TEMUKA SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 228, 27 January 1880, Page 2

TEMUKA SCHOOL.

ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES

Thfi prizes, according to the order of merit, were distributed yesterday in the above school by Mr A. Wilson, Chairman of the School Committee. Some of the parents were in attendance. The Chairman delivered the following short address :

Hear child ren, —It is now about fourteen years since I first had the honour of addressing the children of this school ns Chairman of its Committee. On that occasion, it was immediately after the first school-room (a portion of the present, bull ling) hai been opened. During all that | tried of time I have never lost sight of the Temuka School. 1 have seen several changes in its teachers ; I have also seen many changes in its pupils. Some of the teachers and many of the pupils have gone to that place from whence no traveller returneth. i have, I am glad to say, algo seen some of the youths that have been educated here take their places in the world to undergo that further training for a useful future life which some of them already adorn. Your turn is just at hand ; the training which you are receiving from .your able teachers is expected to fit you for being goo < citizens and good members of society. The strict discipline which . .your teachers deon it their duty to impose upon you, you may at times think harsh and unnecessary ; but I can assure you it is often as painful for a master or mistress to administer correction as it is for you to receive infliction. But it must be exercised. I.u toe-army, if order is not kept, insubordination would destroy all power to command. In my; school-days, punishment was often,. 1 may say always, more severe than what it is now.. In the present day the law of kindness takes the place of corporeal or bodily punishment to a very great extent, and I am sure any boy or girl who will not listen to the instillations of their teachers must be very disobedient children. You may readily pant your own weak reasoning powers in motion, and think with yourselves that this school business is all a humbug, but when yon are grown up, when you come to mix with educated people of the world, you will soon come to see what all this reading, writing and ciphering means. A time was when education was a luxury only indulged iu by the rich. In those ages of darkness nothing but • iperstition prevailed amongst ail, and t .on the blind were leaders of the blind. Now all that has passed away. Every civilised nation has its educational establishments, even the savages are takmg their place side by side with the white young man, and in many instances shame them by diligence in then* studios. Education is now as much a necessity as your daily food,, for while the one nourishes the body, the other feeds and nourishes the mind. Girls also, as well as boys, partake of this blessing of education. A time was when fathers and mothers declined to educate their daughters, even when they had opportunity, and it was a rare thing indeed to find a girl, or even a mother who could write her own name. Now, however, girls are to be seen in the post-office, and in the telegraph office, doing their svork as well, often better, than the the majority of our intelligent youths. Not only so, but young ladies are to be found taking a high degree in our Universities, competing most suecessly with the best educated young men. Here, then, is a chance for you girls, and I hope yet to live to see some of the girls who have attended Temuka School make their mark in the world as great scholars and great artists, as well as great teachers of others. The training which yon on- ' dergo will enable you to exercise politeness and kindliness of manner towards all that you may come in contact with in your wanderings, for I would not have you think you will be always living in Temuka. Good manners go far to keep good relationship and good friendship with your fellows, iu whatever stage of life you may act your part. To the boys let me say, once and for all, be diligent, be obedient, be punctual in everything. Punctuality is often the keystone to future success, and lam safe in saying a habit of being five minutes too late has lost more fortunes than any other bad habit that I know. Be then punctually in your places at the proper time, and do not let trifling excuses keep you away from school; remember the old saying—- “ a penny saved is a penny gained a day lost at school may be a pound lost in after life. Lastly, let me urge upon you to study your lessons when at home. This will make your tasks easy, and enable yon to make greater progress than otherwise you could do. Remember you will very soon have to leave this school to to take up your places in the busy world, and little chance will you then have of increasing your stock of learning acquired during your schoolboy days.

The prizes were then distributed as follows :

Standard Y. , First prize (Prescott’s Works), A. Johnson ; 2nd (Tennyson’s Works) Mary Russell; Srd (Moore, Hood and Harms’ Works) Mur■avJolmston ; 4th (Marvels of Nature) Flo■ence Brown. Standard IT. First prize (Bucjdand’s Natural History) ypfred Cooper 2nd (Shelley’s Works) Chas biuvel; Srd (Shawl Straps), Agnes Bonn; hh (Christian Year), Eliza Austin. St andaed 111. First prize (Tales about Animals), Charles Fohnston ; 2nd (Workbox) Jenny Spencer ; ird (Children of Blessing), Isa Marshall; 4th Was I Bight P), Elsie Brown. Standard 11. First prize (Workbox), Annie Chapman ; snd (Boys), Wm. Thorp ; 3rd (Bright Sunlays), Caroline Hopkinson ; 4th (My Boymod), Chas Gaukrodger. St andaed I.— Division 1, First prize (Other Stories), Willie Russell; 1 !nd (Truth Will Out), Fanny Johnston ; 3rd 1 ’Sketches), John Simpson; 4th (Parley’s , talcs), Mark Freddy. Standard I. — Division 11, First Prize (Narrative Poetry) Jessie ' By son; 2nd (Parleys Tales) George Hay ; ( Jrd, (Sunshine). Henry Voyc-; 4th, (Yasco De Gama) George Clinch. Special prize,, for regular attendance — Keith Forbes Gray • ■ . The younger children were each presented with a small book.' The proceedings ended by the Chairman cal'ing for three cheers for the teachers, and the head master calling for three cheers for the Chairman and Committee, which were heartily given. f, /.