Waio-Karaka School.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5279, 18 December 1885, Page 2

Waio-Karaka School.

The breaking-up of the Waio»Karaka School took place at 2.30 this afternoon. In the absence of most of the Committee, who were at the Waiotahi School, Mr D. Miller presided, prior to which the children sang several of their pieces. Mr Miller made a few remarks expressing his pleasure at being able to state his gratification with what he had seen as to the progress made by the scholars, in singing and drawing especially. Mr Stewart then addressed those present, saying that this was his first Christmas amongst them, and that though the progress made in the last year was very satisfactory, he hoped that next year it would be far more so. Three cheers were then given at Mr Stewart's request for the gentlemen and ladies present, and taken up in the second room, where all the younger children were assembled. Mr Miller, in concluding, asked the children to show their esteem and gratitude to their teachers by according them three cheers, which were also given with a hearty good will. The walls of the hall were hung with draftings executed by some of the scholars, and some of them deserve special mention. Three crayon drawing by T. Kerr are admirably done, also two in pencil by James Miller, who has as well a map on exhibition, which reflects great credit on his ability, and two water colors by the Misses Ada and Cassis Best, which being only first productions are very good indeed. There were other drawings and maps by Henry Macky, John S. Hart, Wm. Johns, Wm. Simmonds, Wm. S. Hart, and Frank Claxton, which all show decided marks of talent. The progress made by the school in point of numbers is very gratifying. When Mr Stewart took charge, about Ist Feb* ~ruary of the present yeaT, there were only 200 children on the roll, and now there are close on 350, with an average attendance last quarter of about 297. During this last quarter, owing to the influenza epidemic, the attendance somewhat fell off.