ST. THOMAS SELECT SCHOOL.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3068, 14 December 1878, Page 2

ST. THOMAS SELECT SCHOOL.

The distribution of prizes to the pupils attending the Select Convent School, which was held daring the afternoon, the moat interesting feature of the day. The scholars all neatly attired were seated on a raised platform at the end of the building,,and there were a large number of ladies and gentlemen present including many of the friends and relatives of the children. The Key. Father O'Beilly presided, and the following address was presented from the pupils, it being read in a clear voice by Miss Alice Langham': Rer. Sir, Lady Superior, and kind friends,—'

We heartily bid you welcome: Wears glad to see so many kind friends present, and we rejoice to see that an interest in our examination and exhibition pervade so many good hearts.

The resistless march of time has.brought us to the close of our schslastio year, and in bidding it farewell we bare to sincerely thank you for coming to-day at so much personal inconvenience to honor our humble efforts with jour kind presence and encourage* ment.

To our clear parents, to whom we owe so much for your teal and erer watchful care, and for the Sacrifice! of time and means you hare made in our behalf in providing ut, amongst other favors, with the bleating of a Christian training and education, we offer

our warmest tribute of gratitude and affection, and we ardently hope that our humble efforts this day may please you. To you very dear Rev. Mother, for your kind visit,, we are truly joyful and grateful. Your presence revives in our minds not only the happy by gone times when we had the pleasure of being your pupils, but also kinHles in: our hearts the warmest sentiments of affection and gladness. The remembrance of those times we can never forgec during which we had been your pupils, nor can anything ever banish from our memories the recollection of your great care and motherly solicitude of us. To the many favors you have bestowed upon us, we readily acknowledgo our obligation of gratitude, favors and services which we appreciate more and more as we grow older. Your presence to-day will encourage your former pupils in their humble efforts, and at the same time it will place us under a new tribute of gratitude towards you for having come from Auckland.

: To all we again offer our warm welcome, hot forgetting our pastor. We hope you will not regret the time spent amongst us, a*d remain with much respect,

i The pupils of St. Thomas' Superior School. Bound the room were hung specimens of the work of the pupil. The most meritorious of these was a beautiful colored crayon picture by Miss Mcllhone which does infinite credit to her artistic abilities. A drawing." Scenery about Nelson " by Miss Coney was also much admired., There were also a crayon drawing by Miss Sydney Coney, pencil sketches by Misses A. Mcllhone and Keddy, and a beautifully wrought wool work sampler by Miss Quigley. An interesting programme of singing, recitations, dialogues, was then gone through. Amongst the most meritorious instrumental perforj mances were: " The Mabel Waltzes," by Misses Gibbons, Bagnall, Coney and Mcllhone, a solo by Miss Gibbons, a solo "Le Jet d'eau" by Miss Coney, and a Grand Waltz (piano and harmoninm) by Misses Coney and A. Mcllhone. For vocal music, Miss Stephenson certainly Carried the palm. Her excellent rendition of the ballad "Kathleen Mavourneen" took many of the audience by surprise, the execution being so perfect for one so young. That young lady also sang a duet—"Sainted,Mother" from Maritana —with Miss Coney, and notwithstanding a little .discord, the soug was successfully gone through, as aho was a trio by Misses Stephenson, Coney and Phillips. Miss Nellie Walker, a young lady aged 11, pangi"Mary of Argyle," creditably^ though she manifested a little natural nervousness. Amongst the recitations were, " The wreck of the Orpheus," by Miss Sithmonds, very creditably delivered, and Messrs Langham and Mahoney also recited in a pleasing manner. The various classes were subjected to a brief viva yoce examination on a multitude of subjects, and exhibited the greatest pro* ficiency, which must have been highly gratifying to their paronts. The most interesting of these was the examination of the first class for a special prize for grammar, which resulted in a tie between Misses Gibbons, McFarland, and Mcllhone. These three drew lots for the prize, which fell to Miss A. Mcllhone. To the pupils the most interesting fenture of the day was the distribution of prizes, which then took place, Father O'Reilly handing them to the happy winners. The prize list was as follows:—lst Class: Miss Bagnall, good conduct; Miss Reddy, catechism; Miss A. Mcllhone, astro* homy ; Miss Coney, history, drawing, and writing; Miss Sydney Coney, politeness and study ; Miss McFarland, work; j Miss Phillips, grammar; Miss Gibbons, ] music and French ; Miss Moore, general improvement; Miss O'Halloran, arithmetic. 2nd Class: Miss Wilson; good conduct; Miss O'Brien, arithmetic; Miss Williams, general study; Miss Burke, geography; Miss Langham, grammar and parsing; Miss Moore, improvement in study; Miss Duncan, history; Miss Stephenson, for politeness and study. 3rd Class: Miss Mahoney, catechism; Miss Onyon, writing; Miss Nicolai, improvement'in study; Miss Walker, general improvement; Miss Mcllhone, geography ; Miss * Quigley, mental arithmetic; Miss Dunn, improvement in study;. Mias Cooper, spelling; Miss Veale, arithmetic; Miss Leydon, recitation. Wreaths of honor for amiable behaviour, decided by the votes iof the Sisters of Mercy and the pupils, were awarded to Misses A. Mcllhbne,' Wilson, L. Gibbons, and Cooper. Miss Coney was the recipient of a special prize given by Mrs Ronald Mac Donald for the best handwriting; After the distribution of the prizes, Father O'Eeilly delivered a short address to the scholars, thanking them for the manner they had entertained the audience, and urging them to further diligence next year. The pupils then sang the National Anthem, which brought the highly interesting proceedings to a close.