TOWN SCHOOLS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 303, 23 December 1871, Page 2

TOWN SCHOOLS

The examinaiion of these schools concluded yesterday morning, and in the afternoon the prizes were distributed at the Provincial Hall by lm Honor the Superintendent, the chair being taken by Captain Rough. The body of the Hall was crowded by the pupils from the various schools, while the space around the dais, from •which the prizes were delivered, and the gallery, were, we were glad to see, well filled by the parents of the children, and others interested in the proceedings. The Cjiaikman said that it was exceedingly gratifying to him to find co many persons present on the occasion, because it; afforded a clear proot that the inhabitants -were beginning to see the importance of educating the children, so many of whom were growing up in our midst. For his own part he could not look round and see so many little faces without thinking that their welfare was worthy of our gravest consideration. Having taken part in the examinations, he was glad to be able to say that he had found the state of the schools most satisfactory and encouraging, but in stating this, lie did not mean it to be understood that he considered them all that could be desired, on the contrary, there was still great room for improvement, but this was no more than might be expected. He trusted that, if the new Act ot which they had all heard ever came into operation, as it probably would, sufficient funds might be obtained from the general revenue to raise the present salaries of the teachers, and also to provide a school for the training of teachers. In reading the late English papers he found that the delegates from the London School Committees had come to the conclusion that the very first thing to be attended to at the public schools was the morality of the children — that they should be made useful and honest members of societv. He was convinced that unless the morality and the duty of the children to their parents and neighbors were more attended to in our schools they woul ? never become all that they should be. He wou'dnow call upon his Honor to present the pr'zes, but before doing so, he wished to stnte that the Committee had been more than usually liberal with prizes this year, nnd would warn the children that they must not always look for so large a number. His Honor the Superintendent said that it was with very great pleasure that he was there at the request; of the Committee to present the prizes, bub before doing so he wished to say a fviw worda upon a subject that had been touched upon by Captain Eough, namely, the Act providing for one gene al system of education, for which the people of the colony were mainly indebted to Mr. J. C. Richmond who brought, the matter forward in the House last year. In Nelson we had a system* that gave very general satisfaction, and that one was well-known and approved of throughout the whole of New Zealand, and it was a matter on which we might justly pride ourselves that it dud been thought desirable to adopt that system in the General Government Act. '3' ban this no greater. v compliment could have been paid to those to whose efforts the people of Nelson were indebted for the facilities that existed here for the education of their children. There were one or two things that should be carefully thought otrer by the public before the

frightened of him. He had been much gratified also to notice the kindly feeling that generally prevailed between masters and mistresses and their pupils. Eis Lordship concluded witb a few kind words of advice to the children present. Three cheers having been eiven for tbe Superintendent, and for Captain Rough, the children ■were dismissed. The following is the prize list :—