Presentation of District School Prises.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4046, 16 December 1881, Page 2

Presentation of District School Prises.

There was a large attendanee at the Academy of. Music last evening to witness the presentation of prizes, for which the scholars of the various public schools of the Thames had competed. The choir was composed of 70 or 80 schoolchildren, music pupils of Mr Grigg, and were placed on raised seats on the stage. The prizes were handed to the fortunate winners by the Mayoress... The, Chair was taken at 8 o'clock by the Mayor.;

The proceedings were'Opened by the excellent rendition of " Farewell to tkudy and Books," by the Choir, after wafch the Chairman in a neat speech referred to the popularity of the secular system of education at present in use in the public schools, and which was now. on its trial at the Thames. He would advise parent* tb pay more attention to the '', religion* instruction of their children at home. In addressing the children he referred to the necessity of being diligent in their studies now, as they would reap the benefit in after years. He quoted the stories of John Tregenoweth and the captrre maid of Syria and Naaman,' the 1 leper, as lessons of truthfulness, coarageoasaeM, love to one another, Ac. ' '";.', The Choir then sang " Around' the hearth at home," and " Some folks."

Dr Kilgour then spoke on the present system of education, and fully commrred with the remarks of the Chairman.-r He aiso testified to the excellence of the examination papers, and pointed out the difficulty he had experienced in deciding as to which was the best.

A quartette by four of the children, accompanied by Miss Watkin on the piano, followed, after which the Chairman announced that W. C. Atkinson, of the Waio'Xaraka school, was the winner of the first prize, 'which was then presented to him.

Mr G. IS. Phillips was next callo^ forward and presented with the decoration of honor, he being the head master of. the school which produced the winner of the premier prize. In returning thanks Mr Phillips said that it was gratifying to him to see ..-that for the second time a ' scholar of. his had gained this prize. He would not detain them long, as he know neither young nor old were fond of long speeches, bat the increasing number of prizes annually offered for competition to the pupils of the Thames schools showed the interest taken in education by the influential citizens of the place. He had no doubt that more donors would be forthcoming, so that the number and range of prizes ' might be still further increased. He had been nearly fire yean teaching on the Thames, as the head of two schools successively, and might, therefore, claim to speak with some degree of knowledge as to the working of the education system, and he wished to point out that the irregular attendance of the pbildren was the chief difficulty in the teachers' pith. He feared that free education was not, in some quarters, sufficiently valued, and concluded by urging -on parents ud

children the importance of regular and punctual attendance. It was not always a boy or girl with any exceptional ability who was the most successful. He would advise them to remember Abraham Lincoln's words to his men, namely—" Keep pegging away." Mr Phillips was attentively listened to, and loudly applauded. The other prizes were then handed to the winners as follows:—2nd prize, W. H. V. Hall, WaioKaraka School; 3rd prize, W. H. Watkin, Kauaeranga Boys' School; 4th prize, Mary Sinclair, Kauaeranga Girls' School. The first prize for drawing was awarded to Joseph Pearce, of the Kauaeranga Boys' School; for composition to Lucy E. Watkin, Kauae ranga Girls' School; and for arithmetic to W. H. V. Hall, Waio-Karaka School; Peter Steele, Tararu School, secoud. The Choir sang, " Your Mission," after which Mr McGowan delivered a short address. After the singing of " Mousetraps, the Mayoress presented the following children with music certificates:—Elementary : Blakely Mary, Bridson Eleanor, Bridson Leonora, Cahill Mary, Hea Susan.— Junior: Autridge Alice, Boxall Jane, Bridson Maria, Browne Agnes, Brown Edith, Brown Kathleen, Cooper Louisa, Copland Hannah, Cornes Agnes, Crisp Harriet, Crisp Eose, Cuff Louisa, Davies Annie, Deeble Fanny, Drew Alfred, Driver Mary, Fletcher Florence, Fletcher Nellie, Gillespie Lucy, Gordon Grace, Hamerfcon Amy, Hamerton Jane, Hutchison Mary, Jackson Ada, Jenkin Emma J., Laing Florence, McEnteer Kate, McKnight Emily, McQnade Mary, McEea Louisa, Miller Ada, Miller Jessie, Nodder Eva, Phillips Walter, Scudder Emma, Sinclair Mary, Sims Annie, Steel Agnes, Watkin Oswald, West Laura, Williams Emily. A •' Sleigh song," and}" Dearest Home " were given by the choir, after which the Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Grigg forthe efficient manner in which he was teaching the children the musical portion of their education, as was demonstrated by their singing that evening. This was carried by acclamation. Mr Grigg briefly responded, and the Ringing of the National Anthem brought the proceedings to a close.