Conduct of Pupils.

It gives me great pleasure to state—what you will find borne out by the reports of the respective masters—that the conduct throughout has, with very few exceptions, been excellent. At the beginning of the session we experienced much annoyance from five boys who had evidently joined the classes more for amusement than from a desire for learning. After bearing with them for some little time we were compelled to expel four. Much annoyance was also caused by a troop of larrikins, probably led by the boys expelled; but Mr. Inspector Mallard, having been informed of the fact, kindly and promptly brought the nuisance to an end. I am sure, from the diligence and earnestness of the pupils, that their appreciation of the evening classes is in no wise abated since last session. I have great pleasure in stating that in addition to the funds set apart for prizes by the Society several gentlemen interested in education have contributed money to be spent in prizes, and valuable books (special prizes.) It is gratifying to me, and I am sure gratifying to you all that so many testify to the interest they have in your progress in such a substantial manner. I have page 13 much pleasure in acknowedging money contributions from Messrs. Hallenstein and Co., Guthrie and Larnach, J. Mackerras and Co., Findlay and Co., Burt Bros., Keith Ramsay, Esq., J. Robin, Esq., and A. R. Livingston, Esq. (Dunedin School Committee,) W. C. Kirkcaldy, Esq., and James Davidson, Esq., also valuable books from James Caffin, Esq., of Wise and Co., D. Petrie, Esq., Inspector of Schools, P. G. Pryde, Esq., Secretary Education Board, T. S. Graham, Esq., William Caldwell Esq., His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin, and I have also to thank Professor Black for his special prize to the Chemistry class. I have also to thank Mr. Lyster for a very large supply of excellent writing paper which he sent me at the beginning of the session, and which proved very useful in the composition and writing lessons. Towards the close of the session several of the masters held a meeting in regard to the annual custom of presenting the master of each class with a testimonial or present at the end of the session. The result of the conference was that an intimation to the pupils to the following effect was drawn up:—"We, the undersigned, beg to make the following intimation to the students attending the Caledonian Society's evening classes—That at the close of each session a practice has hitherto prevailed of presenting the teachers with gifts purchased by the joint contributions of the several classes. While thanking the students for their kindness and liberality, and fully appreciating the motives which influenced them in making the presentations, we respectfully request that the custom—for the practice has grown into a custom—be not followed at the close of this session." This intimation was signed by all the teachers, and read by myself to each class. I may say that I agree entirely with the teachers in this matter. Testimonial nuisance, as it has been designated by some of our newspapers, should certainly be discouraged We have too much of it in this Colony. The work of a teacher who enters heart and soul into it, though laborious, is a pleasure to him, and the harvest which will most gladden his heart is to see the fruit of his labours in the attention of his pupils and in the substantial progress made by them. I am sure I am speaking the minds of the masters when I say that such a reward will be more valued by them than any presentation which could be made to them. In conclusion, I cannot refrain from remarking upon the golden opportunities presented to the young men of Dunedin—opportunities which probably the majority of their fathers might have sighed for in vain. The Caledonian classes have clone much, and will yet do more, and with our School of Arts and University we should ere long have a noble phalanx of young men possessed of solid learning and useful acquirements ready to do good service in this young and rising country.

The Chairman read a communication from the Rev. Dr. Stuart, bearing date the 18th inst., in which that gentleman wrote as follows:—"I regret that a fixed engagement on Friday evening will deprive me of the pleasure of being present at the distribution of prizes. Your excellent Society I regard as an important factor in the educational agencies of this City." The Chairman prefaced his leading of this communication by adverting to the deep interest the Rev. Dr. Stuart had always taken in the classes.

The Chairman said:—You have heard the report, and you will now agree with me that it is both an interesting and exhaustive one. I notice one serious omission, however, in the list of the occupations of those attending the classes. I do not see any member of Parliament in the classification, and I do not know but that some of them even, might have derived page 14 advantage from attending some of the classes. But we have a member of Parliament present, and he is going to make amends for his guild by giving us his opinion of the classes.

Mr. W.D.Stewart. M.H.R., then said: Mr. Chairman, Gentlemen and boys—(loud laughter from the boys)—I have felt very much gratified indeed in listening to the very exhaustive report which you have heard read. Your countenances are beaming with intelligence, and you reflect very great credit indeed on the youth of this town. I am quite sure that those who have attended these classes have done so not through compulsion, but through an earnest desire to fit themselves for future duties in life, and I am quite sure there are amongst you those who will score your marks in the different trades in which you will be engaged. You cannot to highly prize the present, and you will often in future years realise and appreciate the services which this Society is rendering you in fitting you for the duties which you will be called on to discharge. If I were to give you an advice on anything, I should advise you not to allow your studies to come to an end when the doors of the Society's school-room closes upon you. You will I am sure devote your time hereafter in perfecting these studies which you have initiated and carried on under the auspices of this Society. Of course, in a Colony like this every position in life, from that of the humblest boy to the Premier of the Colony, is open to every one of you, and if you choose by diligent application to gain for yourselves a position in society, society will recognise your labours and place you in a position honourable to yourselves and creditable to the Colony. Everyone one of you, no matter how young, may from a laudable ambition attain the very highest position which this free country can proffer any of its inhabitants. Many of you, I have no doubt, look on those who are at present holding prominent positions in public life as occupying positions which are not attainable to you, but I tell you that a large number of those who hold positions in this Colony have risen by their own industry—by their own continuous application—and I am quite sure that these are the men who will render the greatest service to this country. Now this generation is imposing taxes which will hereafter, I think, have to be paid by posterity; and you, and I daresay those who come after you, will probably have to solve the problem of how best to pay the debt the present generation is incurring. Therefore it is desirable you should bring to bear, and all those in similar circumstances to yourselves should bring to bear, in the solution of this difficulty, all the powers which you possess. I do not know I need to refer to anything else beyond proposing a vote of thanks to the Caledonian Society for the noble provisions they are making for those young citizens who are desirous of spending their time not frivolously nor in useless amusements, but so as to fit themselves to properly carry out the duties they have entered on here. One thing has been very gratifying to me. It is that this is not what might be termed a society got up with any limited sectarian or national object, although it is under the auspices of this Caledonian Society. I see from the names which were read, and also from the varied trades which were represented amongst the students here, that the Society is making very liberal provision for all industries and all trades which exist in this City, and therefore everyone has an opportunity, if he pleases, to fit himself for whatever trade or business in which he may be engaged. I think we cannot too highly praise these efforts of the Society. I have some considerable de- page 15 gree of pleasure in being present here this evening, although I did not expect to be asked to say anything. Still, in the absence of Dr. Stuart, who has always taken a very warn interest in the affairs of this Society, and also of this Educational Institute, I have very much pleasure indeed in proposing a vote of thanks to this Society, and hope their labours will be abundantly rewarded in times to come, and that instead of having the number that is present here this evening it will be increased and doubled year by year I have very much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to this Society for the efforts they have made.—(Applause.)

