MAORI COLLEGE CLOSED

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1932, Page 9

MAORI COLLEGE CLOSED

HAWKE’S BAY INSTITUTION. MORMONS HOLD AUCTION SALE. Hastings, Jan. 9. . The auctioning of the Maori Agricultural College near Hastings on Friday brought to a close eighteen _ years •of notable service in the education of young men of the Maori race. .lhe college was established in 1912 by the Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church), and the closing scene in its history was the holding of an auction sale of the plant and implements formerly used on the 260 acres of farm, and the furnishings of the college building. The college was the only Mormon college in this country, and will not be replaced. The Mormon Mission in New Zealand, which has about fifty missionaries, mostly Maoris, will still be maintained, and will continue the 53 years of proselytising that it has already completed. The college buildings were extensively damaged by the earthquake, and have not since been repaired, lhe fact, combined with the falling off in the attendance of the school, which in recent years has decreased from abou*. 130 students to 32, has persuaded the headquarters of the church to cease its educative activities in this country. The main wing of the building will be demolished, but the very fine chapel has been given to the Maoris of Bridge Pa, where the college is situated, for the purposes of a Mormon church. A hall formerly used as one of the school buildings has been given to the Maoris of Te Hauke, near Bridge Pa, for whatever uses they may care to make of it. The farm lias been leased to Mr. IV. J. Gimblett, a well-known sheep-breeder living in the neighbourhood. Interviewed by a Press reporter this morning, the acting-principal, Mr. A. G. Andrus, said that the origin of the college lay in the fact that the Latter Day°Saints’ Mission had always been interested in the education of the Maori, and wished to give its assistance. When the mission became established in New Zealand 53 years ago its members felt that they should first of all attempt to improve the moral and spiritual outlook of the Maori people, and secondly promote their material welfare. In time the Mormon Church attracted so numerous a following that it began to look about for the site for -a college at which religious and agricultural teaching for young Maori men should be combined. Hastings was chosen as being especially suitable, and the college was soon teaching a roll-number of 125 students. That number was maintained for a number of years, and the college educated, about a thousand or more Maoris during its existence. With the rising interest in the Maori, however, and with the increased provision for his education, the voumr men who would otherwise have gone “to the Maori Agricultural College drifted off to other schools, and the purposes for which the college was established were ultimately provided for in the Maori schools and colleges established elsewhere. . “Contrary to what I know is the general belief among the public.” said Mr. Andrus, “our aim was not to imnose oui religion upon -the boys who came to tne college. We felt that there was a call to educate the Maori, and we wis hed to help in whatever way possible, .lhe college prospectus laid it down .that the college was open to the Maori and to all boys of the Pacific Islands, no matter what their religion might be. The only religion that was specified in the college curriculum was the teaching, of,, the original message of Jesus Christ. Most members of the staff have returned to the United States, and those remaining will follow later. Mr. Andrus, who will remain for about- an-, other year, expressed the opinion that the work of the college had been of lasting good, and had done much to promote the welfare of the Maori. Amon*’’ several distinguished footballers produced by tHe college are George Nevin and Luis Paewae (All Blacks), and Falwasser, Sam Gemmell, Neera and Willie Shortland (Maori All Blacks). The college has twice won Hawke s Bav championships at local shows with bul s bred on its own farm.