TE KOPURU SCHOOL.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 230, 29 December 1893, Page 5

TE KOPURU SCHOOL.

Some time ago when the Kopuru Band of Hope broke up, the funds of that society were handed over to a Committee consisting of the head teacher, chairman of School Committee, and Mr Barclay, to be devoted to prizes for the school children ; £1 to be divided annually.arnong-st the children who had attended most regularly, and 10s annu-

ally to the third, and the same fourth standard, for proficiency in meric and spelling. It was provided examination be held annually separate frolß the regular examination for the purpose o™ these prizes, open to all children attending the Kopuru school free, any other children to pay sixpence each. This examination took place in the Sohoolhouse on Wednesday, December 20th. The prize for attendance was divided between Margaret Molloy and Maud Foreman, who had not missed a single half day that the school was open. In the spelling competition in the third standard the Committee were obliged to divide the prize, after a lengthened contest, between Mabel Leabourne and Murray Molloy. Mabel Leabourne also took the prize for arithmetic, after a good contest with W. Wright. In standard IV, the arithmetic prize went t@ Frederick Cox, and the spelling to Margaret Mcllroy. In addition to these prizes the teachers themselves resolved to present prizes to the Ist, 2nd, oth and 6th Standards. The contests for these resulted Standard I.- arithmetic Charles Game, spelling Alice Burgess, writing Myrtle Alcock ; Standard II: arithmetic, Mabel Robertson, spelling Margaret Molloy, writing May McDermott ; Standard V : arithmetic James McDermott, spelling, Harrow Cobbald ; Standard VI: Ethel McCabe. The Annual children’s entertainment in connection with the breaking up took place in the hull or. Thursday 21st. The hall was crammed. The teachers have had only the week after the Inspector’s examination in which to prepare for this event but they seemed to have made the most of the time. In the absence of the Chairman of Committee (Mr M. Cobbald) Mr Joseph Molloy made the necessary introductions. The programme was a lengthy one. There were several tableaux: ‘ The old woman that lived in a shoe,’ ‘ The babes in the wood.’ ‘ Dick Whitcington,’ ‘ The marriage.’ Tw® scenes, ©ne a selection from King John, ‘ Hubert and Arthur ’ (rather too ambitious), the other ‘ The Doctor’s Visit.’; a duet, Edith Game and Margaret Mcllroy ; recitations by Ethel McCabe, Kate French, 'James McDermott and Frederick Cox ;' chorus and dance by girls, ‘ Weel may the Keelrew ’; imitation instrumental music by boys; song and march by fairies; grand inarch by boys and girls ; song, ‘ Good-night ’ by girls dressed in nightgowns, with candles already lit. The dressing of the parts in the different tableaux, the fairy dance, the grand march, the keelrow and the two scenes, were -very tasty and good, and considering the number of characters, indicated surprising trouble. The applause was vigorous throughout, and encores frequent, particularly so in the keelrow dance and grand march. The evolution in the latter, under the directions of Mr Perkins (junior teacher), excited great admiration. The four recitations were given with spirit and effect, particularly so those of Ethel McCabe ‘ Gertrude of Wyoming,’ and Frederick Cox ‘ Influence of Temptation.’ The instrumental aeeompaniaments were kindly furnished by Miss Rhodes and Mrß Joseph Molloy. Considering the number of characters to dress, the delay between the pieces was not great, and too much praise for her efforts in this direction cannot be given to Miss Hougham (assistant teacher.) During an interval Mr Joseph Molloy presented the prizes won at the examination. He complimented Miss Ethel McCabe on being the only one who had hitherto passed the 6th Standard at Kopuru. On behalf of the Committee he begged to thank the teachers for the way they had brought the children on. The Inspector’s report was the best one they had ever had at the School, (three cheers for the teachers were here lustily given.) He urged the parents to send their children to school regularly ; some of them just kept over the half time This was not fair or just either to the teachers, the children or the School Committee. A dance concluded the meeting. A charge of 6d admission was made at the door for adults and the proceeds (after paying expenses) were added to the Band of Hope fund, so as t® keep it permanent. Only three children have failed to pass at the examination, out of an average attendance of nearly a hundred; one of these was but a new arrival. The state of discipline is admirable, and I have heard Mr Whitaker (head teacher) thanked by parents of children ivho have not been prize toinners, for the way he has brought the children on. The Christmas Tree will be given in the Hall on Tuesday next, and the Children’s Treat in Mr Cobbild’s pa block on Wednesday. Brett’s ‘Auckland Almanac and Diary for 1894,” now ready, contains a complete diary, with money columns, mail timer tables, official directory, railway timetables, etc., and 120 pages ef statistical matter relating to New Zealand and descriptive of the Provincial District of Auckland. This work, which comprises altogether 260 pages of closely printed matter, is the most useful little book a settler or merchant can have in his establishment, and the best compendium oi information relating to New Zealand. On sale by John Stallworthy, Aratapu, Price, One Shilling. Yk