NELSON COLLEGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 286, 13 December 1879, Page 2

NELSON COLLEGE

PRIZE DAY. The prizes were distributed yesterday afternoon in the new room at the College the thin attendance of the parents of the pupils being due to the omission of the customary notification, consequent upon the illness of the Secretary. On the motion of Mr Barnicoat, the senior Governor, the chair was taken by the Bishop of Nelson. The Rev S. Pools, the examiner, being called upon, read the following REPORT. To the Chairman of thb Board op Governors, Nelson College. Sib, — In compliance with your request communicated by the Secretary on the 20th August last, I undertook the examination of the College for the current year. I have now the honor to report as follows : List op Subjects. Tbe subjects for examination were aqch aB were being taught, and consisted of English, Classics, Mathematics, and Modern Languages. In English the authors specified were— Spenser, tbe •' Faery Qa en" cantos i, ii, iii, Shakespeare, " Macbeth " and " King Richard II"; Milton, book i; Goldsmith, "The Deserted Village"; and "Historical English Grammar," by Morris. In Latin I had to examine in Cicero's Catiline Orations, Horace's Odes, hooka i and ii, the Ars Poetica, Roman History from the foundation to the battle of Actium; Caesar, books i, ii ; Virgil's iEueid, books i andii; Latin Composition, Grammar, Priucipia Latina, parts i and ii. In Greek the books were Xenophon's Anabasis, book i, and the Acts of the Apostles.

The Mathematical subjects were Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Plaue Trigono metry, Conic Sections by Drew, Mechanics by Todhunter.

