THE MAORI GIRLS SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12070, 13 September 1902, Page 3

THE MAORI GIRLS SCHOOL.

PRESENT POSITION OF THE FUND

ARRANGEMENTS FOR A BAZAAR. A public meeting in connection with the bazaar in aid of the Victoria School for Maori Girls whs held in the Municipal Buildings yesterday afternoon. The Mayor of Auckland (Mr. Alfred Kidd) presided, and there were also present: Archdeacon Cakler, Canon MacMurnir, the Rev. W. Dittos, Mr. J. M. Shera. and about 60 ladies. The Mayor opened the prcccedinjjs, by commending the scheme as one which should appeal strongly to the people of Auckland, and stating that Lady R'uifurly Lad recently expressed to him in Wellington her yreat interest in the movement. A full report on the progress of the arrangements for the biikaar was submitted by the Provisional Committee. Lady Raufurly had consented to become patroness, *uid proposed that the ha/.aur be held in Government House. Working parties had been formed in various suburbs, in several guilds, ami schools-, ami it was proposed to hold the bazaar early in 1903. probably just before or just after Lent. The following ladies had undertaken stalls: —Miss Hughes, Miss 15'mnev. Miss Mission?. Mrs. McCosli Clark, Mis. H. Clark, Mrs. Corbet, Mis. Bedford, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Edgcitmbe. the Atom Club, and "the All Saints' Girls' Guild. . The Provisional Committee thought the time had now arrived when the affairs of the bazaar should be placed in the hands of a more representative Committee. The report was adopted. Miss O'Neill was appointed lion, secretary, and Mr. F. E. N. Crombie hon. treasurer. The following committee was then appointed: — Mrs Stone, Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Giliillan, Mrs. Ms.Cosh Clark, Mrs. Dr. Robert.m, Mr?.'. Hunt-. -Mrs, Phillips, Miss McCosh Clark. -Miss Horton, Miss A. Stevenson, Miss I.: Gillies, Miss Ruekland, and Miss Feinvick, with power to add to their number. Archdeacon Calder gave an account of the origin of the scheme for a school for Maori girls. The idea, originated with the natives at Pirongia in April, 1897, who transmitted the proposal to the. late Archdeacon Dudley, to whom was due the credit of inaugurating the movement now coming to' a, .successful issue. Ho related the difficulties the. late Archdeacon Dudley had in getting the movement set on foot, dealing with the frequent applications made to the St. Stephen's Native trust and to the Government, ii-- assistance. In 1890 they goo from the Government an offer to pay a capitation -'rant of £ I .S-*,'>-£2O for all girls in tin' school 1111 to a totai 'o; ''2 & X H- ■ In 1901 the St. Stephen's Native Trust saw , their way to meet the promoters of the" Maori Girls' School. There had been difficulties in the way, but the trust got beyond these difficulties, and grunted the land in Glanville Terrace, Parncll, which was then in' the occupation of the Farnell Orphans' Home, and after negotiations with the Orphans' Home Board they ceded their claim to the lease, and the land was given for the Maori Girls' School, and the foun-dation-stone of the school laid by His Royal Highness the Prince of, Wales on dime 12. 1901. Since, thru plans had been prepared, and up to dale there was £4000 in. band, £1163 was credited to Auckland. The Rev. W. Oiltos gave an account o) the early efforts to teach the Maoris made by the 'missionaries, and speaking of the Maori schools as now existing, said the Maori gins had not been neglected, but (lie difficulty was to keep them long enough to let them derive the full benefit from the schools. They had not the same difficulty with the boys.'but until they got the young men trained to settle down and make comfortable homes for the young women, he was afraid they would not succeed with the Maoris to the' exent they would like. He was in full sympathy with the present movenvuil It to no matter to him what sectiou of the Church took charge, of the school so long as it was for the benefrt of the Miwrtris They must not stop short at secular education, but. give the Maoris religious instruction; and the school must be a training home in domestic duties, in the responsibilities of the young to their parents and friends, and in other matters. lie : would do nil he could to help it. Canon MacMurrav explained the position taken up bv the trustees of the St. Stephen s Native School in the early stages of the movement -when they declined to come forward said'become responsible lor the girls school The trustees felt that it at, that early sta-e'tbey became in any way responsible'for the movement, the result would be that it would be left will) them, and the fund thev had at their disposal would have to be used to maintain two small, weak schools, instead 01 one large strong school. Thev were determined to do nothing to miperil the success of St. Stephens Native School for Boys, and lie thought the result had justified their attitude. The position , at present was that plans and specifications ! he. the Maori. Girls' School were ready and ; tenders would be called nest, week." J hey hoped to find accommodation in the school for 60 -iris, but they proposed to start the school with 30, leaving room tor another wing which would complete the school for :60 '''iris The building should be competed in lime for the operations to be commenced after the midsummer holidays, in i he earlv part, of the movement the late ! S«,i' Dudley and Mrs. Judd were rhe most enthusiastic workers, and in late ,'cars the success of the movement as J ', ..resent sknuls was largely due to \, ; Keith of Napier, and Miss Gillies, oi Par--1 ™& vote of thanks to the speakers and in the Mayor for presiding closed the proceed-