PRESENTATION OF PRIZES AT THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1231, 22 December 1882, Page 2

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES AT THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL.

Yesterday afternoon, before the breakingup for the Christmas holidays, the children assembled in the playground, and were placed into position by Mr Morgan and his assistants. They presented a most creditable appearance, being suitably dressed and particularly clean and neat in appearance. Mr Johnson, Chairman of the School Committee, proceeded to distribute the prizes. Before doing so he said he regretted to see so small an attendance of parents to witness the distribution of prizes. He might mention that these prizes about to be given had been awarded in accordance with the Inspector’s report. This, he felt sure, would give satisfaction, as the examination by Mr Hill had been made so recently, and Mr Morgan and the Committee did not think it necessary to examine the children again. To those boys and girls who had been unsuccessful this year he oould only say “ Don’t be downhearted, try to do better next time.” It is important for all to be prize-takers, there must always be successful and unsuccessful workers. He felt proud, as Chairman of the Committee, to be able to state that the Gisborne School is the premier school of the whole of the Hawke’s Bay District and one each and all should be proud of. The speaker said he, in the name of the Committee, begged to thank all those ladies’ and gentlemen who had so liberally contributed books, money, and other articles so that prizes could be presented. Mr Johnston then proceeded to present the following prizes, and with each recipient he offered a few word of encouragement. INFANTS’ DEPARTMENT. Third Class — Boys : Fred Oxley, Ist; Walter Judd, 2nd. Girls : Madeline Hill, Ist; Mary Brosnahan, 2nd. Second Class—Boys: Hemi Huata, Ist; Arthur Witty, 2nd. Girls: Jessie Smith, Ist; Alice Morse, 2nd. Special Prizes— John Dick, Ist; John Mackay 2nd. . . First Class—Boys : William Dick, Ist ; Alfred Piesse, 2nd. Girls : Mary Nasmith, Ist. Standard I. Boys—Hilton Lysnar, Georg* Robb, Robt. Scott, Janies Paul, Charles Goldsmith, Wm.

Jury—Full Marks ; all equal, Girls—Jessie Hall, Fanny Hill, Elizabeth Reid, Mary Scott, Florence Nash— Full waVks; all equal. Sewing Prize—A. Miller, Standard 11. Boys—Frank Henderson—J'ull marks. Girls—Edith Faram, May Steele, Adeline Sigley, Mary Pierce—Full marks ; all equal. Sewing Prize—Jane Hayes. Best Exercise—Karaitiana Albert, Kaser Pola, Adeline Sigley—Equal. Standard 111.—50 Marks. Girls : Ellen Harris, Harriet Kennedy, Ist prize, 50 marks, excellent work; Annie Parnell, 2nd prize, 49 marks, excellent work. Edith Skipworth, 3rd prize, 48 marks. Se.ving Prize, Edith Faram. Exercise, Maud Wilson. Standard 1V.—50 Marks, Girls: Winifred Maher, Ist prize, 50 marks, excellent work. Boys : Albert Lewis, Jas. Sealy, 2nd prize, 48 marks ; Edward Wilkinson, 3rd prize, 47 marks. Sewing; Mary Baker. Exercise ; Gertrude Schultz. Standard V.—Bo Marks, Boys; Oliver Goldsmith, Ist prize, 76 marks. Girls . Julia DeCosta, Ist prize, 76 marks; Annie Houlden, 2nd prize, 73 marks ; Annie Hall, 3rd prize, 72 marks. Sewing ; Maud Farmer. Exercise ; Chas. Rosie. Highest total marks : Oliver Goldsmith. Standard Vl.—Bo Marks. Girls : Mary Hall, Ist prize, 78 marks. Boys : David DeCosta, 2nd prize, 76 marks; Edwin Lewis, 3rd prize, 75 marks. Sewing ; Julia DeCosta. Exercise : David DeCosta. Class: Edwin Lewis. Special Prizes. Most popular boy in school ; Arthur Bro.vn. [(Book presented by Mrs MorganMorris), Writing: Frederick O’Meara. Drawing: I, Frederick Faram, (Box of instruments); 2, Charles Rosie (book). Mathematics : Jas. Matthews, Attendance : Jno. Shrimpton, H. Ross, A. Steele, J. Sealy. Equal, having attended every school meeting. Sewing: 1, M. Wilson, (work-box presented by Mrs A. Browne); 2, A. Hall, (Lady’s satchel, presented by Miss Mclntosh). Industry: A. Steele, T. Adair, (very young boys in the highest Standard). Map, New Zealand : A. Ross, (box colors, presented by Captain Russell. Box of Paints—This is a special prize presented to Andrew Ross, by Captain Russell, for his excellence in map drawing. Ross had no competitor in the Hawke’s Bay District. This map is now hanging in the Napier school to show the Napier children the excellence of his drawing. I have much pleasure in presenting you with this box of paints. I hope that they will be of use to you in the profession of a draughtsman, if at any time you elect to follow such a profession. Essay : 1, No. 17 (silver watch, presented by Mr Jas. Browne; 2, No. 35, (book, presented by Mr Jas. Browne). Special : Nos. 34, 20, 11, (books presented by another gentleman).

