St. Patrick's School Masterton.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3087, 22 December 1888, Page 2

St. Patrick's School Masterton.

The annual distribution of-prizes took place in the schoolroom on Friday. The Mayor, Mr'A. W. Renall, presided. The Rev Father McKeuna, addressing bis Worship, the-ladies and gentlemon, and children, said the. time had come when somo slight recognition would be. made of the labor of those who had excelled amongst the children. It was inevitable that some of them should be disappointed, but let them not be discouraged, but strive all the.more persevevingly with a good heart, and let their very failure to secure a prizo bo an incontivo to further exertions, They would find the. same thing through life, and in this age of progress, when everyone was occupied ■m securing. advancement in life.it behoved■■ them to thoroughly, train themselves in their -youth for the coming coutest,- Let them, therefore, employ their-timo-.welly.whilst at schpol, as they would find that those who, by perseverance, energy, and good conduct, distanced their fellows 'would likewise distance their neighbors in inauy of the .walks of lifo. There was another motive why they in particular should' work diligently aud well at their lessons. Their parents, had gone to considerable expense to provide the school they now occupied, and had [given muohin the cause of education. If thoy whhed to be just to their parents', they must be diligent whilo at school, and show by' that means that they appreciated the sacrifice they iiad made on'their- behalf. Instead of sending them to the State I aided schools to receive secular education their pareuts'had preferred to put their hands into their own pockets', and pretty deep down, 100, . to provide teachers to impart a truly religious instruction side by side with their gaining a secular know> ' lodge. . Here was, therefore,; another ' motive for them to work diligently, ; aud.to those who had proved them- : self most diligent'in Christian hi* ' struction would be given a prizo.' It i might be asked why do. parents mate' such sacrifices in the causes of edit-'I cation ? .'lt was. because they l'ccog-; ' iusedjhat education without religion ' complete. ■. (Cheers). ! The minds of the- children, must be trained in the great'trutbs : ;of i.salva-, '■ tioh as ; well as in the pura nits; of life, ; recognising th;a||f it was of importance, : IhatfQrlheljeijefit.'oftlie they. ; shopld, 'Xjj ciive'a v ,jpuV e&iCatiqn, ■ for J the;.souj's wehjafe they should receive ) ai-religiqus;: titajoiiig.• (Eear,;heai 1 ,) '

joluiituvily ; aii^-fw6i^& ''ii|»iit;.;'-ltci :;•: avail; - v ihemßeiTOß':''pit ittre" schoqisgqve'r^ iiisteacl,.; gone ■ tq*;o6usiderableirj?ei"r sonar.expense wliero_fchey could qualify'to wotf out their last destiny, ;:This : . act- on the part of parents did not aimfroinany fooling, of'bigotry, on tlie they had a well grounded'and. solid conviotiori',tlia"tit wk right and : trtie; nor was it:tO:Sow the nlion amougst them, for their religion demanded; particularly ;that; they' should love their neighbors as. themselves, and they were farther taught that their neighbors included all mankind, even these who'differed in religion. They would see,' therefore, the parents in making- such great sacrifices, did so from solid and good 'motives. (Hear, : hear.) He exhorted the children since their parents had been so good and ltind as to give them such advantages that they, should work diligently and well and strive earnestly to qualify and receive as much knowledge as they were, capable of doing in the short time allotted for schooling. Taking all those things into consideration was it to be wondered' at "that he should ask them to work well. He wasglad to.be able to report that they had done so. The BovDr Watters had at some inconvenience to himself, come there this year, as last,, to teat their work, for. whicn ho deserved their thanks. There me .many others, who, in a very generous manner contributed towards providing prizes. The Very Eev Father .MoOann had given a special prize for best girl in the school to be chosen by the children themselves. The Hon Mr Buckley had promptly responded on being spoken to with a obeqiie for £2, and the last but. not. the least,, by a long way, were the , members the Town .Land Trust, who.had generously contributed funds, not only for prizes and better school requisites, but for the purpose of giving them a picnic' fOheers.) This was .the first year they had held a picnic, aud they must not forget the debt of gratitude-they owed the Trustees. All these things should therefore'encourage them to work well afcjhoir lessons. They had gone through tho year successfully, as the report of the Rev. Dr.. Watters proved, and he was.not one to hesitate to point out faults where they existed. The report further showed great credit was due to the teacher, Mrs Oarriek. (Cheers,) Father Thomas McKemia, at the request of .Airs Carrick, called over the list of prize-takers, and as each child stopped forward to receive his or her reward, His Worship the Mayor made the presentation, adding a few well-chosen words of encouragement, which mauy of. the little ones will no doubt treasure up in their memories. ■

