularity of the attendance, and stated that out of 600 there was an average attendance of less than 400. He knew, of course, there was a certain proportion of sickness, but not to such an extent as this. He hoped they would be punctual and tidy: untidiness of body was a symptom of untidiness of brain. They should therefore see who could be tidiest; thf>y had bidden farewell to the old schools, a handsome building, costing a sum more than they could calculate, had been given by the Government for their use, and all necessary appliances had been provided, not only for the education of the mind, but for that of the body also, Mr Webb had done a great deal towards seeing the buildings properly erected, and taken a great deal of trouble for them, and he hoped they would give him three hearty cheers. [Cheers.] The chairman having stated that the winners of Borough school prizes should take them up for the Mayor's signature, the meeting adjourned. The following is the prize list : Senior Class. Scripture History—John Collins, 1 ; Mary Milsom, 2. English—Mary Reston, 1; Harvey Cooper, 2. English History—Harvey Cooper, 1; William Grange, 2. English Grammar Charles Fisher, 1 ; Mary Jenkins, 2. Geography—Mary Milsom, 1 ; John Collins, 2. Arithmetic—lst Division : Charles Fisher, 1 ; James Malcolmsou, 2. 2nd Division : Mary Jenkins, 1 ; John Elmsley 2. Writing—Boys : Frank Willcox, Charles You.,g, equal. Girls: Mary Restou, Amelia Beat son, equal. Drawing—John Collins. Mapping—Frank Willcox. Latin —James Malcolmsou, 1 ; Harvey Cooper, 2. Algebra—Charles Fisher, 1 ; John Elmsley, 2. Sewing—Mary Bradley, Gymnastics—James Beverley, 1; William Chambers, 2. Good conduct—Emily Jenkins, William Austin. Scripture History—Elizabeth Milsom, 1 ; Isabella Milsom, 2. English and English History—Lawrence MeCalman. 1; Emily Fielder, 2. English Grammar—Elizabeth Milsom, 1; Richard Arnold, 2. Geography—Richard Arnold, 1; Charles Jenkins, 2. Arithmetic—lst division, Richard Arnold; 2nd division, Elisabeth Milsom.

Writing—Bovs—Harvey Hawkins. Writing—Gir's—Elizabeth ITollis and Christina Sinclair, equal. Sewing— Elizi.beth Hollis. Good conduct and progress -John \ niccut. THIRD CLASS. Scripture History-- Kose Foster, 1. English Ilisroiy—Charles Willcox, 1 ; Robert Grange, 2. English Grammar—Robert Grange, l ; Charles Willcox. 2. Arithmetic—Lucy Childs, 1; Janctte Jenkins, 2. Writing—Frank Maule, 1; William Atkinson, 2. Sewing—Annie Reed. Good couduct—James Taylor. Second Division. FOURTH CLASS • FIRST DIVISION. Reading prize—Thomas McCalmau, 1 ; Frederick Murie, 2 ; Borough Council prize, Margaret Pope. Arithmetic—Edward Jeffery, 1; Beniamin Hughes, 2, Borough Council priz>s. Writing—William Collins, 1; W. B. Manly, ' Scripture Edward Donelly, 1 ; Annie Bamford, 2. Sewing—lsabella Connal, 1. SECOND DIVISION. Reading Ellen Pitcaithley, 1 ; Mary Maule, 2. Arithmetic—John Taylor, 1 ; George Pitcaithley, 2. . Writing Albert Bowers, 1 ; Berjamin Jeffery, 2, Borough Council prizes. Good Conduct—Thomas Knuckie, 1; Ellen Malcolmson, 2. Sewing—Borough Council prize—Elizabeth Bamford, FIFTH CLASS. Reading —Ellen Barton, 1 ; Neil Galbraith. 2. ' . Arithmetic—William Tonkin, 1 ; Minnie Jeffrey, 2. Writing—George Fitzsimmons, 1 ; .Mary Ann Sadler, 2. Scripture William Ralph, 1; Eliza Street, 2 j Borough Council Prize. Sewing—Jane Higginbottom. SECOND DIVISION. Reading—Elizabeth Marshal, 1 ; Louisa Kelly, 2. Arithmetic—Vivian Parsons, 1 ; Mary Hollis, 2. Writing—Ellen Hollis, 1 ; J. M. Sedcolc, 2. Good Conduct—James West, J; Mary Thompson, 2. Sewing—Georgiana Young. SIXTH CLASS. Reading—John Palmer, 1 ; George Agar, 2. Arithmetic—John S. Reid, 1 ; Charles Forbes, 2. Writing—Joseph Payne, 1; Thomas Morgan, 2. Scripture—George Agar, 1 ; Charles Forbes, 2. Good Conduct—Donald Smith. SIXTH CLASS. Scripture history—Eliza Fitzsimmons. Reading and spelling—Clara Westlake, 1 ; M. Haydon, 2. Arithmetic—Sarah Watson, 1 ; Emily Carson, 2. Writing—Eliza Grose, 1 ; Sarah Hickinbotham, 2. Sewing—Elizabeth Chapman. Knitting—Lucretia Thompson.

SEVENTH CLASS. Scripture history—William Malcolmson. Reading and spelling—Sydney Taylor, 1 ; Jessie Duke, 2. Arithmetic—Edward Pope, 1 ; John Livatt, 2. Writing—Beverly Grange, 1 ; William Grose, 2. Good conduct—James Drake. EIGHTH CLASS. Scripture history—George Forbes. Reading and spelling—Mary Peach, 1 ; Matilda Thompson, 2. Arithmetic—Joseph Jeffries, Writing—James Grose. Good conduct—Maud Kennedy. NINTH CLASS. Scripture history- George Duke. Reading and spelling—Sarah Donally, 1 ; James Fitzsimmons, 2. Arithmetic—Frederick Green. Writing—Earnest Ifwersou. Sewing-Louise Lanyon. Good conduct —Frederick Jenkins. ALPHABET CLASS. F rst division—Geoffrey Gibbons, Mary Rousley. Second division—John Weastall, Emily Davis. Good conduct—Rose Chapman, Mary E. Roberts.