INVEROARGILL GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

Southland Times, Issue 1354, 30 December 1870, Page 2

INVEROARGILL GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

The annual examination of the Invercargill Grammar School was held on Friday, last under circumstances which reflect ample credit both upon teacher and pupil. Speaking from a reasonable amount of experience, we can safely say that this establishment has attained a footing which will bear favorable comparison with any similar institution in Otago, where the cause of education receives more liberal patronage in the way of Government subsidy. This contrast obtains the more significance when we explain that no extraneous assistance whatever has been rendered, not even the miserable pittance provided by the i G-overnment of the late province. The building itself is well adapted for the prosecution of scholastic duties. Its ; situation is central, at the same time it is : sufficiently removed from the busierjppri tion of the town, to ensure .the retirejment necessary for- close application to i study.. : The school, under its present j principal : (Mr * Andrew Macdonald)- hafe grown out of a very small beginnings ithe present lofty, well-vehtilated tepej merit being the. modernised successor of j a small building, which" in the early days [ of the place occupied an isolated position lon the Clyde -street line of Jdad, down

towards the jetty. The school-house was partly erected some eight years ago, and although many of its contemporaneous structures have dwindled into decay, the Grammar School still maintains its character of a first-rate building fop the purposes to which it is devoted. We make these statements with the more satisfaction. fromthe fact that the educational system of > the district has lately been stigmatised as one of the most backward institutions^of the place. The average attendance all the year round- is from 100 to 120 pupils. The teaching, exclusive of one or two' advanced pupil-teachers, is conducted by Mr Macdonald and Miss Curtis. In addition to elementary branches of training, Geography, Latin, Mathematics, and Algebra are taught, together with certain of the finer classes of attainment, such as sketching, ornamental writing, and plain and fancy needlework for girls. . Instruction In vocal music is also imparted, but for some reason or another it did not form part of the examination programme. Friday's proceedings were necessarily limited to a few of those branches, so that the general attainments of the scholars can only be judged of relatively, still the test was sufficient to show that a good sound system of mercantile education was being successings, was the acute mental training displayed/ by the pupils.;, Ordinary | questions in summation were answered 'with a tact which bore all the outward .semblance of natural instinct. More difficult arithmetical problems were cast up with corresponding ease, so that the pupils — at least those representing this division— are entitled to be rated as adepts in that particular branch of training, r The interest taken in the proceedings was evinced by the presence of a number of visitors, chiefly ladies. Besides the Rev. Mr Stobo, the Rev. Mr Rishworth was present, the former taking part in the examination. Grammar was the first branch examined upon. Two divisions, numbering some forty odd. pupils, were brought to task. The examination was a searching one, and was sustained with admirable precision. In parsing and the analysis of sentences they were particularly correct, so that the examination showed a thorough mastery of this important .branch of education. The prize both in this and the other departments was -awarded to the pupil showing the highest number of efficient marks registered during the session. History was also represented by a class of about forty pupils. The points examined upon were selected with special regard to the progress of those countries of which our local institutions are an adaptation. Indeed, that appeared to be a special feature of this particular branch of study, and it is onetheimportanceof which can hardly be overstated. Constitutional Government, for example, looked at" simply, as an effect, is apt to suggest a feeling of antagonism ; whereas, studied as a cause, the feeling becomes one of profound veneration Applied in this way the study is one of a much more practical nature than if simply confined to abstract questions of ancient or even modern history. In geography, both general and locals the pupils did- 1 played considerable proficiency. Following the*direction of recent events in Europe, Mr Stobo elicited answers which proved a knowledge correct as it was varied of the divisional parts of that continent. In local geography they were particularly good, although one or two trifling errors were observable with regard to distant parts of the colony. The distinguishing feature of the arithmetical exercise was the mental calculations which have been already alluded to. The ordinary process was not by any means the best sustained part of the examination. Handicraft specimens, such as plain and ornamental writing, book-keeping, drawing, &c;., were next exhibited. As - regards bookkeeping these specimens were excellent so ; far as neatness is concerned. In this respect they would compare favorably with any merchant's office in the colony. The system, however, was .one upon which we are not prepared to express any opinion. The ornamental writing in the majority of cases was very goodl It was 'executed with, great taste, and_thfi-ab««oce' of anything lik©^>biifieration was generraHr^TSmarked. In drawing, light sketches were very well represented, especially by the more advanced pupils. Considering that not more than an hour or two per week is devoted to both of these studies, the scholars have certainly not trifled with their opportunities. The examination, which lasted to an advanced hour of the afternoon, was brought to a close by Mr Stobo, who briefly addressed the children. In the name of the visitors he expressed himself highly gratified with the progress that had been made during the session. He congratulated the prize-takers, and reminded those who were not successful that next year's competition would be open to them. They were not, he said, jafl endowed with the same talents, still that fact should not dampen them in their close application to the studies of their class. If they were not rewarded with a prize, their patient perseverance would be a reward in itself, inasmuch as it would fit and prepare them for the | ulterior aims of life. He congratulated them on their approaching holiday season, and hoped they would all be ■ spared to return to their duties with ; renewed vigor. ! In the evening a highly successful rei union was held in the Theatre Eoyal. Every part of the house was completely filled with a very large propor- : tion ■ of the 1 gallery 1 being jladiesi The pupils were seated upon ; benches on the stage, leaving only. sufficient space in front to admit of the programmer being cacried out efficiently^ Arranged as they were with one of the landscape 'scenes in the back-ground, the stage presented ■a. happy and in many respects a picturesque appearance. The