His Worship the Mayor, after the prizes had been .distributed,'rose, and said when telling them to whom | they were indebted for the handsome prizes and the picnic, the. Kev. Father McKeiiua hud hot mentioned ; the name'of Sir George Grey to them,. | for the very good reason that lie did not know his councotiou with it. He : could inform them, however, that to | Sir .George Grey was duo in the first, place their gratitude. He was the first wan who had set aside the lands from which the funds had arisen to provide prizes and picnics for. the schools of the district, •• and he trusted they would never forget what, be had done for the benefit of the ! writing people - They would have to thank him in all future time for what he had done for their benefit and welfare, • The Town Lands j Trustees- were simply tho distributors, land the present members, with the exception of himself,, had talton no IpartJu thefoundationof Mastertoh. Ho then. proceeded to explain .how thejunds had.come tole jet aside; Hewnoluded .with a few 'appropriate, words to .the children,': and called : foi' three cheare,-,whiel): ; ;wa's.-heartily responded to. v l.r'.V '.'..:;,•"'■■■"■■■

MrA.R,. Bunny said ho had a pleasant duty relegated to him to perform that afternoon, Father Tom Lad, in addition to Ms religious duty there and elsewhere!' taken a very kind and active 'interest'in.the welfare of the school. He had devoted both cave and' attention to its progress which he was glad to be able to say the children and their able teacher, IteCarriek, fully appreciated (Cheers). As a slight recognition of his kindness they had deputed him to present the Rev. Thomas MoKopa the pretty pair of lustreß they saw upon the table, * That gentleman, like many others, bad a i birthday, (laughter) To some of them their birthday anniversary recurred rather too quickly. (Renewed laughter). The children had discovered this day to be the anniversary of Father Tom's birthday and thought it an appropriate time to give a slight acknowledgment of his kindness''to them,. It was not necessary, to go over the ground their Chairman had traversed that day and he would therefore content himself with the remarks he had already made. He concluded by wishing the recipient health, happiness and long life., (Cheers) ..'

_ The Rev. Thosr MoKenna expressed himself as agreeably surprised at the present which he heartily accepted iu the spirit, in which it. was given. How'they came to know: it was his birthday was a mystery'tohim. No one could have told them as up to that morning no one knew but himself, not even his brother, (laughter) He hoped he would be long.left in their midst to labor with : them. Ho was afraid he had not. done so much as Mr Bunny had "attributed to him, as his duties in other parts frequently called .him away, and seeing the little time he had been with them,;he felt all the more' grateful that they should have presented him with such a handsome gift, This was.the first birthday he had celebrated away : from his mother's home, and he felt it to be a joyful one, v Again thanking theni, he resumed his seat, amidst the hearty queers of all ■present. •■' Father McKenna said no: doubt the children were anxious to bo free, to commence their woU-eai'iied lioHday. He had omitted'to mention in his former remarks th&rcally splendid collection of neodldwork, which was exhibited on the .. centre table. Although no pite wore offered; for it/the children had done well, and their teacher, MrsCarriok, must be proud of-thoir sk ; ll; and the visitors would agree .thuttoming. from suoh young hands, Ithe work as a. whole was very, creditable.. He returned thanks to.all those;who had added to the interest of .the 'proceedings: ty their presence, Wor-sliip-the Mayor, who had come at his request;. v (OUeera) -:0' to;;ill ■.'the'' friends who had testified their interest 'in'the Bphb6l'^%.thw;prfflence thanked the ■ teaclwvs> wbb;, laboured go,; le' : :jof, whW;

prfloss^^^^ boUdays|aiidhehopedthby-wbuld^i;. activo work'for anpther:year.;(o|ieers) .Hepvislied thejto all hiaiand ft happy new year.; (cites.) ' ; The;. '■. Mayor '■•:>; jrapliedh;witli|;;a" of pitied, the 'M-fmi lonely estate of the '.'reverend- gentleman wbicli no fait lady di' geritleiiian could .reverse. He ■ concluded by wishing them the compliments of the season, and: led off with ; stentorian lungs " Hip, hip, liurrali!" and the proceedings' terminated' . '.'

