Page 5 Advertisements Column 2

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 747, 11 June 1853, Page 5 (Supplement)

weather-boarded house. It is divided into three apartments. The centre is used as a school-room, and is 29ft., 6in., by 19ft., sin.; the two wings as a dining-room and dormitory respectively, each "28ft., 6in , by 16ft., Gin. So far as the present accommodation goes, it is quite complete ; but a wash-house and a cook-house are still required. (See the plan and view.) This School is situated in a very beautiful part of the Waikato River, where it passes through a gorge "in a range of hills. The site is healthy, being placed on a slightly elevated of dry gravelly soil, and is surrounded by a numerous native population., The number of scholars in the institution in October, 1552, was as follows: Adults 13 Boys 13 Girls 47 The average number of scholars in former years was In ISSO 40 1851 50 The dwelling-house and land belong to the Church Missionary Society. The whole burden of the tuition of the children, and of the general superintendence of the school, have, until very lat-ly, been borne by the resident missionary, the Rev. 13. Y. Ashwell, and his wife. The Government Grant to this school was, in 1850, £100; in 1851, £100; in 1852 £75. A further sum of £IOO has recently been granted towards the liquidation of a debt incuired on account of the school. Labour supplied by members of the institution up to October, 1852, is estimated at £B7. Private donations have amounted to £56. Contributions of food from the parents of the children are valued at £ls. The chiefs of one of the neighbouring tribts (Ngatiwhauroa) have recently appropriated about 100 acres of land, situated about two miles from Taupiri, towards the endowment of the present Girls' School, and of a separate School for Boys, to be placed upon the land itself. A matron has been engaged lately, at a salary of £3O a-vear and her board. The yearly cost of each pupil is about £4 ss. Although a large addition has been made to the building, yet a cook-house and washhouse are still required, and more space as dormitories. The boys, according to th*ir strength, are employed in the out-dooi work of the establishment. The girls are trained in the usual household works of the school and the mission family,—washing and getting up linen, &c., &c ~and are instructed in sewing and knitting. They have also made some door-mats of native flax, which are intended for sale in aid of the school. Some of these mats are in very neat patterns : the fibre of the flax is left in some parts in its natural state, whilst other parts are died either a rich brown, produced by the bark of the Tanikaha, or a black, fr>m the Hinau. For young children newly brought from the native villages, the work-room is itself a school of the best kind—a school of good habits, of order, diligence, and obedience. The knowledge of the children as to religion is very sound, and, considering their ages, very extensive. The older children read the Scriptures in English with great accuracy, and understand the meaning of what they read. They appeared familiar with ordinary words and phrases, and were able to follow short and simple sentences. The younger ones had been well practiced in the more complex English sounds. The older children write remarkably well. The older children know the multiplication table and the pence table very correctly; also the elementary rules of arithmetic, both as applied to simple numbers and to money. The children are generally well acquainted not only with the natural and artificial divisions of the earth, as set forth on our maps and globes, hut also with the productions of the various parts, and the differences of climate, &c. This has been made a prominent branch of instruction, and much general information has been connected with it. They sing remarkably well in parts, and