ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4605, 23 December 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL.

Yesterday afternoon the annual distribution of prizes in connection with this school took place at the Odd Fellows' Hall. Prior to this, and in the morning, an athletic sports match took place on the Basin Reserve. Many of the pupils' friends were present, and the contest passed off very well. All the boys were in good humor and good spirits, and some of the matches were very exciting. At the Odd Fellows' Hall, the Ven. Archdeacon Stock presided, and opened proceedings in a few words of congratulation. The Head Master (Mr. T. A. Bowden) then spoke at some length on the history of the school, and explained that it had been established for the purpose of imparting to pupils a thorough knowledge of English, excluding almost altogether such subjects as Latin and Greek, not that he wished to disparage the value of Latin and Greek and such higher subjects, for he felt that they were indispensable necessaries to a thorough education, and should not be neglected where pupils could be kept to school for a sufficient time to enable them to master these subjects. But where pupils commenced late, or in cases where the circumstances of the parents were such that they could not keep their children at school for a lengthened period, he thought it was best to use the whole of the time in instrueing them in English alone. The support which had been accorded showed that the conductors had not misinterpreted public opinion on this subject. He then explained the system upon which certificates and prizes were given. There were two classes of certificates given. The first-class was only to be obtained by boys who worked hard for it; and the second-class certificate was not awarded where only negative merit was shown. > That was to_ say, the merit must have been of an active nature, and the conduct, of a boy was not considered meritorious simply because he happened to escape censure. This year only one boy had attained the highest standard, but there was no reason whatever why any one of those who obtained the second class certificate should not also have attained to the first. He explained, further, that it was proposed to keep a permanent honor list, so that as the school grew older scholars might lookup to the example of those who had gone before them, and were occupying respectable positions in life. He then called upon the Ven. Archdeacon Stock to distribute the certificates and prizes, which that gentleman did according to the annexed list, and here it may be stated that the prizes were elegantly bound volumes of standard works : First Degree Highest Certificate of Merit.— N. Pcrston. Second Degree Certificates of Merit. —W. Meek, L. Hoggard, S. B. Clark, G. Slater, C. Holdsworth, N\ Bowden. \V. Cameron. 11. Cook, C. F. Sidey, T. W. Lewis, J. McLean, W, H. Gannaway, W. McLean, 6. Tully, J. H. Stock, J. H. Wallace, A. Meek, A. Cook, W. Bowden, E. Porritt, E. T. Daniel. First Degree Reward of Merit. —N. Perston. Second Degree Rewards of Merit. —W. Mook, S. B. Clark, G. Slater, N. Bowden, 11. Cook. C. F. Sidey, J. McLean, "W". H. Gannaway, W. McLean, J. H. Stock, A. Meek, A. Cook, W. Bowden, E. Porritt, E. T. Daniel. (Note.—Kewards of merit are given only to those pupils who have obtained certificates of merit two quarters successively.) SPECIAL PRIZES. Awarded chiefly for exercises done out of school hours. First or Junior Class. Recitation—A. Meek, prize; J. Slater, hon. men. Writing—A. Cook, prize; F. J. Halse, hon. men. Arithmetic—W. Bowden, prize. Slapping and Drawing—A. Cook, prize. English Composition—E. Porritt, prize. Spelling—J. Slater, prize, A. Meek and E. Porritt, hon. men. Second Class. Recitation—William Meek, prize; J. H. Stock and T. Lewis, hon. men. Writing—J. H. Stock, prizo ;J. H. Wallace, hon. men. Arithmetic—A. Rowlands, prize. Mapping and Drawing—J. H. Stock, prizo; W. H. Gannaway and E. Stock, hon. men. English Composition—G. Tully, prize. Spelling—F. Meadows, prize. Third Class. Recitation—C. Holdsworth, prize. AVriting—A. Costall, prizs ; N. Bowden, Ledger, Wickliffe, and Perry, hon. men. Arithmetic—G. Slater, prize ;W. Cameron, hon. men. Mapping and Drawing— G. Davis, prizo; S. B. Clark, hon. men. English Composition—G. Slater, prize. Spelling—N. Bowden, prize ;G. Slater, hon. men. Fourth, or Senior Class. Recitation—J. M. King, prize ;W. Meek, K. Perston, and S. Harrison, hon. men. Writing—N. Perston, prize ; J. Williams, hon. men. Arithmetic —N. Perston, prize; F. Dobson, hon. men. Mapping and Drawing—J. Williams, prize; N. Perston and A. Harding, hon. men. English Composition—W. Meek, prize. Spelling—W. Meek, prize ; N. Perston, hon. men. Shorthand—F. Dobson, prize; N. Perston, hon. men. Before the prizes for recitation were handed over, each winner mounted the platform and delivered the recitations with which he had won the prize, or a substitute in case the piece happened to be too long. Master A. Meek recited "Fate of the Oak," by Barry Cornwall ; Master W. Meek, " Child and the Hind," by Campbell; Master C. Holdsworth, prologue to Scott's "Last Lay of the Minstrel;" Master N. Perston, " Mark Antony's Oration," a couple of other boys talcing the parts of citizens; Master W. Meek, " The British Language," introducing a few lines including New Zealand in the poem; Master N. Perston "British Love to America." Most of these pieces were recited in a clear voice, correct pronunciation, and with a very fair emphasis and modulation of voice. The prizes for the sports were also presented by the Ven. Archdeacon. These consisted of bows and arrows, vases, writing cases, desks, field-glasses, portrait albums, and a large variety of other articles. The prizes were won as follows: Flat Race, 100 yds; under 16.—Perston (maroon and white), Ist; W. Cameron (black), 2nd. Hor, Step, and Jump; over 14.—Porston, Ist; Davis, 2nd. Flat Race, 100 yds; under 14.—Bannister (yellow), Ist; W. Cameron, 2nd. Half Mile Walking Match ; all ages.—Williams (red, white, and blue), Ist; W. Cameron, 2nd. Vaulting, with Pole.—Perry (green and white), Ist. FLAT Race, 100 yds; under 12.—Buchanan (black and white), Ist; A. Cameron (purple), 2nd. Handicap Flat Race, 100 yds; over 14.—Davis (stripe), Ist; Wickliffo (pink, red, green, and blue), 2nd. Hordle Race.—Davis, Ist; W. Cameron, 2nd. Flat Race, 100 yds ; under 12.—Buchanan, Ist; Ledger (rose and black), 2nd. Hioh Jujir.—Davis, Ist; W. Cameron, 2nd. Half Mile Race; all ages.—Williams, Ist;. Perston, Turowino Cricket Ball.—Perry (green and white), Ist; Wickliffo, 2nd. Consolation Race, 220 yds.—Hume, Ist; A. Harding, 2nd: King, 3rd. Flat Race, 100 yds; under 13.—A. Rowland, Ist. At the suggestion of J. E. Holdsworth, Esq., who was present, the boys gave three cheers for the Masters, and then "God Save the Queen " was sung, the boys being led by the Kev. T. Porritt, assistant master, who had also led them in singing several songs sung during the afternoon. This terminated the proceedingß - _________