PAHAUTANUI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4377, 31 March 1875, Page 2

PAHAUTANUI.

(from ouk own correspondent.) Easter Monday was a gala day here, for two important events for the young folks were to coma off, viz., a tea meeting and a cricket match. About 10 o’clock a.m. great numbers of children began to assemble in the playground adjoining the schoolroom, as an examination was to be held. The children were all respectably and comfortably dressed and looked the picture of health and cheerfulness. At 11 o’clock they were called into the schoolroom, and the examination commenced in the presence of the local committee and some other settlers. Mr. Toomath, our representative in the Education Board, was there, and said he could not make a very thorough or searching inspection as the time was limited, besides, they had met together more for enjoyment than work. The children were then examined in some of the ordinary routine of school work, and several questions were asked them by Mr. Toomath, both in Bible and English History, and nearly all of them were answered in a very clear and intelligent manner. Mr. Toomath expressed himself as being much pleased with them, and the whole tone of the school generally. They were then dismissed to the playground, and at i o’clock tea was placed on the table, to which ninety children sat down, seventy-six of whom were on the school books, viz., sixty for Pahautanui school and sixteen for Horikiwi. The treat was given to the children by the local committee from a balance of funds derived from penny readings.

After the children retired, their parents and friends—to the number of about eighty—sat down and partook of tea, which was provided by Mr. Pryke, in very good style. After the tables were removed, Mr. Toomath presented prizes to the school children, according to merit, each child on the school books receiving a prize. A vote of thanks was given by the meeting to Mr Toomath, for his kindness and liberality in presenting prizes, at his own expense ; to which he replied that it always gave him great pleasure to encourage the cause of education. He was much pleased with the progress the children had made ; and there was another thing he must compliment them upon. He had been amongst them nearly the whole of the day, and had seen no ill-temper or heard any naughty words from them. He thanked the parents for their attendance, and gave them some account of what had been done by the Education Board. The remainder of the evening was devoted to amusement. Messrs. W. and S. Singer gave appropriate readings, which were, listened to with interest. Mr. W. .Singer read a passage, from the life of William Tell, and Mr. S. • Singer read a suitable tale for the children. Mr. Lowndes sang “ The 'Soldier’s Boy and Mr. Ered Bradey sang “ The Oak and the Ivy.” Both songs were loudly applauded. Several songs and pieces were well rendered by some of the young ladies residing in the district, assisted by some of the members of the Penny Reading Committee, and accompanied by the harmonium. “ God save the Queen" concluded the business of the evening, - and the settlers then dispersed to their several homes, well pleased with the day they had spent. .