KUMARA STATE SCHOOL, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1387, 12 March 1881, Page 2

KUMARA STATE SCHOOL, 1880.

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. t The annual distribution of prizes to the children of the State School for 1880, was made at the Theatre Royal last evening. The building was packed with the rising generation, their parents, and a large number of the general public who, although many of them were not at present blessed with betterhalfs or families, took a warm interest in the proceedings. The Chairman of the Local School Committee (R. J. Seddon, Esq.,) said it gave him great pleasure to see such a large attendance, as it showed the deep interest that was taken in the cause of education, and also that the people of Kumara were looking after the welfare of those who were to follow them. The delay in the distribution of prizes bad taken place in conseqcence of the Inspector's report not being received ; and as the people of Kumara had subscribed so liberally towards the prize fund, they naturally wanted to know why the prizes had not been distributed before. He could tell them that the distribution on this occasion could cause no heart-burnings, as the prizes were awarded in the junior classes on the marks gained and a general knowledge of the children by the teachers. He was sorry all the children in the junior classes could not ! get a prize, as be had noticed some very melancholy looks amongst those who were not fortunate in this respect. The prizes for the advanced classes were awarded on the Inspector’s report, and, such being the case, those receiving them did not get them from the Committee or through any favor on the part of the teachers of the school. He felt proud of the children of the Kumara State School, &s it ranked second in Westland, though true enough it was fourth on the list; still, from the number of children attending and the large number there were who could not always attend, instead of 60 per cent., he considered they represented 80 per cent, so far as efficiency was concerned. This reflected the greatest credit on the children’s part and all those concerned—[Applause]. He saw a lot of old bachelors sitting in the Theatre who had no children and they must feel ashamed of themselves when they saw all the youthful faces around them —[Laughter]. Seeing the advantage of the present educational system, he said let them all, if possible, derive the benefits of it, and those who had a hard fight for. maintaining it would feel gratified at the result. It was nob fair to the teachers of the school to send children there at 10 o’clock in the morning, simply because a small shower of rain occurred. The school he was proud to say was very popular, as shewn by the manner in which the public had responded on behalf of the prize fund. He was happy to say there had been only two complaints made in the last twelve months, and that in a school of 300 scholars. The committee and teachers had worked most amicably together, and not as in other places sown the seeds of disunion, which meant the downfall of the school. He thanked them heartily for their attendance on the occasion.—Applause. The programme was then proceeded with ; it consisted of songs and recitations by children attending the school, several of the items being warmly applauded, more especially the recitation by Master W. West of “ The Death of Marmion,” which was given splendidly

