HALF YEARLY MEETING OF THE PRESBYTEBIAN SABBATH SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 329, 14 December 1880, Page 2

HALF YEARLY MEETING OF THE PRESBYTEBIAN SABBATH SCHOOL.

The half-yearly examination of’ the children attending tire above Scholl to./c place in the church on' Sunday last. Some six months ago the Committee, *for cogent reasons, changed the hour of meeting from the morning to, the afternooni. then the numbers have steadily increased, till now there are over one hundred children op the ypll books, and these are overlooked by ten teachers. The examination was on this occasion conducted by the Rev. Mr Gordon, who, after the usual devotional exercises, examined each class in the subjects which they had been learning. The exatnufation concluded with an address to 'the teachers, and an earnest appeal to the parents to send their children to school regularly and help them at home with their lessons ; matters which would materially assist the teachers and strengthen their hands in the good work. He would say that the children had acquitted themselves fairly—he would not say too well—if he did they might think they dene enough, and would not require to learn, any more lessons, but they would find that the more Knowledge they acquired the more they needed. The examiner then read the rules of the schoo*, and explained that the prizetakers were decided by marks, which were given to each scholar every Sunday according as he or she learnt his or her lesson, and according to their general conduct and behaviour. They would thus see that in order to get an average number of marks, it would be necessary to attend regularly, be diligent in learning, and attentive in the shook Th« prizes were then presented by Mr Gordon who addressed suitable words of encouragement and advice to each prize-taker. Several hymns were sung by the clqldve» under the leadership of Mr Frew, who takes a great interest in this and ot er departments of the school. The thinks of tfie parents and congregation are especially due to Mr Black—the superintendent—r. through whose exertions the school has assumed it present proportions. The next half-year commences on Sunday, 19th inst, and it is desirable that every scholar should be in his and her punctually. The parents, guardians, and friends of the children attended largely, and appeared to take great interest and pleasure in the proceedings. We are informed that considerable difficulty has been found in obtaining teachers, but this has now been over come, and the large classes are divided into smaller ones, an average of ten forming -each class.

Subjoined is a list of the classes, showing the prize-takers, with the number of marks respectively gained by erch :

Ist Class—Boys. Teacher, Mr Black.,

Donn, Robert 330 marks ... 1st prize McKinlay, Robt ... S24 do ... 2nd prize Simpson, Thomas ... 309 do ... 3rd prize Waddel, John 274 do ... 4th prize 2nd Class —Boy-. Teacher, Mr McCann. Donn, Alexander ... 336 do ... 1st prize Gray, Forbes 232 do ... 2nd prize Robinson, Charles... 222 do ... 3rd prize 3rd Class —Boys. Teacher, Miss Blyth. Mackay, William ... 359 marks ... 1st prize Brewer, William ... 275 do ... 2nd prize Douglas, Samuel ... 265 do ... 3id prize 4th Class—Boys. Teacher, Mr Austin. Fauvel, Percy 819 marks ... 1st prize Mackay, Andrew ... 310 do ... 2nd prize Metson, Arthur ... 278 do ... 3rd prize Ackroyd, William... 211 do ... 4th prize Gray, William 206 do ... 5th prize Donn, James 180 do ... 6th prize Marshall, William... 154 do ... 7th prize 1st Class —Girls, Teacher, Mr Frew. Donn, Agnes 346 marks... 1st .prize Marshall, Jane 344 do ... 2nd prize Ackroyd, Eliza 326 do ... 3rd prize 2nd Class—Girls. Teacher, Miss Donn. Lyon, Eliza 282 marks ... 1st prize Donn, Susan 271 do ... 2nd prize Lyon, Kate 249 do ... 3rd prize Roddick, Annie ... 243 do ... 4th prize Dougall, Jane 214 do ... 5th prize 3rd Class—Girls. Teacher, Miss Paterson. Phillips, Christina 283 marks ... 1st prize Metson, Annie 270 do ... 2nd prize Roddick, Sarah ... 231 do ... 8rd prize Arenas, Ida 226 do ... 4th prize Irvine, Helen 212 do ... 5th prize Junior Class (mixed) . Teacher, Mr Mackay. Philips, Ida 184 marks ... 1st prize Gordon, George ... 145 do ... 2nd prize Arenas, Cary 126 do ... 3rd prize Henderson, Helen 121 do ... 4th prize