THE EDUCATION OF THE MAORI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11685, 21 June 1901, Page 6

THE EDUCATION OF THE MAORI.

A corhesi'ONDENT, ' A Native. contributes the following interesting narrative as to \vhs.i has been done by the Anglican and WesJeyan Churches in the past towards the education of the Maori youth of both sexes : — To hear the outcry about a school for Maori girls one would think that the denominations to whom the education os the Maori youth of both sexes his been largely committed had but just now woke up to the importance of the question. The facts, historically, are dead against such an assump-

,; >..-.. mi- ■-:<:'..: were h.tt established in this country by the Rev. Samuel Marsden, the great importance o: education was recognised and schools were accordingly organised, every mission station having a number of Maori girls, received as boarders. These girls were, in very many cases, the daughters of chiefs, and were not treated as menials, though clothed, boarded, and educated at the expense of the mission, and were trained in all branches of useful knowledge of household duties, making and washing their own clothes, reading and writing their own language, singing, and propriety in deportment. Some of these git's attained to considerable efficiency, tinder the careful training they received in these schools. The Maori boys were located in separate buildings on the stations, and received instruction in reading, writing, and all branches of useful work, now known as "technical education.' - When the mission printing presses were started some of these lads assisted in the work, and gave valuable help in printing books for their own use. When the Wesleyan Mission was commenced in Hokianga the same plan was carried cut, and as far back as 1830 we read diaries in which allusion is often made to the conduct and- progress of the girls, and too often of their

'• running away," which constantly occurred '.ben discipline was attempted and any inducement presented itself, such as a tar.gi or Maori feast: in short, no excuse was too trivial for their absconding with wardrobe and other articles of value they could carry with them. The great impatience of the girls, in which they were supported by their parents, made the task of moulding their characters into any civilised form a most difficult one, the mission families being totally at the mercy of the relatives and friends, who were continually on the watch for causes of grievance. The fact is very evident to those now attempting to teach the younger Maori females that those schools did good work in cultivating a taste for English refinement and an anxiety to attain for their daughters the advantages they once did not fully appreciate. It has been a long waiting, but it seems as if the harvesttime is coming at hist, and that, in the third generation from the first schools in New Zealand, great credit is due to the old-mis-sionaries of the Anglican Church for their untiring zeal in educating the Maori youth of both sexes. For many years Mr. (now Judge) and Mrs. E. Williams had the largest girls' school ir the North Island under their care, and in that work many of the best years of their life were spent. This school was dispersed by the war known as Heke's war. Archdeacon Kissling had also a school for Maori girls at Paruell, and it is still in the memory of many how the Rev. Alexander Reid and Mrs. Reid had some 150 Maori children —and in some cases their parents also— their care. In some hearts the memory of good Mrs. Reid is still green. This school was also dispersed by the Waikato war. and on being reopened was only available for Maori boys, accommodation for girls not being sufficient. We need not refer to the efforts of the Williams family in the cause of Maori education. Their names are a household word, both on the North and East Coast, and the efforts of the Misses Williams in the Hukurere school are too well known to need more than a well-merited share of praise. Bishop Hadfield's house was a school for Maoris, Mrs. Hadfield (nee Williams) having been trained from her early girlhood to look on the Maori girls as her first care. Mrs. Schnackenberg. of the Wesleyan Mission, can tell of long service in the cause of Maori education, and in the Kaipara district all the girls have had the advantages offered to them by a residence in the mission families, where they were educated " in all things necessary for life and godliness." The Hasanrd family are well known as friends and educators of Maori youth, and that with considerable success.' Knowing facts, as I certainly do, the present outcry of tiie public re schools for Maori fir's is in a great measure the result of very superficial knowledge of the merits of the case/ I hail the dawning of brighter days, and now that the general public have been aroused to interest and action, say, "Cod bless the Victoria School for Maori Girls at Parnell."