UNDER SOUTHERN SKIES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17116, 23 November 1929, Page 10

UNDER SOUTHERN SKIES

AN EXCHANGE TEACHER RETURN TO CANADA VANCOUVER, October 16. '‘Australians, young and old, have all the faith in the world in Australia. Deaf old Aussie is so wonderful, so splendid, that she can bear any burden placed upon her and rise above it. It is a must wonderful faith and patriotism.” "The New Zealand school child is much more easily disciplined than the Australian, and 1 think the best brained children 1 have found ’ anywhere war, a family of four little New Zealand girls.”

The. above two quotations are from the published impressions of a Canadian exchange teacher, Miss Elizabeth McCaffrey, who lias returned from seven years’ duty in the Commonwealth and tire Dominion.

From her quarters in New Zealand Miss McCaffery could see Ngauruhoc and Ruapehu, where she had a chance to observe both Maori and pakeha children. From there she went to the Islands, where she found the best-inform-ed schoolboy of till her -travels.

“He was a Tongan, and insisted on acting as guide, hut we (there were three of us. an American couple and I) said no. Then (tie small 1 hoy wanted to come as a friend, just to talk English with ns. He attached himself to me. T asked him his name. “ ‘Williams,’ he said, and asked me mine, and where T belonged. When I said ‘Canada,’ he said: ‘-Oh,' the Dominion (if Canada. 'Ottawa is the capital.' Then: ‘Where are they from?' 1. said : ‘The States.’ “ ‘Which State?’ lie asked, and when told lowa, lie said : ‘lt is not as big as Texas, but not so far from Salt Lake City. Have you ever been in SaltLake City?’ “For a while he sang American songs and then asked the American man about safe stocks to buy in New York City. Imagine a small native boy of the South Pacific Islands, and wearing none too many clothes, discussing New York stocks. His general knowledge was surprising, and I asked him what school lie attended. He told rrie the Latter Day Saints School, in Lifuka, in Haapai, and his teacher was a Canadian, born in Southern Alberta !”