Highest marks at annual examination of schools in Hawke’s Bay Education District: Ist Class—Mary Hall, (gold medal, presented by W. H. Tiffen, Esq., of Napier. “This gold medal has been awarded to Miss Mary Hall for the highest number of marks obtained in the recent examination of the Inspector in the Hawke’s Bay Education District. I am sure you will all feel proud to know the successful should be a pupil of our school. This medal is given annually by Mr Tiffen of Napier. I believe next year Mr Tiffen will give also a silver medal for Standard V. Miss Mary Hall, it gives me very great pleasure to present you this medal, which has been awarded to you for your cleverness during the past year. I hope that you will treasure it and live long to wear it, * 2nd Class—Julia DeCosta, (gold pencilcase, presented by Messrs. Good Bros)for obtaining the second highest number of marks in the Hawke’s Bay Education District. Although you have not obtained the gold medal you have no cause to be ashamed in the result : you being the second on the list in the whole of the Hawke’s Bay District, I have now much pleasure in presenting you with this pencil case, which I am sure you will appreciate. Mr Good was good enough to give this prize. 4th Class—W. Maher, (book, presented by H. Hill, Esq., Inspector of Schools. ’ Mr Rees addressed the boys and girls at some length, and congratulated them upon the progress they were making under the able tutelage of Mr Morgan and his assistants. He thought it something of which parents should feel proud that the two highest prizes for the whole of the Hawke’s Bay District were secured by the Gisborne school. He thought that Miss Mary Hall and Miss Julia de Costa deserved every praise for the manner in which they have evidently worked to obtain so great a degree i of success. There was one thing he would especially mention, and that was a word of advice to the children, which was “never be idle. When playing, by all means play and gain strength to support yourselves during the hours of study. There was, the speaker said, seldom more truth conveyed in two lines than in those “ Satan finds some mischief still, For idle hands to do.”

Mr Bees impressed this very strongly on the children, and in conclusion paid Mr Morgan and Mr Bull, as well as the other teachers, a compliment upon the state of efficiency and training to which they had brought the children. Mr James Browne said that he had given a prize for the best essay on “ Kindness to Animals,” because he felt sure that if children were kind towards animals they would be so towards their fellow creatures. Mr Brownie, in a speech suited to childish minds, addressed the children at some length. The Rev. Mr Hill, in a characteristic address, complimented the children not only upon the success of their year’s work, but also upon having such thoroughly competentand extremely painstaking teachers. He had been connected with school all his life, but he must admit he had never seen one to surpass the Gisborne School. The exercises he had seen here were beyond comparison with those he had been shown at Napier. There was no doubt that the success was in a great measure due to the friendliness existing between the teachers and the pupils. It was only to-day he had noticed Mr Morgan being decorated with flowers by some of the scholars, and he was of opinion this was exactly how things should be. He was glad to observe that larrikinism had not obtained the same footing in this town that it had in others throughout the Colony, and he had no doubt this was through the careful training of the children, He concluded by wishing them “ a merry Christmas and a happy New Year,” and said he trusted they would return to school with strength and health so as to go on with their work. He moved a vote of thanks to Mr Morgan and the teachers, and in doing so remarked that in the Colonies the girls always seemed to beat the boys, whilst in the old country this was reversed. He thought the boys would have to put on more steam, so as to get along faster. Cheers were given for Mr Morgan and the teachers, for the Rev. Mr Hill, for the Chair- I

man and members of the School Committeej and Mr Rees, Mr Rees invited the children to visit him some day at Te Hapera, where they could spend a most pleasant day. There would be football, cricket, racing, &c., for the boys, and swings and other amusements for the girls. It is almost needless to say that cheer after cheer was given by the youngsters for this very kind and thoughtful invitation. The day will be shortly fixed upon. Mr Morgan also returned thanks on behalf of himself and his associates. Under the leadership of Mr Bull, the children sang “ Let the Hills resound,” and “Onward to Battle.” They were afterwards marched to their respective rooms and dismissed, to re-assem-ble on Monday, January 29th.