HOKITIKA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 30, 26 November 1897, Page 27

HOKIT IK A .

(From an occasional correspondent.) November 13, 1897. It is always a source of great pleasure to those professing the least spark of Catholicity to see the names of our Catholic children standing forth so prominently in the numerous public examinations held at various times throughout the Colony. The results of these public examinations, which are the tests of ability of all the children (regardless of creed;, should prove ample refutation to the arguments of those sceptics who deride the soundness of secular education imparted in Catholic schools. Blinded by their bigotry these worldly-wise mortals consider that when a knowledge of the Creator of all things enters into the education of youth, secular knowledge, which is their all in all, is impossible, or, at most, of a very superficial kind. The struggle so long and so persistently continued by our Catholic communities to provide our children with a good secular and religious education, which will fit them for the battle of life and prepare them for the enjoyments of the life to come, will, I hope, soon have its effect on the Government of the country, and cause them to rectify the wrongs and oppression we have so long laboured under in this " free and liberal " country. To bring this to an early issue all that is necessary ia the co-opera-tion of our wavering brothers, who, in spite of all warnings and exhortations, persist in sending their children to godless schools, to the danger of both their own and children's immortal souls. Seeing as they must that our Catholic schools compare most favourably with State-aided schools, let me once more urge those Catholic parents who have been lax in the past, to send their children to their own schools, and thus relieve themselves of grave responsibilities. When a public examination is on the tapis our little town is on the gui vice, and the good Sisters of Mercy, who have the care of both boys and girls, deserve the highest commendation for their devoted and tireless attention bestowed in imparting the requisite knowledge . The following results of the drawing examinations, held at Hokitika on September Ist in connection with the School of Arts, Wellington, obtained by the local convent schools and the branch houses at Kani-sri and Kumara, reflect great credit on the teachers and pupils, as it is the first time anything of the kind has been attempted by them. FREEHAND. Edgar M'Donald, St. Mary's School, Hokitika, good ; Walter Smith, St. Mary's School, Hokitika, pass ; Leo. J. Daly, St. Mary 5 ! School, Hokitika, pass ; F. Sellars, St. Mary's School Hokitika, pass ; Robert Boss, St. Mary's School, Hokitika, pass ; Christina Hayes, St. Mary's School, Hokitika, pass ; Katie O'Connor, St. Mary'a School, Hokitika, pass ; John Burns, St. Joseph's School, Kanieri, pass ; Mary O'Donnell, St. Joseph's School, Kanieri, pass ; Jane Bourke, St. Mary's High School, Hokitika, pass ; Maggie Dee, St. Mary's High School, Hokitika, pass ; Mary Ann Dee, St. Mary's High School, Hokiiika, pass ; Ruby Burns, St. Mary's High School, Hokitika, pass. BCALE. Maimie Moynihan, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, good ; George Gilbert, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, pass ; Thomas Gilbert, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, pass ; Michael Murphy, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, pass ; Maggie Coll, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, pass ; Mary M'Cormick, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, pass ; Edmund Galligan, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, pass ; W. Hassall, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, pass. GEOMETRICAL. George Gilbert, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, excellent ; Thomas Gilbert, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, excellent ; Michael Murphy, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, excellent ; Arthur Burger, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, good ; Ernest M'Donald, St. Mary'g School, Hokitika, good ; Monica Hartnett, St. Mary's High School, Hokitika, good ; Maggie Brooks, St. Mary's High School, Hokitika, good ; John Burns, St. Joseph's School, Kanieri, good ; Janie Burke, St. Mary's High School, Hokitika, pass ; Michael Daly, St. Joseph* School, Kauieri, good ; Ruby Burns. St. Mary's High. School, Hokitika, pass ; Eugeuie M'Cormick, St. Joseph's School, Kanieri, pass ; Sophia Caldwell, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, pass ; Maggie Coll, St. Patrick's School, Kumara, pass.