St. Patrick's College

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1, 4 January 1906, Page 1 (Supplement)

St. Patrick's College

(From our Wellington correspondent.) The annual prize distribution ceremony in connection with St. Patrick's College, which took place on Tuesday evening, December 19, was attended by a large number of parents and friends of the scholars. Amongst the guests were Archbishop Redwood, the Right Hon. the Premier, the Hon. T. VV. Hislop (Mayor), Mr Firth (principal of Wellington College), and Mr Hogben (Inspector-general of Schools). Lady Ward and Miss May Seddon were amongst the ladies present. The visitors were entertained with a first-class musical programme during the evening. The Rector (the Very Rev. Father Keogh, S.M.), after the students had received their awards, thanked the Archbishop for hurrying from North Taranaki to be present; and also the Premier for curtailing his ChristchuYch sojourn so that he might be with them that evening. He regretted the absence of Sir Joseph Ward. He also expressed pleasure at the presence of his Worship the Mayor and Messrs Hogben and Firth, as the attendance of all these prominent gentlemen tended to enchance the prize-giving ceremony of the college. Likewise, he thanked the many friends of the college for their liberality in the matter of prizes. In addition, the Sports Committee desired to return its thanks to those who had contributed prizes at the annual athletic gathering. Dealing with the school work of the year, he had the honour to report that this had been of a very satisfactory nature. The attendance had been 82 boarders and 34- day pupils, and although the attendance was 10 lower than last year, the boys had made up for this deficiency by the earnest manner in which they went to work. In regard to the school work, the college had anticipated me action of the Imperial Government by giving the boys " Home Rule," with, of course, due submission to the Crown, and the college authorities in this respect had e\ cry reason to be sitisfied, for their hopes and anticipations had been more than realised. The conduct of the boys and the harmony existing between them and the Fathers and masters had come up to everything that was expected. Another thing which had added considerably to the interest and zest of education had been their outdoor sports and the military life which they had led so strenuously. He referred to the work of the College Cadets and the military contests with the boys of Wellington College. In regard to the latter contests, he acknowledged the kindly help of Mr Firth, principal of Wellington College. His Grace the Archbishop said he was very happy to be present that night. He complimented the boys on their singing, and particularly upon the progress they had made with the violin — the king of instruments, which was too often neglected. He was delighted to hear the rector speak of the " Home Rule" which had been established in connection with the college, and he hoped this would be the forerunner of a greater Home Rule in the land which they all loved. He was also pleased to hear of the scholars' military prowess. Last year, when t*he prize-giving distribution was taking place, he was in Rome, but he was present in heart and sympathy. It gave him great satisfaction to hear of the success of the college during the year. He wished the scholars pleasant holidays and a happy Christmas, and trusted when they returned on February 15 they would enter upon their work -with renewed vigour, and do honour to the school. Their great school began when they left the institution, and he was sure, if they had the same pleasure in competing for the prizes of the future as they did at school, they would be happy indeed. There was a freshness, purity, and charm about a prize-giving ceremony that was never forgotten. He urged the boys to study well and be exemplary in their conduct, so that when they went out into the world they might be well equipped for the battle of life. The Right Hon. the Premier, who was very cordially received, expressed great pleasure at being present. As Minister - for Defence, he was particularly interested in the reference to the success of the school cadets. Personally, he was delighted, as it made for the good of the cadet movement of the colony. He said without hesitation that if the Mother Country had some such system as we had here, in training the boys of the school in this direction, they would never have spoken about conscription, a term which, he thought, should never be mentioned in connection with the British race. He was pleased to say that in the colony now they had something like 19.000 on the roll, including volunteers, rifle corps, and cadets ;' in addition to that, they had about 10,000 on their college and school rolls ; and in this respect he thought he could say that New Zealand was the best-equipped part of the British Empire. As the Tector had mentioned the -military tests that had taken place between the two colleges, it struck him that they might go further, and have an educational test. By" this time next year the Christchurch Exhibition would be in full swing, and he thought that in connection with that Exhibition their university, colleges, and schools might meet. As Minister for Education, he thought that might be a glorious opportunity