I had also Political Geography, and Physical Geography, by Geike and Hughes. Iv Modern Languages the hooks iv use were Voltaire's Charles XII, Voltaire's Louis XIV, Otto's German Grammar, and iv the examination paper were set at sight pieces from Schiller and Goethe. The examination has been chiefly conducted by means of papers printed Under my direction without the knowledge of any of the teachers, except in the case of the Modern Languages, and I have every reason to believe that the fairness and justice of my decisions have not beeu vitiated by abuse of confidence oa the part of the printers employed, or by auy disclosure before the appointed hours. With that exception, therefore, of the French aud German, I am the only responsible person for all the papers that have been set, and if any particular question that has been propounded should provoke malevolent criticism, a careful study of the text books and notes will, I am sure, remove ali misunderstandings. Undergraduates of the University op New Zealand. I have to congratulate the Governors and Masters of the College not only on the enlargement of the building and the increase of the number of boys, but alao on tho University honors obtained by Mr Harkness and Mr Fleming since my last examination. I bave tested their knowledge of the higher subjects already mentioned, and have every reason to report most favorably respecting their progress and proficiency. In addition to their Mathematical readiugof the previous year, they have brought up the interesting sciences of Conic Sections and Mechanics, in wbich they have done well, considering the short time they have been studyiug them, and the variety of other subjects they have to master. I beg also to add tbat another University undergraduate connected with the College hasjtieen examined by me in Homer, books i, !1\ ".'* ** v » Xenophon's Anabasis, books i. ii, iii, iv ; Livy, books i, ii ; Terrence, the Andria ; Virgil's JEneid ; Horace's Odes, i, ii ; and Ars Poetica. I allude to Mr Henry 08. Deck. His papers, together with those of Messrs Harkness and Fleming, will be forwarded by me to the Chancellor of the University. Governors' Fees Scholarships for Modern Languages. Ist— value JEI2 lOi Fleming. 2nd „ Meyer. The two German competitors placed mottoes on their papers instead of writing tbeir names, and Mr Harling and myself submitted them to the criticism of Dr Johansen, who very kindly gave us the support of his undoubtedly valuable opinion. Governors' Fees Scholarships for English and English Literature. Ist— value £12 10s Allen. 2nd i» „ Wither Ui. Since the establishment of the above scholarships, the number of students hare increased both in English, French, and German. Classical Foundation Scholarship. (1) Classical, for hoys under 16, value £20, tenable for one year — Evans (2) Classical, for boya under 14. value £10, tenable for one year— Not awarded. Peat, £10, as special reward of merit. (3) Classical, for boys uuder 12, value £5, tenable for one year — Mowatt iii. Mathematical Foundation Scholarships. (1) Mathematical, for boys under 16, value £20, tenable for one year— Won by Evans ; Lowe recommended. (2) Mathematical, for boys under 14, value £10, tenable for one year— Sharp ii. (3) Mathematical, for boys under 12, value £5, tenable for one year— J. B. Young Thb Alfred Fell Scholarship, £16. In the " Prospectus of Nelson College " published ia 1862, 1 find at page 16 "that this scholarship ia to be held for two years, and that candidates must be under fifteen* years of age at the day of election." Now, the boy whom I am about to recommend for this scholarship ia only thirteen years old, but has amply satisfied all the conditions specified io the above-mentioned prospectus. He came next to Sharp ii in the Mathematical subjects, and stands higher than any other boy of his age in the Classical. He is also reading Xenophon and Scripture History in the Greek language, wbich may be considered as a stronger reason for his election, as the provisions of the Fell Trust seem to require a knowledge of this part of Ancient History. I beg to recommend for this scholarship John Chapman Andrew. "The Stafford." Tbis scholarship, of the value of £20 per annum, for -the " best proficient at an examination in Modern History," may be competed for by all students m Nelaon College who shall have attained the age of fifteen years, and is tenable for three years. The highest marks were gained by Fleming, who is therefore the winner of this valuable reward. The " Richmond." There are no sons of retired officers and men of Her Majesty'a military and naval services of average proficiency in the school. The Richmond is therefore open " to all studente above fourteen years of age wheresoever born of resident " This being a scholarship of the value of £24 and tenable for three years, I have much pleasure in recommending a student who has distinguished himself greatly in the College on previous occasions, and who stands high in all subjects, having obtained more than average proficiency, and whose aggregate marks raise him to tbe head of the school, viz. Harkness. *' PRIZES. Simmons' Prize, £6 -Lowe. Classics— First prize, Glasgow I; second Bullard ; third, Robinson ; fourth, Chisnall • fifth, Glasgow III ; sixth, Fookes I. Mathematics. First, Barltrop ; second, Bryant; third, Canavan; fourth, Fletcher I fifth, Burns ; sixth, Hoffman 11. ' English.— First, Trolove I ; second Mabin II ; third, Gibba ; fourth, Buckeridge 111 French.— First, Bullard ; second, Raikentbird, Glasgow, (Mr Harling's prize.) ' German.— First, Kelling ; secon i. Drever (Mr Harling's.) ' ' Drawing.— First, Evans; second, Wither 11. (Mr Itaikes.) General Remarks. My papers this year have been drawn up according to the English standards, as seen in the Cambridge Local Examinations. I have every reason to infer that the College is better this year than it was Jast in educational attainments. There is a decided im proyement in Latin and Greek. The lists of subjects in Mathematics will compare very favorably with those of preceding years, and the attainments of the upper boys show' tbat the supply of teaching power is equal to the demand. As far as 1 am concerned, I have formed such a high opinion of some of the seuior boya from their writings, that I am sorry there were not more scholarships vacant for studenis above the age of sixteen. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your ohedient Servant, Samdsl Pools, M.A., Examiner.

