ST. DOMINIC'S COLLEGE, DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 51, 21 December 1899, Page 5

ST. DOMINIC'S COLLEGE, DUNEDIN.

St. JosEPn's Hall was crowded on Monday afternoon on the occasion of the annual breaking-up entertainment by and the distribution of prizes to the pupils of St. Dominic's College, Dunedin. Among tho-e present were the Revs. Fathers Murphy, O'Donnell, Moloney,and Ryan, and Messrs Fitzgerald, Bossenoe and Richardson.

On such occasions the parents and friends of the pupils attend for the purpose of seeing for themselves what has been the result of the years work, and if the finished manner in which all the items on the programme were performed is to be taken as a criterion of the class of education imparted at the College, tne standard is certainly high, and can well stand the test of criticiauu. The programme opened with two «ction songs, ' Out on the deep ' and ' Jeux de cerceaux,' by the kindergarten. The scene on the stage was a pretty one, the boys being attired in sailor costume of white and pale blue, and the girla in white, the latter carrying hoops with coloured ribbons and bells. The pet form era kept good time, and the songs were nicely rendered. A. number of the senior pupils sang in a finished manner Abt's ' Water lilies.' The College has always been noted for the high state of proficiency attained by the pupils in instrumental music, and the duet from Weber on three pianos by Misses £eelye, O'Connell, Kelman, Heenan, Dtlargy, and Joyce was certainly a very artistic performance and more than maintained the reputation of the institution. A feature of the performance was the splendid time — so accurate was this that it appeared as if the volume of sound came from a single instrument. Miss G. Meenan possesses a very sweet voice, and her ' Song of sleep ' gave promise that she will become a very good vocalist. The college boarders contributed a calisthenic display, two of them practising on ' Sandow developers.' Miss Davis's solo, ' The Swallows,' was sung with taste, and was a very fine example of good vocalisation. Mips G. O'Connell gave a recitation, in which clear enunciation and appropriate action were marked features. Miss F. Courtis played a pianoforte solo with faultless execution, her touch being dear and telling. A mazurka of Chopin was played brilliantly by Misses Paton, E. Ward, and A. Liston, the performers giving evidence of finished tuition by their splendid time and good touch. Miss Ewing has a rich contralto voice, which showed to great advantage iv the solo, ' Tho Soul's Awakening.' It is rare to meet with one bo young who possesses such a rioh contralto voice. Miss E wing has evidently a future before her as a vocalist. A pianoforte duet, ' Bohemian Dances,' was played with taste and feeling by Misses G. Meenan, E

Hay, 0. Larnaoh, E. Ward, M. Paton, and J. Griffen. The programme concluded with a chorus ' Spring ' by the senior pupils. Mies O. Larnaoh deserves a word of praise for the finished manner in which she accompanied the greater part of the vocal item 3. At the conclusion of the concert part of the programme the Rev. Father Murphy took the opportunity of thanking the performers for the very fine treat just given by them. He was sure the audience would agree with him that they had acquitted themselves iv a manner that was alike creditable to themselves and their teachers. The performance was eqnal to, if not better than, any which was ever given before. With regard to the work done during the year, regular attendance, and good conduct, their superiors had informed him that they were the best body of pupils who had ever passed through the College. This was no doubt very encouraging both to their superiors, who devoted their time and attention, and sacrificed their lives in the work of education, and al*o to their parents. One of the objects of the College was to turn out the pupils good members if Society, to make them perfect ladies, and in doing this they were conferring a great benefit on the CDmmunity. With reference to the prizes he said that some might be disappointed at not receiving any, but they should remember that in a class it was sometimes very difficult to decide who was worthy of the distinction, the competition was so close. The wreath for the most amiable girl in the echool, on the vote of the pupils, was awarded to Miss Winney Heenan. Father Murphy concluded by thanking the audience for their attendance. The prizes were then distributed by the Rev. Father Murphy, the recipients being warmly applauded as they appeared on the stage. At the conclusion of the proceedings Mr. Fitzgerald (one of the Education Board Inspectors) said that he and his colleagues, who were present, knew something of the Sisters' work. When they visited their schools they expected to find thorough work, good order, good manners, and a nice tone pervading all, and certainly the schools did not disappoint them. It was with pleasure that they accepted the invitation to be present that afternoon to see something of the Sisters' work, which did not come within the scope of their official duty. On behalf of his colleagues and himself, and he felt assured on behalf of the whole of the large audience, he could say that for all they had seen and heaid they had nothing but commendation. He thanked the Sisters and their pupils for the pleasure they had given him, and all who were with him.

