KURAHUNA SCHOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22860, 15 October 1937, Page 3

KURAHUNA SCHOOL

WORK FOE MAORI GIRLS LONG LIST OF APPLICANTS REPORT TO MISSIONARY UNION have a long waiting list of applicants and only wish we had another similar school to place them in," said Miss E. Rishworth, expresident of the committee of the Kurahuna School for Maori Girls, when presenting the seventh annual report at the Methodist Women's Missionary Union conference yesterday afternoon. The influence of the Kurahuna school was far-reaching, and the girls passing through it were its best advertisement, stated Miss Rishworth. This was shown by the large number of applications for admission. Ex-pupils had carried what they had learned at Kurahuna into their home circles, and there were building up a hew way of living. Miss Rishworth pointed out how aimless a life many Maori girls had, their only diversions being dances and the pictures, with little to occupy them during the day-time. The interests which they acquired at Kurahuna were most worth while. About three or four hours a day were given to scholastic studies, and this year the girls had learnt home nursing instead of attending first aid lectures, continued Miss Rishworth.

Farm work and gardening took a considerable time, also the usual household ' duties, including laundry work and cooking, which were done in turns. At the first aid examination, all the Kurahuna entrants) had passed, one receiving full marks. Miss Rish worth added that there had been many and varied gifts from friends, without whose help the financial position would have been much less satisfactory. Most pupils had paid their fees, one mostly in kunieras. Another had a sister who was aia expupil, and now working, who paid regularly for her. It. was gratifying to find Maori families, some of whom were very poor, attempting to make return in. this way. During the year it had been necessary to make sundry alterations to the building, and for these £llO was donated, mostly by Auckland sympathisers. The balance-sheet showed a satisfactory position. In the evening a public missionary meeting was held, at which the speakers were Sister Elizabeth Commons, Sister Olive Bott and the Rev. A. H. Scriven. The Rev. IS. T. Olds was in the chair.