TEMUKA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1829, 15 December 1888, Page 2

TEMUKA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

\ DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES/ \The annual distribution of prizes took place in the above school yesterday. There were about a dozen persons, mostly ladies, present, the fathers of the children attending the school being represented by two. Not one of the members of the committee put in an appearance. At the request of the teacher, the Rev. Mr Hamilton took the chair and briefly introduced Mr Rhodes, M.H.R., who had come from Cbristchurch to give away the prizes. A song, " Eiss me Mother," having been rendered very nicely by the children, Mr Rhodes said he felt great pleasure in being present to give them their prizes. After the way the in which the Education I vote bad been cat down by Government he had some hesitation in showing himself at such a place, but be must say that notwithstanding this it was very much to the credit of the teachers that the examinations produced better results than usual this year. He was very glad to find the report was very good. He should like to see more attention given to the higher subjects,. He was not a great believer in high edu\ cation, except in mathematics, and he should like to see more attention paid to-" this. In Englaud children were crammed in every subject. Tbey were taught to answer catch questions, and other things io order to enable them to pass. They had not such a system in this colony, but they might easily fall into it, and it ought to be avoided. They ought to remember that in coming to school their object was not to win prizes, but to become educated. On them the future development of the colony depended, and ha would have no tear of the result so long as they were well educated. He now had great pleasure in distributing the prizes. The following is the prize list:

Mr Rhodes's Prizes for Mathematics— Third year, Gertrude A. Brown, 6 ; second year, Jas. Fiodlay, 4; first year, John Morton, 4.

Dr Campbell s Prise for DrawingChristina Klee. Committee's Prize for Latin and French, second year—Maggie Austin, 2. Committee's Prize for Latin, first year —Jas. Winning, 2. Dux Latin and French, third yearGertrude A. Brown.

Standard Vll.—Boys : Charles Meredith, 1. Girls : Gertru-le A. Brown, 1. Standard VI. —Boye : Ernest Clayton, 1 ; Edwio McKeczie, 2. Girls: Lilian Brown, 1; Ellen Cooper, 2.

Standard V.—Boys : Ernest Cooper and Job. Preddy, 1. Girls: Marion McOaskill, 1; Mary MoCaskill, 2. Standard IT.—Boys : Fred. Storey, 1; Geo. Morton, 2 ; Murray (Jopestake, 3.

Girls: Jane Edgar, 1; Eleanor Bows, 2. Miss Howe's Prizes—Writing, Roland

Morris; reading, Mabel W ills. Mr McLeod's Prizes Writing, Wilfred L. Winning; reading, Florence Storey. Standard 111. -Boys : Donald McOaskill find John Wilson. 1 ; John Hay, 3.

Girls: Lilla ?.I !!r.Uj, I; Annie Scott, 2 ; Florence GUI, 3. Standard II.—Boys: Amos Hope, 1; Basil Metson, 2 ; Richard Lloyd, 3 ; John Gain, 4. Girls: Lottie Gaza, 1; Emma Cooper, 2. Standard I.—Boys : Samuel Cain, 1; Ernest Talbot, 2 ; Jos. Davey, 3. Girls: Edah Mattiogley, 1; Rosie Page, 2; Maria Boulter, 3.

Pl.—Boys : Geo. Nicholas, 1. Girls : May Ackroyd, 1. P2.—Boys: Bertie Lee, I; Girls: Minnie Nicholas, 1.

sewing rams. Standard VT.: Mrs Hayhurst'a prize, Ellen Pilbrow ; Committee's prize, Jane Pilbrow ; 3rd, Elizabeth Palmer. Standard Y. : Ist prize, Margaret Find I ay. Standard IV. : Mrs Blyth's prize, Annie Voyce; Ist, Mabel Wills; 2nd, Freda Barrett; 3rd, Minnie Metson. Standard III.: Ist prize, Florence Gill; 2nd, Flora Lee; 3rd, Jane Lyon.. Standard II.: [at prize, Ada Old field ; 2nd, Grace Greaves. Standard I. : Ist prize, Maud Haworth ; 2nd, Bessie Newbury.

BIBLE GLASS, , : The Rev. Mr Hamilton said he had oDce more to thank the committee fer having allowed him to distribute bia Bible class prizes. The Bible classes were held after school hours on every Friday. Miss Ladbrooke and he (Rev. Mr Hamilton) gave instructions on Friday afternoons, but he was sorry to- say the attendance this year was not to large aa in former years, but.be hoped the prize! would have the effect of securing a better attendance. He quite agreed with what Mr Rhodes said with regard to the present children becoming the future colonists, nod the necessity for educating Ihera. Lord Salisbury had Raid in an article in the Nineteenth Century that man a first duty was to learn bow to live and next to work. Education prepared them to learn these things, and they ought to keep this constantly before them. He congratulated the teachers on the successful examination the scbool'Tud passed. Although they had not the Bible in the school, its principles were taught by the teachers in many ways, He hoped the children would give unfailing obedience to their teachers, so that the moral training they were receiving would produce results unsurpassed in New Zealand. The rev. gentleman then gave away the prizes : MUST DIVISION. Teacher, Rev. T. A. Hamilton—Girls : A.nnie Timpson, Mr Rayner'a prize, " Girls' Own Annual," 1; Mabel Wills, Mr Pinckney'a prize, 2; Ellen Pilbrow and Isabella Cruicksbank, 3; Freda Barrett, 4; Elizabeth Palmer, 5 ; Lilian Mcßratoey, 6. Soys: Francisr Preddy, Mr Rayner's prize,! 1 ' Boys' Own Annual," .1; Tracy Wills, 2; Norman Rout, 3. SECOND DIVISION. ( Teacher, Miss Ladbrooke George Nicholas and Maria Boulter, 1; Annie Nicholas and Minnie Nicholai,'2; Fannie Ardell and GUdyß Taylor, 3 ;' Joseph Davey, 4. After having delivered the prizes the Rev. Mr Hamilton said it was an act of great kindness and self sacrifice on the part of Miss Ladbrooke, to remain after school hours to teach the Bible Classes. He hoped the attendance would be better next year. The teaching was altogether unsectarian, and the prizes were given for good attendance only. Mr 3»Z3 proposed a vote of thanks to

Mr Rhodes for his kindness in distributing the prizes. He was astonished to see 'none of the committe present, nor of the parents of children. It was evident they 'did not want the elixir of youth, for then was nothing so well calculated to keep people young as association with children. It was the duty of parents to bare been present. In his school days he remembered the pride they used to feel in seeing their parents present on such occasions, and it must be disappointing to the teachers to see so little interest taken in the school. The fact was they were getting education too cheap, and if they had to pay more for it they would take more ißtereflt in it. He moved a vote of thanks to Mr Rhodes, anl anked then to carry it by acclamation. (Great applause.) Mr Bryars moved a vote.of thanks to the donors of special prizes, and reminded the children that the school would open again on the 22nd of January next.

The Rev. Mr Hamilton said he regretted so little interest had been taken in the school, especially by the committee. It was gratifying, however, that everything had passed off so satisfactorily. Mr Rhodes said he was always glad to do anything they wanted bim to- * do, so long as he was able to get away. He congratulated Miss Brown on having; beaten all the boys, and won all the pr«es> The proceedings then came to a close. *