both as regards elocution and action, and fairly entitled the young reciter to the marked approbation he received. "Want of space precludes us from noticing the various items of the programme at length. The Rev. E. A. SCott, on being asked by the Chairman to address the meeting, said the great secret of public speaking was always to have something worth faying; and as in this respect he was deficient on the occasion, not expecting to be called on, he would not detain them by making a speech. During one of the intervals in the programme, Mr H. Richardson Rae, of Hokitika, (who was on the stage), was introduced by the Chairman to the audience, and asked to address those present. Mr Rae, said it bad been intimated to him by the editor of the Kumara Times that they would not get through the programme until to-morrow morning, and he (the speaker) “had better cut it snort.’* This advice he intended to follow, but he must express the pleasure he felt at being present, as he had carefully watched the great interest the people of Kumara took in their public school, and people in other places might ‘with advantage take a lesson from their book. He was gratified to see how amicably the committee and staff of the school worked together, and they were fortunate, he considered, in having at the h a ad of affairs a thorough democrat. For his part he thought the Kumara school was the model school of Westland—[Applause]. The Kumara Committee had not lost sight of the very foundation of the school system the equality of mankind. The State School system knew no distinction between high and low, rich and poor, creed or country, and it was open to all. tie knew of some clergymen of shabby genteel respectability—[A Voice: “Shut up!”] lie had little more to say, and should retire after again assuring them'* of the great pleasure it gave him to see such an assemblage of hearty and healthy children. The prizes were then awarded by the Chairman to the respective recipients as named, in the following order : LIST OF PRIZES. For General Proficiency (Awarded according to Inspector’s exam* ination aud the School marks). CLASS VI. Ist, Emily C. Wylde ; Ist, Walter H. Eveuden; Henry Foreman, William Hobbs, Katherine Toms, Katherine Griffiths. CLASS V. Ist, Annie Stenhouse ; Ist, James Howe ; Arthur Wylde, Edward Henne, Helen West, William Spindeler. CLASS IV. Boys.—lst, William West; 2nd, John Hunter ; Rudolph Schulstad, Fane Cox, Frederick Orams, Joseph Barnett, Thomas Keenan. Girls.—lst, Ellen Jones ; 2nd, Ada Ingall ; Sarah Lamasson, Anni Schaivi. CLASS in. Boys.—lst, John Wylde ; 2nd, Alfred Blick ; Alfred Lloyd, Bazil Breniond, James Rugg, John Hyndman. Girls.—lst, Lizzie Mogdridge ; 2nd, Elizabeth Anderson ; Alice Rugg, Jessie Nicolsen, Maud Galland. CLASS li. Boys. —lst, John Gibson ; 2nd, William. Schaivi ; Albino Reaby, Francis Norman Metcalf, John Gray, Gregory Henham, Bruce West, George Muller. Girls.—lst, Elizabeth Skilton ; 2nd, Elizabeth Turnbull; Phoebe Seddon, Amy Wylde, Florence Griffiths, Helen Turnbull, Marion Caldwell, Harriet Edwards, Edith Metcalf. CLASS I. Boys.—lst, Adolp Bruhn ; 2nd, Edward Kennedy ; Henry Munro, Robert White, James Gage, Thomas Caldwell, William Goad, Edward Andrews, Edward Rowe, James Stewart. Girls.—lst, Rachael Burns ; 2nd, Mary Lamasson; Minnie Jamieson, Louisa Seddon, Eliza Connor, Henrietta Johnson, MaryVoisey, Janet Preston, Amy Nicolsen, Rose Bell, Lena Burger, Elizabeth Gebharat. PRIMER CLASS. Boys.—lst, Henry Forster ; 2nd, John Andrews ; William Seator, Nathan Seddon, William Caldwell, Donald West, Frank Wylde, August Schlichting, Charles Grams, Edward Horneman. Girls.—lst, Grace Louden ; 2nd, Louisa Jamieson ; Sarah Holly, Emma Burns, Ellen M‘Lennon, Margaret Brown, Rose Sceterini, Florence Gage, Gertrude Munyard. ALPHABET. Ist, Albert Sebeck ; 2nd, Charles Hopkins ; Frank Horneman, Henry Burner Richard Seddon, Hector West, Ferderick Andrews, John Bai’kei’, Septimus Metcalf, David Kennedy, Herbert Munyard, John Lickfokl, Ernest Schulstad, Benoir Bremond, William Powell, William Murtagh, Robejrt Preston, William Skilton, Patrick Keenan, Henry Schlichting, Alexander Brown, Mabel Griffiths, Laura Williams, Emily Williams, Margaret M'lnness, Emma Barker, Louisa Up ham, Martha Rugg, Adeline Munyard, Kate Drummond. Caroline Godfredson, Annie Queale, Ellen Lamasson, Ellen Thorne, Euphemia Fell, Anna Mogdridge, Elizabeth Yoysey, Amy Holly, Elizabeth Williams, Louisa Seator, Margaret Vovsev, Charlotte Gray.