■-.; The following is the Examiner's report:—lt has been for me a. great pleasure on the invitation of the worthy parish priest, -Bey. John MoSenna, to examine the parish Bchool and to "compare notes, with,' those : of last year. Ipassedin reviewseventyfive children putof ninety on the rolls of the Eoliooi, and have been ot some pains to examine into the work of the yeav," Iri my report of last'year I ventured to single out for'possible improvement certain branches iu the higher various classes laying stress on the absolute necessity of reaching a higher standard in figures, In this department much has been done, and the resultß submitted are satisfactory. The Christian doctrine in the higher classes is'well known. ,1 would suggest that-the smaller cateohism—same series—be adopted in the lower classes. A beginning has be'enmade in the study of history, but Bofar,the' level attained is not very high, Euclid is likewise taught in the sixth class and the pupils give very fair promisor So jar as my scrutiny has gone, as regards the; tone of the school, the behaviour of the pupils, the progress of the children, it is entirely in faVbr of the,teacher. .Great attention seems to- Imve been 'given- to these very essential features in the conduct of a sohool.—P, J. Watieks, ■ . The following give, the number of points' scored by each class in the various subjects, the maximum being one hundred.. ' ;■'■,.':■'' M ' /

■ |f:> . . o ; m *"--o"-f t B . ■ ? m Sio 4 n h V " I'b 1 t'l I" « -0-2-ClassC 2pupiU.Gs 90 86 80 95 90 25' JO 60 3 pupils' 80 ■B3 83 60 96 83 25. 35 Glass 4'■ • [irapilstiO 8? 78 58 80 65 Class 3 ■ lfipupil«7s. 86 80 64 ' Class 2 ' 9}rai)ils 69 87 76 64 - Cuss 1 ■ ' :. 11 pupils 85 91 70 7.6

Twenty eight children wore oxamiiied in tho infant classes and' all passed very satisfactorily, ■■■ Prize List. : Sixth Class.—Christian Doctrine, Nellie Chapman 1; reading and spelling, Florence Chapman i; grammar, geopaphyandarithnietio,NellioChapman 1; English composition, Florence Chapman 1. Fifth Class—Christian Doctrine, M. O'Leary 1, SI. McKillop 2 -,. read--1 ing, aiid spelling, Maggie O'Leary 1, Florence Chapman2;grammar and geography, M. McKillop 1; arithmetic, F, Chapman,Fourth Class-Christian Doctrine, B.Collins 1, Annie Hourigan 2; reading and spelling, grammar and geography, John O'Leary 1; M. Potter 2 ; arithmetic, J, Collins 1, SI. Sumonek 2;. writing P.'Hafkka I.'-' :'.' Third Class-Christian Doctrine, M. O'Leary 1, Josephine Eubrick 2, John Comiell 8; reading and spelling, Johanna Brzo'ska 1, Maud Kelliher 2, D. Bobinson'B; arithmetic,* O'Leary 1, If.Kelliher2, J, Brzoslta 3,; -writing, P. Stempa 1, M, A. Collins 2, J. Greshow. Second Class-Christian Doctrine, W. Carr 1, M. Cooper 2; reading and spelling A. Chapman 1, SI. Defretas 2; arithmetic Jessie;. Hoffman 1, Aunie Chapmau 2; writing A. Chapman I,'J. Eobinson 2. First Class—Christian Doctrine, F. Haftka I,C, Hourigan 1; reading and spelling, P. O'Leary 1, B, Chapman 2; arithmetic,. A Robinson 1,0. Hourigan 2, B. Brzoska 8;-writing M. Connoll, .■ ; . Infants.— First Division—Catechism, E, Eoardoii 1, B, Cooper 2, E, Cooper 8; reading and spelling, E. Eeardon 1, K, Stempa,2, F. Brzoslta 8. Second Division—Mary Eeardon 1, Joseph Treader 2,' P. Eeardon 8. Third Division—Mary Davies 1, N. Collins