that should be embraced by the scholastic institutions of the colony, and it would be well for them to know, educationally where they really were. He was happy to say that in New Zealand they were now beginning to realise the full benefits of higher education. In young countries this was to a great extent overlooked. In this colony he did not hesitate to say that in the past there had been a feeling of indifference in respect to this question. They had heard much said of the three " R's"— that a knowledge of these was quite sufficient, and that if the pupils could go through these they were well equipped for commercial life. That idea, however, was now entirely exploded. In the battle of life, unless they were as well equipped as their competitors, they could not succeed. He wished the youth of this colony to be as well equipped as those in any part of the world, and he felt sure that the schools of this colony were equal to those of any other country He would say to the boys: "Look at the students who had gone before you. You have marked, no doubt, the progress they have made in the battle of life. You have seen many who have succeeded. Follow their example. Endeavour to keep up the reputation of your college, and by so doing you will not only do justice to your teachers, but you will also bring honour and credit to the colony. I wish you all a merry Christmas." The Mayor said he had been at many prize distributions in the time of his old friend Dr Watters, and also during the time of the present rector, and it gave him pleasure to congratulate the teachers upon the continued success of the operations carried on within those walls. Mr Firth (Wellington College) said he was genuinely pleased at hearing the rector's report of the success of the year's work. He wished to express the good feeling Wellington College had for St. Patrick's, a feeling he was sure was reciprocated. He desired to assure Father Keogh and all of them that Wellington College was always willing to join hands in any work that was for the good of both institutions, for he fully realised that healthy rivalry was an excellent thing. The musical programme included 'items by the students, Rev. Father Hills, Masters Goaney (violin) and Seymour (piano); vocal solo, Master D. Ryan; violin solo by Miss Moran (whose success in teaching the boys was favourably commented upon by the Archbishop) ; piano solo, E. Quill ; and concerted pieces, vocal and instrumental, by the students. The gathering concluded with hearty cheers for the Archbishop, the Premier, and the visitors. „ PRIZE LIST. General Excellence. — Medal presented by the Old Boys' Association— R. B. Hill. O'Connor, Cullen, Kavanagh, Jos Ryan, G. Miller, Miles. Good Conduct. — Medal presented by his Grace the Archbishop—Stewart. Seymour, Devoy, Campion, F. O'Connor, Gnancy, Hill, E. Burkp. Application. — Medal presented by the Venerable Archdeacon Devoy — F. O'Connor. Seymour, Stewart, M'Laughlin, Devoy, Dug<ran, Geanev, Fraher, Hill, Campion. Christian Doctrine. — Medal presented by the Bishop of Christchurch — Senior: Cullen. Prize: Hill. Walshe, Boyce, Fraher, Kavanagh, Kelly. Junior (prize presented by Bishop of Auckland) : Seymour. O'Leary, Duggan, F. Kelly,' Lavery, Bennett, Lundon, Stewart. AVERAGES. First Class. — Cullen. Hill, Kavanagh, Boy<&, Walshe. Second Class. — Jos. Ryan. F. O'Connor. Third Class. — J. Duggan. F. Kelly, W. Ryan, Seymour, O'Leary, Lavery, Lundon. Fourth Class A. — M'Lean. Geaney, B. Ryan, Jas. Ryan, O'Sullivan, Stewart. Fourth Class B. — T. Malone. H. Jansen, Lynch, Moynihan. Fifth Class.— Cleary. B. Malone, C. Miller, Lambert, O'Malley. First Class. — Essay : Kavanagh. Hill, Cullen. English : Hill. Kavanagh, Cullen. Latin : Cullen. Hill, Herring, French: Boyce. Hill, Herring. Algebra and arithmetic: Cullen. Kavanagh, G. Miller. Second Class. — Essay : Jas. Ryan. F. O'Connor. English : Jos. Ryan. F. O'Connor. Latin : F. O'Connor. Jos. Ryan. French : Jos Ryan. Mathematics : Miles. Jos. Ryan. Third Class. — Essay : Seymour. F. Kelly, Duggan, R. Miller, Lavery. English : Duggan. F. Kelly, O'Leary, W. Ryan, Lundon. Latin :W. Ryan. F. Kelly, Duggan, Lavery, M'Grath. French : F. Kelly. O'Leary, Duggan, W. Ryan, Lavery. Mathematics : Algebra and arithmetic — Seymour. F. Kelly, Lundon, Duggan, O'Leary. Geometry : Duggan (hon. mention), Nelson (prize). Lavery, Seymour, W. Ryan. Fourth Class A. — Essay : M'Lean. M'Leary, Butler, Jas. Ryan, Geaney, Stewart. English : M'Lean. Jas. Ryan, Stewart, Rochfort, Geaney, Dore. Latin": M'Lean. . Rochford, Jas. Ryan, Butler, B. Ryan, Stewart. French : M'Lean: Rochford, Jas. Ryan, Butler, B. Ryan, Stewart. , Arithmetic: Rochford. B. Ryan, Geaney, M'Leary, J. O'Brien, O.Sullivan. Euclid:

Stewart. E. J. Burko, o' Sullivan, M'Lean, B. Ryan, Carmody. Algebra : Rochford, B. Ryan, Geaney, E. J. Burke, O' Sullivan, Jno. O'Brien. Science : Geaney. ' M'Lean, M'Leary, Jno. O'Brien, Stewart, O'Sullivan. Fourth Class B. — Essay: Lynch. W. Maher, Monaghan, Cronin. Latin : T. Malone. Kerehoma, Downey, Cronin. French : H. Jansen. T. Malone, . Downey, Moynihan. Arithmetic : H. Jansen. Malone, Lynch, Moynihan. Algebra : Malone, H. Jansen, Moynihan, Maher. Euclid : Malone. Cronin, Lynch, Monaglian. Science : Downey. " Jansen, Lynch, Monaghan. COMMERCIAL. First Division. — Chapman. Hennessy, Latham. Second Division. — H. Jansen. Garvey, Greer^ Lambert, O'Connor. Fifth Class. — Essay : Cleary, Malone, Green, Ratima. English : Cleary, Malone, Miller, Lambert, Green. Arithmetic : Miller, Cleary, Lambert, Malone. Drawing. — Kelly. Cull en, Boyce^ O'Connor, Duggan, Miller, Maher, Jas. Ryan, Chapman, Campion, Stewart, Geaney, Burke, Jas. Ryan, John O'Brien. Writing. — Fraher. Kelly, Kavanagh, James Ryan, Hill, O'Connor, Cullen, Miles, Duggan, Seymour, Quill, O'Leary, Miller, Campion, Ryan, Kerehoma, Andrews, Ryan, J. Ryan, Moynihan, Quinlan, Bennett, M'Laughlin. MUSIC. Piano. — Seymour. Ryan, Quill, M'Kenna, Duggan, M'Evedy, Burke, Ryan, Cleary, Malone, Kerehoma. Singing. — Miller. Ryan, Malone. Violin. — Geaney.