OPEN COLUMN.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4311, 21 March 1901, Page 7

OPEN COLUMN.

QUEEN VICTORIA SCHOOL FOR MAORI GIRLS. “Pakeha” writes:—Referring to the “Times” of the loth, in which two letters appear on tha question of native schools, signed by “Nohorua’’ and Mr Thos. Bevan, sen., Manakau, I am reminded of a French proverb of which a fair rendering is : “It is discussion which sheds light.” or “throws light on to a subject.” One is pleased to note the interest which these two gentlemen take in the Maoris ; that they are levelheaded business men, 100, we can easily recognise. I may. howevjer, assume that “Nohorua” knows some of the difficulties of the Poriru.a Trust, hut not quite all, aud would refer him to the “Statement by the Trustees, and Judgments of the Supreme Court,” obtainable in pamphlet form. Tljg trustees aro doing their best to utilise the fund for educational purpose. At Otaki there has been a school kept up for many years, not on a largo scale certainly, but quite as large as the means at the disposal of the trustees will support. One must recognise the splendid work which has gone on for many years at Te Aute College ; tho Hukaroro Native Girls’ School. Napier; tho Wairengahika Native School, Gisborne ; and St. Stephen’s Native School, Auckland. The education of the young people in these schools has done more to break down the barrier between the two races than anything else that has taken place. I merely point this out before going on to the point which ‘'Nohorua. , emphasises, that “a positive statement by a bishop or an archdeacon in the Church that the funds will be applied promptly to the original purpose intended, and will not in any case be diverted or hung up indefinitely, etc.” Surely the fact of an arcndeacon being by far the largest contributor to the fund for the school in question should bo sufficient guarantee that the funds will not be allowed to remain idle. If “Nohorua” will kindly refer again to the circulars issued, he will notice that “a start was made to found such a school in Auckland a few years ago in: commemoration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and known as tho Queen Victoria School for Maori Girls. Since, however, the whole corns xnunity owes a debt to the Maori race, it is now proposed to take up this as a colonial rather than a local scheme, and place it upon a satisfactory basis by endeavouring to raise a sum of, say, £lO,000.” So that there is a definite object to which the funds can be applied at once- The Maoris themselves aro doing their part, should we not do ours? Hie people of New Zealand are proverbially generous; they live in a generous country under a generous climate; and I feel .sure that as the claims of tho scheme become more widely known they will do their level host to secure this memorial to our Into beloved Queen in that it would carry out an object always dear to her heart, viz.; the benefiting of the women of tho native races over which she ruled. i enclose a cheque for £5, and ask you to hand this to the treasurer of the Wellington fund, Mrs Wallis, ißjshopscclurt, trusting “Nohorua” and your correspondent from Manakau and others will see their way clear to do. what they can.