MAORI MISSION COMMITTEE.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 142, 14 December 1906, Page 4

MAORI MISSION COMMITTEE.

The Presbytery of Wanganui met as Maori Mission Committee for the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand at Turakina yesterday afternoon. The Rev. R. Ryburn read the report of the executive, which was approved. £52 has been spent on tbe manse at Taupo, and £85 more was passed for the purchase of ' timber. A little over £3 had been spent on a holiday for the girls of the Turakina school. The convener was granted leave to issue a circular appealing to the Girls' Bible Classes to do systematic work for the Maori Girls* School. It was agreed the ministers in Und near Wanganui be the executive. A sum of £3 8s was passed for payment, this having been spent on prnzes for the girls. Mr Mears has gone to Taumaranui as assistant to Mr Ward. The Rev. G. Budd was appointed secretary for the Maori Mission Birthday League; and the same gentleman, and the elder from Feildmg, were appointed Visiting Committee for February. The committee then attended the annual prize-giving demonstration in connection with the school. Twentyfour girls have been in residence during the year, and the reports were of the most Satisfactory kind. - Mr McCully, who had examined the girls in scriptural knowledge, expressed his pleasure at the marked improvement evidenced by the result. Mr Bird, who had examined the school as Government Inspector, reported a distinct advance m the scholars. Prizes were given for cooking, sewing, housework, washing and outside work, i.e., milking and gardening. Gold medals were given for all-round progress, and several prizes for class work were allotted. The bearing of the girls showed signs of the training m physical culture and deportment that they receive, while their conduct left nothing to be desired. A peep at the school gardens showed that both in flower and vegetable culture, good work had been done. The inspector, on his recent visit, had .been treated to green peas and new potatoes out of the vegetable patch. Mr Downes, a native representative on the committee, gave a short address to the Europeans, in which he j expressed the appreciation of the natives of the work being done, and then addressed his countrymen in their own tongue. The girls gave three hearty cheers for their teachers, Mr and Mts Hamilton, after which afternoon tea was served ijp the company, and a very pleasant and interesting function was ended.