ISLAND LABOUR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2481, 25 March 1893, Page 3

ISLAND LABOUR.

Sydney, March 23. The Presbyterian has published an account of an interview with Mr R. L. Stevenson, the novelist, on the subject of the labour traffic in the South Sea Islands. Mr Stevenson says that there is the greatest difficulty in being satisfied with any supervision of the traffic by the Queensland Government, owing to the multiplicity of languages among the various islands rendering it impossible for the agent to discover whether the natives go to Queensland at their own free will. As a matter of fact many of them consent to go in order to save their lives from enemies, and as to the question of returning, many of them, Mr Stevenson says, are as often as not sent to a wrong place, which may mean death to them. It is a common trick when an agent wishes the labour which he has on board to re-volunteer for work in Queensland, to bring the vessel opposite an enemy’s bay, and tell the natives that they are to lauded there. There are, however, alleviating circumstances iu the case of the Gilbert Islands, where the atoles are so desolate that the people are in danger of perishing of famine. Queensland requires temporary labour, and these islands supply its wants, and at the same time relieve their own distress. Yet probably he had never seen anywhere in the world anything so hideous as the labour traffic. He believed that to-day undisguised kidnapping was practised at the islands. He was ignorant of the New Hebrides, but from what he knew of other islands, he believed that any race was best civilised in situ.

ORARI BRIDGE SCHOOL. inspector’s report. The inspector’s report on the Orari Bridge School is as under : Standard Vl.—Presented 5, passed 3 ; Standard V.—Presented 7, passed 3, excepted 1; Standard Hl.—Presented 5, passed 6; Standard 11. Presented 9, passed 8, absent 1; Standard I.—Presented 8, passed 8 ; Total—Presented 42, failures 5, passes 27 ; Percentage of passes 64 ; Percentage of failures 15 ; Percentage on class subjects 69 ; Additional marks 44 ; Class P.—The preparatory pupils are carefully taught, and their progress is quite satisfactory. The school has passed a very good examination; the order, attendance, and manners are very good, Jas. Gibson Gow, M.A., Inspector, THE SCHOOL TREAT.

The annual school treat was held on Thursday, when there was a numerous attendance of children, parents, and friends. All maimer of races and games were kept going during the day, and the children were treated to a bountiful spread of J. William’s & Son’s confectionery. Mr W. Palmer kindly supplied toys as prizes for racing, for which the Committee and children were very grateful. The Committee and schoolmaster did their best during the day to make the treat as enjoyable as possible, and in this they succeeded. Shortly before five o’clock all present were assembled for the prize distribution. Mr W. Hewson handed out-the prizes, which were given on the merits of the Inspector’s report. The Committee expended about £5 in books, and the prizes in consequence were as good as any we have seen at any public school. Subjoined is the list of prize-takers Ist Standard —Charles Taylor and Martha Gould (equal), 1 j Michael Scully, Bessie Wharton, Hannah. O’Connor and Marian Markham (equal), 2. 2nd Standard—Charles Sohmedea and David McDonald (equal), 1 ; Jessie McLean, Clara Smith, John O’Connor and Robt. Hewson (equal), 2. 3rd Standard —Win. Wharton and Wm. Hewson (equal), 1; Pat O’Connor and Alex. McDonald (equal), 2. sth Standard Mary Lawlor 1 ; Caroline Hewson 2; Agnes McDouald 3. 6th Standard —Mary Wharton I; Norah Lawlor 2 ; Henry Hewson 3.

Good Attendance Prizes—W, Hewson 1; David McDonald 2 ; Clara Smith 3, Besides those who had gained the standard prices, each scholar received a prize.