TEMPLETON SCHOOL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 174, 29 December 1874, Page 4

TEMPLETON SCHOOL.

On Wednesday the annual school chil- : dren’s treat took place at the schoolroom. During the afternoon sports of different kinds were indulged in by the children, for which a number of prizes were given by Mr P. Bailey, chairman of the school committee. A most sumptuous tea was prepared by Mesdames Bailey, March, and Maddison, to which ample justice was done by all present. In the evening an entertainment took place, at which a most attractive programme was on taking the chair, said before going on with the programme he had a presentation to make. They were all aware that the district .was about to lose their master, Mr Morgan, who had fulfilled that office for nearly eight years so efficiently. [Hear, hear.] When Mr Morgan came to the school there were only thirteen children present, now it was one of the largest and best conducted of the country schools. He hoped parents of children would always see that their children attended regularly and punctually, as unless they did, no master, however good, could get them on. He hoped the residents would welcome their new master, as nothing was so disheartening .to a stranger as to see the parents indifferent as to whether their children were getting on well, which could not be unless they attend regularly. He had been on the school committee ever since Mr Morgan had been in the district, and he could assure them that it had alwaysbeenhis(Mr Morgan’s) aim to advance the cause of education in the district in every possible way. The committee had always been unanimous as to his being a most efficient and painstaking master, and he hoped that his services would be appreciated in the district which he is now going to. He believed that the only cause of Mr Morgan’s leaving was to better himself,and he could not blame him, as it ought to be the aim of every man in a new country like this to better himself. The chairman then presented Mr Morgan with a handsome inkstand and purse of sovereigns, and said it was not for the intrinsic value, but as a token of good will which the residents of the district (for it was from the whole district and not from the committee) had towards both Mr and Mrs Morgan. [Loud cheers.] He would ask them to give Mr and Mrs Morgan three cheers, which was most vociferously responded to. Mr Morgan briefly but feelingly returned thanks. The programme, which was taken part in by Mrs Paige, Miss Prebble, Messrs Comerford, Prebble, Main, Morgan, Stedman, Anson, Philips, and Elwin, was then gone through, and which appeared to be well appreciated. The Chairman begged to propose a vote of thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who had BO kindly come to entertain them that evening and he would ask them to give three hearty cheers. [Applause,] The Bev Mr Paige proposed a vote of of thanks to the ladies who had provided them with such an excellent tea that evening —| Cheers I—he1 —he would also propose a vote of thanks to their chairman. He was always first in anything that tended to the advancereturned" thanks. The singing the national anthem brought a very pleasant evening to a close. PAPANUI DISTRICT SCHOOL. The annual distribution of prizes in connection with the above school took place last evening, when there was a goodly number of people assembled. Among them on the platform we noticed his Honor the Superinfendent, the RevF. G. Brittan, and Mr Henry Matson, beside the members of the school committee. The chairman (Mr G. Harper) read the examiners’ report, which showed on a whole, that the school was in a very satisfactory state. The following are the examiners’ remarks :—First class —Very satisfactory in all subjects except geography. Second ClassSatisfactory in all subjects. Third class— Satisfactory with exception of tables. ; Fourth class —Satisfactory with exception of tables. Fifth class—Very creditable. Sixth class—lnfants, not examined. The number attending the school was 191. Males, 107 ; females, 107. Average, 75 males ; 51 females. The chairman said that the committee would like to see a far greater average attendance, although it had increased from last year' it might still be better, and be thought it was the duty of the parents to attend specially to this. The Chairman then introduced his Honor the Superintendent, who said it gave him great pleasure, associated as he was with the district, to come up and distribute the prizes that evening. The attendance present showed that social questions occupied the minds of the people more than political ones. It was a great satisfaction to him to see the province of Canterbury prospering in education, for in September, 1873, 6000 children attended the schools of Canterbury, but in September, 1874, the attendance was exceeded by 10,000. This was most satisfactory evidence, and he thought it was time that the rest of the colony awoke up to the importance of education. His Honor then referred to the attendance of children at school not being regular enough. The attendance had been getting better at the higher schools, and he hoped that the proportion would soon be greater at the district schools. The ratepayers should be very careful in the election of school committees, getting members who would work harmoniously together, and also in the election of masters for the school. He would not detain them any longer, but would distribute the prizes in order. The following is the list:— First Class —Edith Dunnage, 1 ; Francis Miller, 2; E. Harris, 3; A. Godfrey, 4; Herbert Mayo, 5. Good attendance —J. Bain, 1. Second Class—A. Ford, 1; Fred. Schoemacher, 2; Geo, Cleaver, 3; Ellen Jones, 4; Lucy Rossi ter, 5; Jane Douglas, 6. Good attendance —Chas. Kruse. Third Class—Richard Young, 1 ; Frank Ford, 2 ; Henry Kruse, 3; Annie Wooldridge, 4 ; Annie Harris, 5 ; Janet Young, 6 ; J. Reese, good attendance. Fourth Class —George Ford, 1 ; Eliza Gordon, 2 ; Fred Gourley, 3 ; Alice Mayo, 4 ; Margaret Pepper, 5 ; H. Smith, 6; Emily Walters, good attendance. Fifth Class—James Kruse, 1; Florence Wooldridge, 2 ; Anne Boughfield, 3 ; George Horner, 4, Sixth Class —Agnes Crow, 1 ; Ellen Sisson, 2; J. Hewitt, 3 ; H. Mcllroy, 4; James Shand, 5. The chairman asked the boys to give three hearty cheers for his Honor, which was responded to heartily. The Bev P. G. Brittan said he had a duty to perform before they took leave of their

schoolmaster (Mr Mayo), aud that was to give Mr Mayo a small recognition of the manner in which the people of Papanui esteemed him. The Rev F, G. Brittan made the presentation of a nice tea aud coffee service, wishing him God speed. Mr Mayo, in returning thanks, said it was a very difficult matter for him to leave Papanui, having been associated with the people for such a long period, and he said he hoped he might say that his labour had not been all lost. The chairman mentioned that the annual treat will take place to day at Opawa. His Honor before departing, asked the company present to give three cheers for the chairman, congratulating them on having a gentleman of his attainments as head of the committee. SALTWATER CREEK DISTRICT SCHOOL. At the request of the'sehool committee the Revs Freeman and Horner examined the above school previous to breaking up for the Christmas vacation, when the following prizes were awarded for general proficiency ■ * da«s I—lst, Wm. Powell; 2nd, Thomas Scott; 3rd, Agnes Scott ; 4th, Alice Barclay ; sth, Fredk, Fletcher ; 6th, Mary Fletcher. Class 2—lst, Francis Powell ; 2nd, Wm, Thompson ; 3rd, Peter Lawrence; 4th, Charles Scott ; sth, Alex Davey ; 6th, Mary M’Kaig. Class 3—lst, Richard Topping; 2nd, Fanny Barclay ; 3rd, Lucy Tombs ; 4th, John Mathers; sth, Wm Pritchard; 6th, Annie M‘Kaig. Class 4—lst, Letilia Cairns; 2nd, James Cairns; 3rd, Agnes Thompson; 4th, Jane Hagley; sth, Henrietta Cordner; 6th, James Barclay, The prizes having been distributed, the children gave three loud and prolonged cheers for Mr Hagley (chairman of the school committee) and also for the examiners, and were dismissed.