• .5 BIBHOP of Nelson said that this was intended to be an occasion when by their presence, as well as by what they might say, the seniors intended to indicate their sympathy with the pupils, and with the welfare of the institution generally. With many of them it waß an old story, was this prize giving, h»t they felt it to be their duty to put on their youngest and freshest tone, and to come and take part in the proceedings, and so to show their sympathy with the young. Some people retained their youthful character to their lives' end, and nothing was more helpful than such a disposition in bearing the toils and difficulties of life. Each station in life had its difficulties, and they must all be conscious that there were a great variety in a school such as this which beset both teachers and pupils The health of the body was not altogether Indicated by the absence of any symptom of disease, but by the vigor wiih which, when attacked, it shook off the disease, and he hoped this would be the case with the Nelson College. They must not shut their eyes to the difficulties by which they were assailed— and they would all know to what he was alluding without hia making special mention of it — nor attempt to evade them, but grapple with them manfully, hoping to emerge from them stronger and purer than ever. There was one thing he wished to say to them which had been called to his mind by the gymnastic exercises in which they had yesterday proved their excellence, and which were a credit to the College and to Mr Harling. Where had previously been the strength they had theu exhibited? Had they formed it when they learned gymnastics? Not altogether so. It had existed before, but they had brought it out by exercise. The feats which they had shown themselves capable of accomplishing they could not perform when first they attempted them, but the ability to perform them had only been acquired by plodding preparation, which no doubt at the time appeared irksome to them. If this was the case with their gymnastics, was it not equally so with their Latin and their Greek, and their mathematics. When the dull plodding at these appeared irksome, as sometimes it undoubtedly must do, let them remember the success that attended perseverance in the gymnasium, and be encouraged by that, not forgetting that in their studies they were aiming at something higher than being able to turn a few somersaults. There was one more subject on wbich he wished to speak. He had been much surprised on reading the report of an Inspector on the schools in a neighboring province to find depreciatory remarks ou the study of History in the primary schools, and was sorry to see it there stated that the boys attending those schools could not be expected to take an interest in the patriotic deeds of their forefathers in England, Scotland, or Ireland. On the contrary he hoped that to every English boy, whether in New Zealand or elsewhere, the stories of Old England were very dear, and that they knew and could relate many of them. It would be a dreary New Zealand if they were to wait for hundreds of years for deeds to be performed here, out of which the only history they were to take an interest in was to be composed. If they were expected to become so familiar with the characters of Homer as to nickname some of their companions after them, was it too much to ask that they should at least learn the later deeds of their forefathers in the old country? The stories of the noble deeds of British heroes contributed much towards making up the national mind, and next year he should with the permission of the Governors offer a prize, which he hoped would tend to encourage a desire to cultivate a closer acquaintance with those stories. The Bishop then proceeded to distribute the prizes in accordance with the list which we publish elsewhere, after which he said he would address a word' to those who had not gained prizes. He would ask them not to be discouraged or disheartened, for if they had done their best they would have the commendation of their consciences, though if they had not, he must say tbat he did not care how uncomfortable they felt.

The Rev J. C. Andrew, the Principal, said that the remark waa as old aa Homer, who, like Shakespeare, was somewhat of a plagiarist that generations of men were like generations of men how much more so was leaves of the forest, and if this was true of it of generations of schoolboys, who so soon passed away from the schoolroom to tbe outside world. Many of those now before him would never again enter tbat room as schoolboys, and he would invite them to ask themselves what good had they done for themselves at school. They Bhould remember that it was not only what they learned in school of mathematical problems and Greek roots that was of use and importance to them, but tbe habits they had formed away from the eye of the master and in the playground. Some of them, if they examined themselves as to whether they had done good for themselves, would not be satisfied, and it might even be well if it were so, for there was hope for boys going out into the world who were conscious of their defects and shortcomings and of having wasted their time at school, hope that, remembering the waste of time when young, they would determine to waste no more when grown into manhood. He would not shorten their holiday by talking more to them now, but would only hope that they would spend' a happy time, and add that he should have much pleasure in meeting them again on the 31st of January.