Special Prizes. NEEDLEWORK (Awarded according to recommendation, of Female Assistants). Class V; Annie Stenhouee, Helln West. Class IV.—Ellen Jones, Ada Ingall) Annie Schaivi. • Class lll.—Alice Pugg, Martha Ward, * Maud Galland; Class ll.—Marion Caldwell. Class I.—Rachel Burns, A. Klempel. DRILL (Awarded according to recommendation of Drill instructor). Ist prize, Arthur Wylde ; 2nd, James Rugg ; 3rd, William West; 4th, Henry Foreman. ELEMENTARY science (Awarded according to the Inspector’s examination). Class IV.—W. Evenden, W. Hobbs. Class V.—A. Wylde. DRAWING (Awarded according to the Inspector’s examination). Ist prize, Fane S. Cox; 2nd prize, Joseph Barnett. GOOD CONDUCT (Awarded by the vote of the Children). Class V.—James Howe, Annie Stetthouse. Class IV.— Frederick Crams, Maria Griffiths. Class 111.-—James Rugg, Fanny Spin* deler. Class ll.—John Gibson, Amy Wylde. SPELLING. Lucy Galland. The National Anthem, sung by the scholars, terminated the proceedings. WETLAND “HISTRIOT GRAND LODGE OF MASONS, k [west coast Times.] The annual meeting of this Lodge was held at the Lodge Room on Thursday, commencing at 1.30 p.m. As the various Lodges throughout the district were aware that a successor to the late Brother John Lazar would be inducted to the office of District Grand Master, and as an authority from his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was known to have been received, conferring that position upon Bro. John Bevan, a large assemblage of members of the order came from all parts of the Coast. With the exception, perhaps, of the meeting of the funeral of the late District Grand Master, a larger number of brethren met on this occasion, than on any other since the Mystic Order was first established on the Coast. At the hour named, 107 members had signed the entrance book, and before the proceedings closed, at 5.30 p.m., it was supposed 120 Masons had put in an appearance. The Grand Lodge was opened in due form, and, sifter adopting the minutes of the last meeting and dealing witli the correspondence, the installation of officers was proceeded with. The following are the officers who were installed : D.D.G.M.—Bro. W. H. Revell D. G.S.W.—Bro. G. Benning D.G.J.W.—Bro. J. Kerr i Registrar—Bro. C. Malfroy Chaplain—Bro. E. Chambers • Treasurer—Bro. M. Pollock • Secretary—Bro. W. D. Banks S.D.—Bro. J. Williams KJ.D. —Bro. H. J. Thomson. Director of Ceremonies—Bro. R. Fer* i guson. Superintendent of Works—Bro. J. 0, Malfroy Sword Bearer—Bro. A. L. King Organist—Bro. R. Gosson Pursuivant—Bro. Kenway Stewards—Bros. Trice, Smith, Warner, Foldi * Tyler—Bro. J. E. Cuddeford After the installation, the brethren marched from the Masonic Hall to the Church of England, where an impressive service took place, the Rev. Mr Hamilton officiating ; and an excellent address was given by the D.G. Chap* -lain, Bro. E. Chambers, from the text “ Love one another.” On returning to the Lodge room, a unanimous vote of thanks was passed to the Revs. Messrs Hamilton and Chambers, on the motion of the D.G.M., seconded by the D.D.G.M., and acknowledged by the D.G. Chaplain. Bro. Revell, W.M. of the Westport Lodge, then took occasion to offer the congratulations of the lodge in his district upon the appointment ot the D.G.M. Bro. Malfroy followed, and spoke on behalf of the Totara Lodge, and the Secretary of that Lodge read an address prepared for the ■ ’occasion. Bro. Kerr, P.M. of the Greyraonth Lodge, also spoke jh becoming terms of the D.G.M, ; likewise did Bro. Nicholson, W.M., on behalf of the Lazar Lodge, an address being also read by the Secretary. Bro. Hyams, of the Pacific Lodge, expressed the sentiments of the brethren here, and the D.G. Secretary read a number of telegrams which had been recived from all parts of both islands of this colony. The D.G. M. said he felt more than gratified at such expressions of feeling. In fact language failed him to express the pride he felt in receiving these kind congratulations, and such

hearty wishes from all parts of the district and colony. He paid a well-timed compliment to the late Grand Master of the District, and concluded by trusting that the good Reeling Which had made itself so manifest at the commencement of his career as District Grand Master, might long continue. The lodge was them closed, according to Masonic custom, at 5.30 p.m. At nine o’clock the brethren partoik of a banquet at the Town Hall, there being about a hundred present. The banquet did great credit to the caterer, Bro. Hudson, and the utmost good-will and Masonic enthusiasm was kept up until long past midnight, Between the loaita some excellent songs Were, sung, and the music, at the lodge and banquet, under Bro. Qosson’s charge, was done full justice to.