NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 20 December 1907, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL.

IiREAKIXO-l'P CERKMOXV. I The breaking-up ceremony of the High School took place yesterdav afternoon. 0 there being a very large attendance of . parents and friends of the scholars. The 1 proceedings commenced with a son", '"Gaudeamus," by the scholars, by whom ! s °veral other songs were pleasingly renderpd during the afternoon. ; The principal (Mr E. Pridham) then read Ins annual report. He stated that the attendance percentage for the whole year was bovs <l4, girls <>4. school !)4. Kight bovs and nine girls hail gained attendance prizes, not having | K 'en absent or late during the whole year. The school had been fortunate in not having, as many other schools in the district had, to close owing to the unusual amount of illness prevailing, although he attendance average had suffered : lie conduct of the school had been ex" ellent; not one serious caw of niiseonitct had occurred during the year. In l.'ie school examination the' average i«>rn. marks fell below 50 per cent in . ;• " f forty papers set, above ■ • I per cent in thirty-three, above (if) per i .ent in twenty-four, and above 7(1 per lent 111 eight Last year two scholars i.i» passed the solicitors' general know(age exaniination, four had matriculated, seven had passed civil service (six of tiiem being on the credit list), seven gained senior free places oil the Civil Service Examinations, one an Education Hoards scholarship, and one a Vic- ' toria Scholarship, Inaking altogether ' a total of twenty-two successes In pub- ~ be examinations. This year seven had gone up lor matriculation, one for medicai preliminary, eleven for civil service, and thirteen lor senior free places oil the Civil Service examinations, ten for senior Education JJoard scholarships, and - six tor \ ictoria scholarships, 'l'lie »uc-

cession ol' examinations was a great i strain on the scholars. The drawing uiuiiig the lu»t term had been in charge oi Miss .Rhodes, who proved very etUcicnt, and it was a matter uf real rogret that her services would riot be available (luring the next year. The sewing had been cunlincd to the junior •;U owing to the senior girls taking cooking lessons 'at the Technical School, but next year lie lipoed the time would be divided between the two subjects. Miss Tilly had e .pressed herself highly pleased with the jrk done, and he was sure the girls liat. benefited much from tlieir lessons. Tii • boys had regularly attended woodwork .lasses at the Technical school, and Mr .landlord (iustructJ or) was highly pleased with the process made. Some of the forms had attended classes in elementary physics, but time would hardly warrant their continuance next year. The gymnasium class under Mr Lints lud made great progress, and the girls had had regular infraction in calisthenics from the lady teachers. In conclusion, he thanked the Board 'for releasing him from his duties during the coming years, and also ills colleagues for their loyal support, and expressed a confident hope that Mr Ward, who was taking his place, would receive the same ungrudging help in carrying out his duties as he had received. Mr X'ercy Smith then distributed the prizes as follows;

Dux of school—lau P. Grant. Aatin—Sixth form, AI. Vickers; fifth form, AI. Dowling; fourth form, I) llavle;, third form, C. White. Arithmetic—sixth form, AI. Vickerslitth form, li. Quifliain; fourth form' JJ. iiaile; third form, K, Adlam. Afeebra—Fifth form, Al. AlacDiarmid; lourth form, S. Jiurle; third form J. Cocker.

Geometry—Sixth form, J. Sinclair; kith Jorin, AI. Dowling; fourth form, A. Clemaiice; third form, G. Skinner French-Sixth form, J. Sinclair: lifth ionu, li. Bailey; fourth form, G. Jlewicy; third form, C. White. English history—Fourth form, W. -Monk; third form, C. Xorris. Geography—'i'hiid form, 1. Cocker.

I.l.erature—Sixth form, J. Sinclair; hlth form, If. Coker; fourth form, D Gibbons; third form, Al. Glasgow. Grammar—Sixth form, A. Bollingerfifth form, 11. Dowling; fourth form' D. llarle; third form, li. VTt-kers. ' Composition—Sixth form, A t Bollingpr; fifth form, T!. ,Quilliam; fourth 'Tin, L. Asher; third form, AI. liirton Science Sixth form, JI. Vickersfifth form, A. Arthur;'fourth form, li' Bewley; third form, I. Foote. Drawing—Sixth form, I'. Grey; fifth form, AI. -MacDiurmid; fourth form, I{. Daiiig; third form, C. Norris. Needlework—First prize G. skinner; secuud prize, C. White; highly commended, 1. Foote, K. Gilbert, E. Vickers. Gymnastics—Girls: Senior, AI. Dowling; junior, Al. Glasgow. Boys; Senior, 1. Grant; junior, K, Okey. Attendance prizes—Al. Amburv, 1 JI. Dullard, L. Bayly, A. Clc-mance, Al." Glasgow. 11. ISrokeushirc, E. Coleman, 1). llarle, E. Gilbert, A. Osborne, U. Baily IS. Glasgow, A. Gleeson, S. Baker, JI Shaw, C. Norris, A. Alattliews. Dr. Fookcs' cup for general excellence m and out of school—lan P. Grant. Dr. Fookes" cup, points' prize—J. Sinclair.

■ 01.1 Boys Challenge Shield, quartermile run from scratch—lan I'. Urant. -Mr- U. J| 11. Okey, M.1>.,-..then addressed the scholars, lie salfe% saw man\ jiresent who would tsoon-lxylpHyiw the school, and he would like to impress upon them the necessity for using their own power of observation in conjunction with that which they had learned at school. Their education was not finished on leaving school, but he thought that, should they continue as they were dohi", they would some day prove worthy citizens of the Dominion. Leaders were never in bigger request than they were at the present time, and as all had the same ch;TUee, he hoped to see some of them taking a leading part in the affairs of the Dominion at some future date The chairman of the Board of tioycr nors (Mr. J. E. Wilson) said he was all old High School Ikiv, and waft proud of it. It was a matter of deep regret that Mr. Pridlnim's health had compelled him to take a rest, but lie sincerely hoped that a good holiday would completely restore his usual vigor and permit .if his resuming hi* duties for *oiw timo to come. Miss Nita McDiarmid, on behalf of the scholars, then presented Mr. Pridhani with a splendid pair of field-glasses and case of pipes as a small token of their esteem.

Mr. I'riilham, who was completely taken by surprise, said lie did not require anything of the kind to remind him of his connection with the school, and I heir kindness was almost too much lor Mm. Cheers were (lion given for Mr. Prirfhnm.

Tlie National Anthem was stin». after which an adjournment was made'" to the school grounds, where a verv interestiii" gymnastic display was given l.y tinboys under the direction of their instructor. Mr. Lints; the girls also giving an exhibition with the clubs and dinnl^ liells.

TWnre tlUpeiNlnrr. the visitors were lin-jiitnlily ''liti'i'liiinftl ;i( :it'tcnnniii tea liy >fr-. Pridliam.