The Rev. Father Murphy thanked the audience for their attendance, and the proceedings terminated.

The audience then adjourned to St. Joseph's School, where a display of works of art by the pupils of St Dominic's College was held. The exhibition consisted of paintings in oil, fancy work, and Avood carving. 'Miss McKechnie and Miss Kelman were represented by very line oil paintings of the far-famed Sounds. A feature of the exhibition was a number of plaque 3, with paintings of flowers .done from nature. These were in most instances very fine examples of art, the colouring and arrangement of the flowers being very true to nature. Drawing from casts seems to have been brought to a high state of perfection at the college, as the specimens of this class of work shown by Misses Kelman, Joyce, Ward, Watt, and others were very well done, the shading being particularly good. Misses Lake. McDonald, Seelye. and others had some specimens of very artistic panel painting. A picture which attracted some attention was an animal study by Miss Cockerill. Miss Hay. besides other subjects from her brush, had a very creditable pastoral study in oils. A very pretty piece of work was cactus dahlias in oils by Miss Ward. Miss Brennan had a study in black and white. A new style of ornamentation for a cushion, consisting of Florentine raised work in tinted velours, was shown by Miss Lobb, and Miss Joyce was represented by a handsomely painted mirror. Among the most successful exhibitors of fancy work were Misses McGuire,iPlunkett, Dooley, Cutten, Thompeon, Watt, Holmes, O'Halloran, Carroll, Vaninni, Quelch, Blakely, Patterson, Meenan, and Tobin. Not the least interesting portion of the exhibition was that devoted to kindergarten work, consisting of mosaic designs, picture albums and embroidery, mat weaving, prick, fancy and plaque work. It could hardly be believed that some of the specimens of work Bhown were done by little dots of six and seven, yet such was the case. The many articles shown bore testimony to the varied education given in this department, and the taste and finish displayed in the work were ample evidence of the great amount of patience on the part of the teachers to bring about euch good results. The exhibition on the whole must have been a revelation to many of the visitors, especially those unacquainted with the high class art work done at the college, and one and all admitted that it was the best yet held, especially when we take into account some of the exhibits which are intended for next year's bazaar, amongst which was a beautifully embroidered panel worked with filoselle on satin. So beautifully was this shaded and so fine was the work that many took it for a painting. Some fine specimens of wood carving were shown, the best piece being a panel with passion flowers in alto relievo.

The following 1 is the prize list : —

Christian Doctrine— Senior class (silver medal, presented by Mr. E. Young), G. Meenan : junior class (r-iiver medal). N. Quelch. Twelve special prizes were presented by the Rev. J. Ryan for Christian doctrine.

Bible History— Senior class : First prize, G. O'Connell ; hon. mention, M. Ross and F. M'Cluskey. Second prize, M. O'Leary ; hon. mention, G. Meenan and N. Sullivan. Third prize, H. Sweeney • hon. mention, C. Delargy— Junior- class : First prize, N. Quelch ; hon. mention, A. M'Donald and A. Connor. Second prize, L. Freed ; hon. mention, H. Mackay and J. Griffen. Third prize. M. Knox : hon. mention, Mary Laverty and R. Rossiter. Catechism— Senior class : First prize, M. Ross ; hon. mention, M. O'Leary. Second prize, N. Sullivan ; hon. mention, G. Meenan. Third prize, E. Ward ; hon. mention, O. Larnach .—Junior class :

First prize : A. M'Donald ; hon. mention, A. Connor, N. Quelch, and J. Griffen. Second prize, Mary Laverty ; hon mention, H. Mackay, R. Rossiter, and A. Carmody. Third prize, E. Thomas ; hon. mention, L. Freed, M. Knox, and M. O'Rourke Painting — Silver medal presented by Mr. Shaw. C. Watt. Painting and Drawing from the Cast— Silver medal, M. Kelmau ; hon. mention, N. Joyce, E. Hay, O. Larnach, and E. Ward. Needlework — Silver medal. M. Cutten ; hon. mention, M. Brennan, A. Plunkett, N. Quelch, E. Hay. H. Mackay. A. M'Donald, V. Thompson, and — M-Gregor. Music — Intermediate grade : S^ver, medal, E. Hay ; hon. mention, E Ward. M. Kelman, C. Watt, G. O'Connell, A. Liston, 0. Larnach, C. Delargy, and W. Heenan. Junior grade — Silver medal, presented by Mrs. Liston, M, Carey ; hon. mention, M. Jackson and V. Blakely. Attendance— Silver medal, H. Mackay ; hon. mention, N. Quelch, E. Thomas, N. Sullivan, G. Meenan, E. Robinson, and M. Sham. Good conduct— Silver medal, presented by Mrs. Sham, N. Joyce; hon. mention, E. Patterson. N. Sullivan, W. Heenan, M. Kelman V Blakely, A. Plunkett, E. Hay, M, M'Gregor, M. Ross, E. Robinson, M. Cutten, N. O'Carroll, and A. Macdonald. Class medallists— lntermediate B, H. Mackay ; intermediate A, V. Blakely : senior grade B, N. Sullivan ; senior grade A (dux), M. Ross. Successes in Trinity College instrumental music — All the candidates presented passed. Intermediate grade— Honours, E. Ward, E. Hay, and K. Cartwright; pass, M. Kelman, C. Watt, H. Hannigan, and E. Kirkaldy. Junior grade— Honours, M. Carey, M. Jackman, M. Montague ; pass, A. Kerr, M. King. Primary grade — E. Hooper and M. Gawne. Vocal music — Senior grade, — Bridger. Wreath, awarded by the votes of the pupils for amiability and good conduct - W. Heenan.