Mr. Livingston seconded the vote of thanks, and in doing so said; I think the Caledonian Society have done admirably during the last seven sessions. They deserve considerable credit for providing us with the New Year's amusements, but I think the best work they do is providing these evening classes for this town.—(Applause.)

The Chairman said that on behalf of the Society he had to acknowledge the vote of thanks proposed by Mr. Stewart, and seconded by Mr. Livingstone. It was not necessary he should put it to them, because they were all of one mind, and had indicated so by their acclamations. Mr. Stewart had made a mistake, however, in saying the Society had no national object in view. They wanted to build up an educated nation here in New Zealand—to make the pupils they had there a creditable section of an educated people.—(Applause.) They had another pleasure to come to—that was the distribution of the prizes. He regretted that they could not give prizes to all who had been diligent and attentive. Some years ago the Society gave free tickets to the Athenæum to all those who attended regularly and who showed, by their application and diligence when in the class-room, that their hearts were really in their work. Such pupils received free tickets for the Athenæum, no matter what place they took in the classes. The object the Society had in view was to encourage diligence and attention on the part of the pupils, and to secure the interests of parents in the work, and he believed that when a pupil secured a prize in the shape of a free ticket to the Athenæum, the parents took care that their boy continued diilgent and regular in his attendance. Unfortunately the want of funds had prevented them from continuing these tickets, but he thought, seeing the good that was done by the classes and that the mechanics' part of the Athenæum was a misnomer, the Society should be entitled to hand in a list of those who had shown diligence and attention, and that these pupils should be entitled to receive free tickets. That would be a very graceful recognition on the part of an institution that had received Government funds, and was supposed to be also a Mechanics' Institute. He hoped the Press would take notice of it, and with a little pressure the Athenæum Committee might open their hearts and authorise the Society to send in a list of those entitled to such prizes for the present year.

The Chairman then proceeded to present the prizes, adverting appropriately to the individual character of them. On presenting one youth with a copy of the works of Shakespeare, he said it was the best book in the English language after the Bible, and the numerous quotations slightly altered in their dress, which were to be found in his writings, indicated that the author himself had been a diligent student of sacred writ. The next book to be presented was a copy of Burns, and the Chairman observed that it formed a fitting sequel to Shakespeare.

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The prizes having been all presented, a work which, from the number of them, consumed some time,

Mr. Keith Ramsay said he had to ask the students present to join him in according a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Ferguson and the other gentlemen who have been associated with him in the conducting of these classes. He must heartily congratulate these gentlemen on the success of their efforts, and the students on the diligence they had shown during the past winter, and the satisfactory results they have attained. He recognised with very much pleasure the young men whom he had seen there year after year, and he thought it did them credit to come there regularly, he believed they would reap much substantial benefit from their attendance at these classes. On behalf of the Society he begged to invite them all back again next year, and on any future year in which the Society may hold classes.

Mr. A Sligo said he had pleasure in seconding the vote of thanks to the teachers. He was highly gratified to find the teachers had so good a report to give of the conduct of their pupils. He believed with Mr. Ramsay that those attending the classes would reap much benefit, that they would be able to make their mark in after life in a way they could not have clone but for their attendance at the classes. He hoped and believed that many of them would fill positions hereafter which they could not have aspired to but for the training they had received at the classes. The teachers had spoken so favourably of their pupils that he had no doubt the pupils were ready to accord their teachers a vote of thanks in an unmistakable manner. The motion was carried by acclamation, the applause been hearty and long continued.

Mr Thomson said he thought the most gracious thing they could do now was to join in a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Kirkcaldy for the manner in which he had discharged the duties of Chairman. He had always shown the warmest sympathy in that Society, and he hoped they would join him (the speaker) in giving the Chairman a hearty vote of thanks on that occasion.—(Applause.)

The Chairman expressed the hope that all those present would practically express their interest in the classes by each bringing another student with him next session. It was not sufficient that they alone should have the benefit to be derived there; for they wanted not only to improve a few, but to benefit the community in general. Mr Thomson took charge of the first chemistry class, and but for him it would not have been started three years ago. He not only, however, took an interest in it, but gave a special prize, entitling the holder to admission to Professor Black's laboratory. The boy who secured it had attended, and had been greatly benefited.

The Chairman then thanked the students for their presence, and the proceedings terminated.