GERALDINE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1530, 28 December 1886, Page 4

GERALDINE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. The annual distribution of prizes in connection with took placet; on Thursday afternoon. jasl. Taere was • good attendance : Qi the children. Most of the members of the Committee were present, and, also a considerable number of tlto patents and friends of the children, The Ref. G. Barclay occupied the chair. The proceedings were opened by i the children, under the second masters (Mr A. Ersfeine) leader - ship, singing " The Lordly Gallants,” in a manner which reflected great credit on their instructor. The Chairman then addressed the children. He said he supposed this breaking-up day was to many of them the happiest day in the year. No doubt they were glad of the holidays. He supposed they wondered sometimes why they were* ; kept in school so doss, and no doubt .they would rather bts outside playing. But he could tell them the older people,were not at all surprised. He remembered a boy in his class at school who used to be very much surprised that they were kept in school, and was never so puzzled as when he was trying to fathom that question. He could assure them their parents and teachers and the Government of New Zealand were not at ail surprised. They understood «the usefulness* there was in education. He believed that most of the young peop'e understood that most i people have to work in some way or other, and he could tell them that the education.tbey got at school fined them better lor work. As a rule the better a man was educated the more work he could do, and the better he could do it. —He knew that a great many people said they wi re educating the children too much, and often pointed to the biggest rascal and said he Was the best educated, and that some of the greatest scamps they ever knew were well educated, and that it would have been much better for them if they bad never been able to write or make a figure. At the same time he thought that education s witb sometliing else was a very good tiling. He thought the boys and girls should be educated as highly as possible in the public schools. He thought, however, the education they got at the public schools was only about half of what they should get. While they were learning a< great many things he thought there should be something else added. He thought they would grow up to be better men andv women if they were tanght more of religion, their duty to parents, and their reverence to God. He had mentioned duty to parents, and some people said that the colonial children were not so dutiful or respectful as they ought to be, but be could not agree with them in that. He then mentioned one instance of disrespect to the parent’s wishes which he had met with lately and strongly urged upon his young bearers to obey their parents and endeavor on all occasions to carry out their wishes. He then referred to Urn school. It had at all times bad a good report and; he hoped they would always endeavor io uphold the good name thus obtained in the future. The school bad had a good many changes during the year. They had lost a good master when Mr Hughes went away. Then there was Mr Turnbull, whose untimely end they ranch deplored. He did not know who would be their next teacher, but he hoped they would try to do their best with the new one, as they had always tried to do with the old. He then called upon Mrs Angus Macdonald to present the prizes, which that Indy did, addressing a few words of encouragement to eaeh child as it received, its prize.

Ihe following is the prize list Standard I (First six prizetakere).— Daisy Colbeit, 1; Fanny. Joties, .2; Samnel Shiers,'3; James Riordan, 4; Ida Cook, 5 ; Walter Maslin, 6. Standard ’II.— Frank Shiers,,l ;'Benj-i----i»*in White, 2 Alice Riordan and George Bloomfield, 3 j William O’Brien and Mina Doolop, 4; Standard 111. Whiter Baxter, 1; Patrick Coogan, 2 ; Alexander 'JFihlayson, 3 ; Kate Shiers, 4 ; Donald Finlaysoo, 5 ; Maggie Morr : flon, 8. - Standard IY.—Margaret Riordan, 1 • William Gore, 2; Mary ’Stonehonse, 3 ; Jane Scroggio and Mary Maloney, 4. Standard V.— Maggie McKay, 1; John Burke, ,2 ;, 0. Chesterman and Maggie McKet)fcii,'3. i Standard Vl.—Angus Fyfe, • 1. All the children !ui St mdard 1 1 , and in the infant classes below received prizes, and after the presentation of prizea'to the infants the children sang the glee “ TheCobbler.’ ; y.r

