RICHMOND FREE KINDERGARTENS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8181, 24 July 1912, Page 11

RICHMOND FREE KINDERGARTENS

There was a large attendance of ladies at the meeting, held at Lady Islington’s desire, at Government House, yesterday afternoon, to make arrangements for the forthcoming fancy dress ball in aid of the Richmond Free Kindergartens. Her Excellency presided. Before proceeding to the subject in hand Mrs Gill moved, and Mrs T. G. Macarthy seconded, a resolution of sympathy with Miss Richmond in the loss she had recently sustained, and regret at her absence. Mrs Darling, hon. secretary of the central committee for the ball, gave a resume of the work already done. In a short speech her Excellency touched on tho inhospitably of the weather, which, however, emphasised the keen interest felt in the project as evidenced by the capital attendance. It was to be regretted that, with so many calls on the public purse, the necessary funds to carry on so excellent a work—one in which she took the greatest interest —could only be raised by asking, and the medicine of giving must be wrapped in the jam of getting. Site hoped to make herself more intimately acquainted with the free kindergartens here, but knew the principles of kindergarten teaching were to inculcate habits of gentleness and courtesy, and develop powers of observation. Personally, Lady Islington considered this last, Halt was developed much earlier than most people realised, in support of which an incident from the life of Edmund Gosse was quoted. A somewhat backward child, he did not speak until he was three years old, but in’Sfter years told his parents of a certain childish memory he had of seeing a dog steal a leg of mutton from the table and jump through a window .with it. Such an incident had occurred, it seemed, when I Gosse was not more than two years old, | though hitherto the fate of the missing | meat had remained a mystery. Seeing, then, that observation and memory building began so early. Lady Islington felt that in this young country, where so much had been done to destroy beautj, much must also be done to build it. These free kindergartens, she understood, received from Government capitation allowance on attendance, which averaged <£2oo per annum. This left the council to find the sum of XUSO in order to keep the schools efficiently equipped; hence the necessary appeal to the public. At the close of the speech, which was marked throughout with great sympathy, as well as practical acquaintance with details, the matter of tickets, etc., was discussed, and it was resolved that children’s tickets be 2s, spectators’ 7s 6d each for the' two front rows of choir stalls. As for those behind, two front rows in gallery ss, remainder Is. Mrs T. G. Macarthy was elected head of tho supper committee. Mrs Lindsay cloak room committee, Mrs Dali musical committee.

The following prizes were promised:— Best girl’s fancy dress. Lady Islington; best decorated table and best boy's fancydress, Mrs T. G. Macarthy; prettiest set

lancers, Mrs Coben; best fancy dancing. Mrs Fuller, Mrs Abe Levy and Mrs Franl Grady. Mrs C. H. Richardson was elected hoc, treasurer.

A welcome adjournment for afternoor tea was afterwards made to the sinal! drawingroom before leaving.