Sev. Mr Stobo presided, and announced the various parts of the programmer Part one — the Quarrel - Scene fro n Douglas— supported by the Masters J. Mentiplay, J. Bright, and 0. Kingsland, prepared the audience for what turned out to be a really good elocutionary entertainment.; G-ilderoy (Campbell), by Master W. Hogue ; The Dungeon Scene from Pizarro (Sheridan), by the Masters J. IVaser,.,and^D. M'Killop,junr., and Sheil on Catholic Emancipation, Master P. Stewart, were each given with a force and effect which called forth the warmest sympathies of the audience.. The Captain's Whiskers (Anon), by Master J. Bright, was delivered with all the calm dignity which is necessary to give fauv play between the ridiculous and the sublime. Dealing as the piece did with, a personal acquisition in advance of the speaker's years, its allusions, coupled with the perfectly self-possessed tone in which they were made, produced . the serio-comic in good style. The hon. Me Sucklethumkin's Story (Ingoldsby) by Master B. Galbraith, and the Scene between Graves and Evelyn, by the Masters Chas. Broad and Chas. Kingsland, were next given, after which Master Thomas Graham gave Coach the Piper, and Master J. Mentiplay The Moral of the Battle of Waterloo (W. J. Fox). Both pieces were decidedly successful. with that touching simplicity of manner^ which sho wed -a true conception of the (Subject. Mentiplay 's style was really I admirable. The piece is a long and a : difficult one to recite effectively. -Unless the solemn tone; of the preceptor is blended with a certain warmtji of enthusiasm, and nothing more, the piece lis bound to be spoiled. In that respect ; Mentiplay was singularly successful, jiand down to the very last he ' sustained both parts with that easy grace j which gives him very fair promise as a ; public speaker. • The prize for the best appearance made during the evening, left to be decided by the voice of the meeting," lay between him and Graham, and, although awarded to the lattery Mentiplay showed some good claims to it.. . The Old Oak Tree (&ordelier), by Master J. Waldie, was an unfortunate piece. The lad commenced very well, but before he had gone far, an unruly child amongst the audience broke out into open rebellion', and before it was pacified, a mob of equally unruly dogs followed the example, so that the lad became confused, and did not regain confidence. The Holly and' Ivy Girl (Keegan), Master J. "W". Moore, [and the Cuckoo (Michael Bruce), Master W. M'Kiilop, were both well rendered. The concluding piece (Mr Bob Sawyer's, party), was sustainei by the Misters D. M'Ktllop, J. M'lvor, J. Waldie, W. Tr umble, T. Broad, H. Adamson, W. Hogue, P. Stewart, and J. M'Quarrie. The performance lacked the zest it was expected to produce, which was in a great measure accounted for by the fact that the parties were too much huddled together. The interlude between the parts was filled up by a variety of popular airs performed by Mids Curtis on the piano, which materially aidedTuenliveaing the proceedings. The prizes were next distributed, particulars of which have already appeared in print. A special prize, given by Mr Rosa to the best mental arithmetician, was awarded to Chas;- Broad. A short address by Mr Stobo brought the proceedings to a close.