EAST CHRISTCHURCH DISTRICT SCHOOL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 846, 10 March 1877, Page 2

EAST CHRISTCHURCH DISTRICT SCHOOL.

DISTRIBUTION OP PRIZES.

The annual distribution of priz3s at the main school of the Bast Christchurch district took place yesterday morning. The membeis of the school committee present were Messrs G. L. Lee (chairman), Thomson, Colbome-Veel, Kirk, and Stevens, and the visitors, the Revs Watson and Zachariah, and Mr Wynn Williams and others. Although no special notice had been given to the children, 940 scholars were in attendance, and shortly after half-past ten the gentlemen present met in the upper girls’ class room, where they were accommodated with chairs.

Mr Lee, in opening the proceedings, said that Mr Wynn Williams had kindly consented to present the prizes that day. The committee were especially glad at receiving that gentleman’s consent to ofijciate ; as they were greatly indebted to him for being in a position to give such handsome prizes, he having supplemented the Government grant with the sum of £l2 12s, for which amount he had been rated for school purposes. He (Mr Lee) also desired to mention that Mr Thomson had made a splendid present of a silver watch and chain to the boy who had made the greatest progress during the year, and which he had been informed had been awarded to Alfred Flinders in the upper sixth form. Mr Thomson had also expressed his intention of giving a similar prize each year. He begged now to call upon Mr Wynn Williams. Mr Wynn Williams said that it gave him very great pleasure to be present on that occasion, and he desired to take the opportunity of thanking the chairman and members of the school committee for the honor they had done him in asking that he might present the prices. He considered it a recognition on their part of the great interest he had always takep in the cause of education. Before proceeding to the distribution of prizes, they would not in his opinion have done their duty did they not recognise the excellent manner in which the masters and mistresses had fqlQlled their duties. In fact it was evident from what was to be seen that the school was a model of what such an institution ought to be, and reflected the greatest credit upon Mr Loughrey (head master), Misa Bolton (head mistress), and their assistants.’

The distribution of prices then corpmenced, each room being visited in rotation. The party were shown round by Mr Loughrey, and inspected a number of maps and chalk line drawings, which were exceedingly creditable. In the progress through the school the party heard the boys recite, the recitations given by the third boys deserving high approbation, and the same remark will also apply to the singing in the upper boys’ class, directed by Mr Hill, A specimen of simultaneous reading by seventy

boys in this department exhibited both pre* cision and proficiency, reflecting very great credit on Mr Woodford, in charge here. After a general inspection, the infant department was visited, the little ones showing very great proficiency in their several classes, proving without doubt the care and trouble taken by their excellent teacher, Mrs Hill. The quiet yet perfect management of these tiny mortals, with their clean and tidy appearance, was a source of great pleasure to the committee and visitors. Nor must mention be omitted of their singing, which was an additional proof of the patience bestowed upon them. The discipline that prevailed as a whole was most noticeable, the children were marshalled, drilled in marching order, and marched out of their rooms into the passages without the slightest sign of disorder. It was pointed out by Mr Loughrey that this was the ordinary routine of each day. Altogether, the school is in a highly proficient state, and creditable in every respect to tbose in charge and all connected with it; After being marched to the playground three cheers were given for Mr Wynn Williams, and at the instance of the committee the children received a half holiday. The excellent set of gymnastic apparatus was admired, only requiring a few jumping standards and a little tan laid on the rather hard ground to render it complete. It may perhaps here be mentioned that there are 1210 scholars at present on the books ; 1000 have been in attendance on one day, and 1963 have been entered on the books since the school opened. The following is the Prize List:— Boys.

Class Yl.—Alfred Flinders, William Clarkson. Bruce Taylor, William Hay, William Haddrell, Harry Rowe, Douglas Taylor, Felix Tombs, Wm. Craddock, John Bastrick, George Cooper, George Rowe, Arthur Moule, George Woodham, Arthur Leaver, James Johnson, William Hawley. Class Y.—Willie Glanville, Harry Baker, George Cooke, Robert Malcolm, Wm. Harvey, Harry Jackman, Andrew Barbour, Alfred Woledge, Willie Hill, Charles Dailey. Class IV.—A. Kirk, Edward Wagner, A. Buckley, C. Francis, Murray Jackson, A. Hobbs, F. Simmons, B Johnson, Joseph Zachariah, Charles Zincghraf. Class lll,—James Anderson, James Whitehead, Alfred Childs, John Harris, Edward Prances, David Ritchie, Arthur Clarkson, James Brightmore, Cladius Harper, John Parry, Charles Treleavan, Samuel Hays s George Duncan, William Pranks. Charles Harvey, George Faulkner, Fred Adams, Alexander Gray, Francis Rowley, Chas Gee, Harry Griffin. Class ll.—Joseph Plavel, Chas Ackland, Henry Hill, Chas McWilliams, Chas Newsome, Chas Griffin, Wm Firman, James Ritchie, Herbert Griffin, Frank Hobbs, Walter Pavitt, Arthur Amos, Arthur Jones. Class I. —H. Baugh, 0. Gray, L. Stringer, T. Clifford, P. Waller, J. Anderson, G. Gray, John Ritchie, Fred Cooke, A. Mills. Girls, Class Vl.—Ruth Stokes, Eliza Callender, Florence Thompson. Class V. Lina Zincghraf, Elizabeth Kissel. Class IV.—Ellen Wheeler, Sarah Franks, Julia Gieling, Emily Brooker, Mary Ritchie, Emma Burton, Eliza Waller, Eliza Dowdall, Ellen Farmer. Class lll.—Annie DuFeu, Class ll.—Henrietta Zincghraf, Eleanor Candy, Emma McCormick, Rosa Spier, Ada Dixon, Jane Garrel, Lucy Henderson, Rachael Jackson, Laura Willstead, Mary Dailey, Mary Jane Moncreef, Rosa Mazey, Mary Harvey. Class I.—Lillie Patten, Minnie Inkster, Kate Hyde, Olga Byark, Lenora Alexander, Fanny Fitz Henry, Kate Scott, Margaret Harris.