GOLDEN JUBILEE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 11

GOLDEN JUBILEE.

MAHIST BROTHERS.

TEACHING IN FIJI.

NOW OVER THOUSAND PUPILS

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA, August 20. The fiftieth anniversary of the landing of the first band of teaching Marist Brothers in the colony was celebrated on August 27. They opened their first school in Suva a fortnight after their arrival, when 17 pupils were enrolled. 111 1012 the first portion of the present

>t. relix College was commenced, am 11 192(5 the throe-storey concrete build ng was added. A second foundation was made a awaci. Ovalaii, in 189-}. with an openin; oil of 12 pupils, which has now increase! o 270. The Mission School at Xaililil vas opened in 1599, and now has a rol >f 170. The Marist Brothers are among tli jioneers of education for Indian boys ;he first school having been opened i 1897. This was the forerunner of th iresent St. Columha's Claudius Memoria School, with a roll number exceedin >00. To-day there are 17 Marist Brother n Fiji conducting schools where ove 1000 pupils arc receiving instruction. One of the three original pioneers Brother Alphonsus. is still activel mgaged in the work of which he helpe :o lay the foundations 50 years ago, an is at present director of the Missio School at Xaililili.