Mb Mackat wished to express his pleasure at hearing Mr Poole's report, and finding that he considered that the standard of the school was not retrograding but progressing. For his own part he could say that never before had the College turned out two sounder boys than Fleming and Harkness. There waa a great contrast between the present time and when he first came to the College. Then, the only examination was the annual one in connection with tbe school, and the only stimulus to exertion waa the ordioary prizes and scholarships, which, as a stimulus, produced but very iittie effect, as the boys generally made up their minds who were going to get them, and gave themaelves no further trouble. Teaching then waa bard work, for what was taught had to be forced down the pupils' throats. Then came the Government and University scholarships, and from that time a change was brought about. Instead of being listless, inattentive, and careless, the boya became anxious, attentive, and careful, and Nelaon College became suddenly transformed from a hive of drones into a hire of working beea. That spirit continued, and at the present time the boys seemed determined to do better tban any who had gone before them They were doing good honest work and striving hard to get on when suddenly a Royal Commission on Higher Education was appointed in Wellington, the real object of which, he believed, was to crush the smaller institutions, such as Nelson and Wellington Colleges, and to drive all the flsh they could into the great neta of Otago and Canterbury. He had read the report of that Commission, and he could not help noticing the remarkable similarity between it and tbe press articles and pamphlets that were published in Dunedin on the same subject. The report said that legislation was necessary to compel the Nelson College to open itself to inspection. They actually wanted to put Mr Andrew through his facings. Now if inspection was necessary for Nelson College, he failed to see why it should not be extended to the Otago University and to Canterbury College. He could not see the great gulf fixed between a teacher who is styled Professor of Classics or of Mathematics and

a teacher of c _ual ettaintnents who is satisfied with the less ambitious title of Classical or Mathematical Master • nor could he understand why an educational policeman shou d be necessary to look after the latter and not after the former. Everything seemed to depend upon inspection. Butwe;ha4 already had a taste of excessive inspection in New Zealand, and he was surprised they did not take warning from its results. Over inspection drove Mr Simmons from th« Otago High School to take refuge in Nelson College. 1 here was more inspection at that same High School, and such meddling and muddling that the next master was actually and literally worried to death. The next head master came out with a great flourish of trumpets from Edinburgh, but he was inspected to that extent that he had to go back to Edinburgh for peace. Then came Dr Macdooald, and he set his face against so much inspection and told them tbat having appointed a head master the best thing they could do was to leave him aione to do his work. With that sentiment he (Mr Mackay) quite agreed. In conclusion he wished to place on record his sense of gratitude to the other masters, Messrs Barnicoat, Firth, and Harling. He had been teaching for a great number of years, but never before had he been associated with such earnest colleagues, both in and out of school, as those three gentlemen. He would now bid the boys good-bye, reminding the boarders that they would come back under more stringent conditions than hitherto but not such as to prevent their being healthy and happy at College. Mr Barnicoat on behalf of the Governors desired lo thank his Lordship the Bishop for presiding. He also expressed their regret that Mr Pollock, the Secretary, was too ill to be present. To that fact also it was owing that the usual notification of the distribution of the prizes had been omitted, and he hoped that parents and othra who might have wished to be present would except this excuse. With reference to tbe Bishop's remarks upon the teaching of history, he would remind him that there was a scholarship for that special subject. The Right Rev. Chairman thanked the Governors for the honor they had conferred upon him in asking him to preside, and assured them that he took a deep interest ia the welfare of tbe College. He congratulated the masters upon the success that had attended their work, and thonght that to Mr Poole special thanks were due for the pains he had taken in conducting the examinations. He hoped ere long to see the College attain to twice its present size. The boys then gave hearty cheers for the Bishop, for Mr Andrew and all the other masters, and for Mrs Mackay and the ladies, and the proceedings terminated.

Dr Busch, writing of Prince Bismarck, sayß:—"Oco evening, sitting* in the place I have already described, after 'having brooded to himself for some time in silence, he began to complain to us that he had derived but little joy or satisfaction from his political activity. He asserted " that he had made nobody happy thereby — not himself, nor his family, nor, indeed, anybody else whatsoever.' We protested against this assumption. He went on, howev t r, tn say, 'But I have made many people unhappy. But for me three great \var3 would not have been fought, 80 000 men would not have perished, aDd parents, brothers, sisters, widows, would not bave been plunged into grief ad mourning. However, for all 1 his T have made up my account with God. But 1 have had little pleasure out of all thut I have done — on the contrary, much annoyance, care, and trouble.' And in ths strain he continued for some time longer. We held our tongues in astonishment; but I afterwards heard that during the last few years he had frequently expressed himself in a similar manner."