MAORI GIRLS’ COLLEGE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24960, 22 August 1946, Page 6

MAORI GIRLS’ COLLEGE

DEDICATORY TREE-PLANTING At the Te Wai Pounamu Maori Girls’ College yesterday a tree-planting ceremony was held in honour of the late Second-Lieutenant Ngarimu, V.C. An audience of almost 60 people had the pleasure of witnessing and listening to the lyrics of a bracket of action songs which were written for the Ngarimu celebrations at Ruatoria last year, the pupils singing without musical accompaniment. The National Anthem was sung in Maori. Four rimu trees were planted on the verge of the. playing field at the cob lege in memory of the gallant Maori officer after whom the field was named, Moana Nui a Kiwa Ngarimu, and each tree will be in the custody of one of the “houses” of the school, whose duty it will be to tend the young trees, thus literally keeping green the memory of Ngarimu. Trees were planted by Archbishop West-Watson, the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews), the president of the Old Girls’ Association (Mrs Baker), and the head prefect (Miss Marama Leonard) . * , . Canon G. Nelham Watson, the chairman of the college council, welcomed the guests and visitors, and the honorary registrar of the college council, Mr John Stewart, read the official citation describing the circumstances which culminated in the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Second-Lieu-tenant Ngarimu. The Archbishop declared the field open. The inaugural ceremony took place two years ago, when the Hon. E. T. Tirikatene, member of the Executive Council representing the native race, performed the naming rites. The field was then called Te Mara Whakapapa Ngarimu, meaning the Ngarimu playing field. _________________