BOY'S HIGH SCHOOL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6490, 15 December 1881, Page 6

BOY'S HIGH SCHOOL.

0.. ii^i The distribution of prises In connection with the Boys* High School tool place last •retting. At half-past wren o'clock a large upper room was crowded with parents and friends of the scholar* » and - upon »h# large temporary platform scats were placed for the Chairman and members of the Canterbury College Board of Governors and the masters of the school, 'ihe room had been tastefully decorated. The Chairman (Mr W. Montgomery) a id those pres nt were aware that this school was under the supervision of the Board of Go* veroora, end that this was the first annual gathering in connection with the school. He desired to refer briefly to the reason* which led to the establishment of such a school, and to the steps which had been taken to bring it into existence. In all the primary schools education was free, and the Canterbury College, which gave a University education on such terms that all persons could avail them* •elves of the privileges afforded, was also a Slate educational institution. It wan, therefore, oonridored desirable that there should be a link between the primary schools and the University. This, however, was not because there did not exist another Institution giving a good secondary education j for the Chrisi’e College Grammar School had done a great and good work. The building itself had occupied the careful attention of the Board, and all would agree that it was‘admirably adapted to the purpose) but the main point was the choice of masters, upon whom the character of the school must largely depend. This was especially the case with regard to the head master, and, in order that a really suitable man should be obtained, the Board appointed a Commission, composed of eminent scholars in .England. That Commission chose the head and the second master—men of high character, and who had been long engaged in the work of tuition j and certainly there was not a member of the Board of Governors but thought that the choice had fallen upon men who were as good as could be obtained in England. (Cheers.) Afterwards, the assistant-masters were chosen, all with the consent of the head master, who mutt be fully entrusted with the management of the school Those who wore oho.cn had been engaged in tuition, acd had takeu good degrees in the University of Hew Zealand. The school had been only two terms in existence. During the first term there were 73 lebolara, and now there were 90. The Inspector-General of Schools (Mr Habeas), welt known to all of them, bad visited the school about a month previously, and had reported at follows “ I inspected this school on Oct. 25. It has been in operation only about six months. There are about 90 pupils, of whom only a few have been at a Grammar school before. Under these circumstances the work done is necessarily of a somewhat elementary kind, j and the highest class consists of boys who ought to remain in the school two or three years, heme of them have completed (he primary school course, and are now in a peat turn to devote most of their time acd energy to subjects not included In that course. Trained os they have been, and enjoying the benefit of a larger share of the host teaching power of the school than is likely to fall to the lot of their successor# at the same stage of progress, they may perhaps constitute a good ‘ sixth form ’ in two years, but it may be three years before the school is in full working order. The Head Master (Mr T. Miller, M.A, late Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge) has had large experience os a master at Uppingham and at University College School, London, Mr Hogbea, M.A., late Scholar of St Catherine’s College* Cambridge, Is the second master. The three other masters ora graduates of the Hew Zealand University. The school building is an ornament to the town, as well as commodious, and in ever/ way well adapted to its purpose. There appears to be a good tone in the school, and exemplary order. Hitherto there has been a partial observance of the method of distinct classification of the pupils for the separate subjects of instruction, limited by a division into an upper and a lower school This distinction of upper and lower is to bo abolished, and next term the time table will be so arranged as to allow of separate classification of the whole school for every subject. 1 observed with peculiar satisfaction the unusual amount ot care bestowed upon English composition in the head master's own doss. French and drawing form parte of the school course, and instruction it given in physics, chemistry and physiology. Singing is also taught. I have no doubt that when the school is old enough to show what it can do it wiU command the confidence which, by its organisation, it already merits.” At the request of Mr Montgomery, the head master, Mr Miller, gave an outline of the character of the work none in the school, and of his intentions for the future. He mentioned that a class for book-keeping was about to be instituted, so that lads who were intended for a commercial life should not be launched upon the world without any training for the special duties which would devolve upon them. The prizes were then distributed. The names of the prize-takers are given in alphabetical order, each boy obtaining one prize except where otherwise mentioned:— A. It. Baird, English and Latin; W. Boag, History, French, Geography and Chemistry, 2 prizes; T. E. Oresswell, Mathematics and Physiology; B, Cross, English, French, Geography and History % 0. W. Garrard, Latin, Mathematics and French, 2 prizes; F. Joynt, Mathematics and French ; J. 0. Miller, Latin, Greek, English, French acd History, 2 prizes: W. Montgomery, Latin, French, History and Chemistry, 2 prizes t E. Nathan, Latin, English, French and Geography, 2 prizes ; F. M. Oldham, Mathematics and His toryt J. 0. Pateman, Mathematics, English and French; J. H. Bmith, Latin, Greek, Mathematics, French and Geography, 3 prizes j B. Speight, Mathematics, English, Geography, History, Physics amt Greek, 2pnzes j J. Tait, Mathematics, History, English, French, Chemistry, Physics and Physiology, 3 prizes j G. F, Fend all, Latin. Extra Prizes.—Drilling! J. Moir, W. Tail, J. E. Garland, J. 0. Miller. Three Krfect monthly reports: AL. Baird, H. B. acb, J, H. Smith, W. Tail It was announced that Mr Postlethwaite, the member for Geraldine, bad kindly offered a prize for English composition, to be competed for during the holidays. The following Items wore then contributed t

" Let the Hills Beiound" (Brindley Richards), 41 Le Meroure Galon t" (Boursauet), La Rissole, Montgomery; Merlin, Milter. “Ye Shepherds Tell fife" (Muunghi). 44 Ring John (Act 2, So, 1,2)" (Shakespeare), Arthur, Zoobarioh j Hubert, P. Minohin; King John, Montgomery. 44 O, who will o'er the Downs so free" (Pearsall). * 4 Merchant of Venice (dot 2, Be. 2)" (Shakespeare), Launcdot, G. Von Boast; Old Gobbo, Frank Watson j Basanio, Heywood ; Leonardo, A. Garland. 44 Hark, the Bolling Drum" (Bishop). Gad Save the Queen.