JUNIOR ÜBA»E.

English and arithmetic — Class A, Minnie Collins; class B, Mina Ward. Improvement in arithmetic — Gertrude Petre. Religious knowledge— Mary Murray, M. Collins, M. Callan, M. Ward, M. M'Donald, M. Gawne, F. Byrne, Winnie Power.

Conversational French — First prize, Mary Callan ; second prize, Mina Ward ; hon. mention, M. Collins, M. Gawne, F. Byrne, W. Power, M. M'Donald.

Pianoforte — M. Gawne : ; hon. mention, M. Collins. Improvement in music, L. Fraser. Needlework — Mary Tobin ; hon. mention, M. Collins. Mapping — M. Callan and M. Murray. Regular and Punctual Attendance— F. Byrne, M. Gawne, and M. Collins. Writing — F. Beissel, M. Murray, and M. Gawne. Order and Neatness — M. Tobin Application to Studies — M Collins, M. Callan, and M. Ward. Politeness and Deportment — M. Callan and M. Collins. Good Conduct — M. Collins, M. Callan, and M. Ward. Amiability — E. Hegarty. General Improvement — Mary Murphy. The G.O M.'s prize in. The Dominican Star -Mary Callan, editor of the supplement ' Our Very Own.

KINDERGARTEN.

Preparatory Class A — Christian doctrine, embroidery pictures, and diligence, Mary Walsh. Reading, singing, and pianoforte, Myrtle Morrison. Recitation, singing, arithmetic, and pianoforte, K. Collins. Picture embroidery, drawing, singing, and writing, Ethel Salmon. Arithmetic, embroidery, and improvement in music, Gerty Sham. Comprehension of- lessons, writing, fancy, and plain needlework, Nora O'Donnell. Reading-, needlework and amiability, Dolores M'Donald. Geography and improvement in music, Mercedes M'Donald. General improvement, drill, and mat weaving, Eric Spain.

Preparatory Class B — Drawing, clavier, and writing, Mary Isabel Laffey. Writing', spelling, and arithmetic, Maggie Maher. Violin practice, reading, and drawing, Alan Sham. Object lessons and prickwork, Ivy M'Donald. Violin practice, spelling, and object lessons, Kitty Byrne. General improvement and prickwork, Ethel Murray. Gift 111 and reading, Joseph Salmon. Mat weaving and arithmetic, Cassie Spain. Reading and prickwork, Vera Myers. Kindergarten Class (IV grade) — Word building and object lessons, James M'Donald. Drill and prickwork, James Collins. Gift 111, Ernest Meenan. Mat weaving, word building, and writing, Eric Green. Writing, drawing, and drill, Frank Meenan. Singing, drill, and recitation, Eric Campbell, Molly Coghlan, Patrick O'Connor, Cyril Campbell.

Kindergarten Class (111 grade) — Word building, clavier, and combination of colours : Ila B. Henderson, Patricia Toorney, Bessie Laffey. Word building and colours : Patrick Keligher, Nicholaa O'Neill, Gabrielle Spain. Kindergarten Class (II grade)— Colours and gifts I and II : Myrtle Crichton, Mabel Yarley, Joseph Petre, Nellie Coghlan, Harold Green.

Kindergarten Class (I grade)— Grift I, forms, and general sweetness and amiability : Kathleen Campbell, Eileen Collins, Arthur Meenan, Margery Murray, Rita Petherick, Bertie Cantwell, Leonard Petherick, Kathleen Campbell.