Sewing frrizfea .(Mw A. Sherrutt; 'and Mrs* Boothroyd examiners), S'andard I.— Fanny.’ Gibson, 1; Daisy 1 Coltierf, 2 ; Roßeßaugheo, 3. Standard ll.—Maggie Scroggie,. 1; Mina Dunlop* 2; Mary Chiversou, 3. Standard 111, Annie McKay,! lEiieo Baxter’; 2;’ Edna Sherrait, 3. Stsridaid ■ IV; Frances White, 1; Jana Scroggie, 2 ; Alice Jones, S. Standard V. Maggie McKay, 1 • Eliza Jooea,'2 ; Jessie Morrison, 3. The spcial prize‘for sewing in Standard Y., given by Mrs Dunlop was won by Esther Fizzy ; Miss Hamilton’s special prize ,in ; the same Standard was won by Maggie Dunloy.' The special sewing prizes given by Mrs Dunlop, in l. and if. were wpn by Jessje Kennie and Jane Fyfe respectively. At flie conclusion of the prize giving the chi firen sang theialee " Jlrealhe ye Soft Wmos ” in' a very pleasing niaunvi. PRESENTATION 10 MISS HAMILTON; Chairman then preseiiteVl Miss H’liiiltdh, oo bvfialf of the ’teachers and scholars and a few friends, with a beautiful silver cakeba <kef, arid , a pair of jelly dishes on a silver stand. In making the presentation Mr Barclay said that in one r‘spect he .was pony to have.to make the presentH'mn. Fie was sorry that they were ab"Ut to lose Miss Hamilton. She had now beeu a teacher in the school

for Bome'six or seven yearsj afidv hod always been characterised not only by diligence, but success in bet profession; They had always heard that her teaching had given very great . salisfnbtion ,to the various inspectors apdfcbpr■ had always came put with.the highest number, of marks. She bad always succeeded; in •passing,,if;not a hundred,per cent, a. very large number of children; to the higher standards. They all pretty wrell, knew the occasion of Miss Hamilton’s leaving.; She" whs about to be'(married, and he hoped that she would be very happy in the new pos' h>" in life on which she was about to enui. He would ask Miss 1 Hamilton to accept the presents as a token of the very high esteem in which she was held by the teachers nhd scholars' of the Geraldine School. It would, Be hoped, in future years serve to remind■ her of her duties there and the very many' friends she had made while in Geraldine. He would not monopolise the whole of the time as be believed there were others who would like to say a few words. Ha would conclude by again expressing, the hope that Miii HamiltCn might he ver-Jr happy ,in her new home. (Tremendotib applause.), - Miss Hamilton,; who was visibly affected by the kindness shown by the teachers and scholars, received the present with much feeling and a few appropriate words. Air T., Bethune responded on her behalf. He said that Miss Hamilton fait their kindness so much that she had asked him to thank them for their gift. She wished ;hirn to say that she should always look back to this day as one of the brightest ami happiest in her life. Of course if she had pone away without a presentatioj she would still have felt she had done her duty* and this was a great pleasure in itself, but that pleasure had been doubled and trebled by knowing that others also saw and appreciated the work which she had done, and by knowing that, while.goidg a w'ay slie was carryw,ith her the love, esteem, and friendship of young and old. Partings were always more or less sad, and Miss Hamilton felt the parting with her class, and the scholars, many of whom had passed through her class, very much. She hoped tnat they would extend to their new teacher, whoever it might be, the same kindness as they had to her and endeavor to do their duty and work as well in the future as they had done in thjs* past. Miss Hamilton would always i treasure their handsome gift ns one of her greatest treasures. It would always call to her remembrance the very happy home which she had found among them. (Loud cheers).

Air N. Dunlop, Chairman of the School Committee, said he had great pleasure in being there that day. He complimented the children upon the work they had done, considering the difficulties owing to so many, changes. He -was !f glad to hear from, the Inspector, however, that (he school stood in a very fair condition indeed. In the highest Standarda the children were a great deal too young. They were no f able to grasp the work, consequently they might expect a good percentage of failures. However, they hoped that if they had ,a h«rd year this year they might have a mnch better in the coming one. It afforded him much pleasure to be there that day to see the token of respect and esteem presented to Miss Hamilton, who: had been an excellent teacher in the past, and they could ill afford to lose her. She had always succeeded in passing very nearly 100 per cent of her pupils. He wished her every happiness in her new home, Mr B, S. Cook also spoke of Mias Hamilton a success and popularity as a teacher.

Mr J. Cunningham expressed the pleasure he felt in being there, and congratulated Miss Hamilton upon her success as a teacher and Wished her happiness in her new home. Hearty votes of (hanks to the teachers and Committee were given ; and were responded to by Air T. Farrell. A hearty vote of thanks were also given to Mrs A. Alacdonald and the. Rev. Mr . Barclay for their kindness in distributing ; the prizes and making the presentation., Afier Air Barclay had responded for Mrs Macdonald and himself th# announcement was made that the school would break up fi-r three weeks, to re-asaemblo on January 17th. The children then sang one or two glees and the proceedings terminated,with lusty cheers.