NEW COLLEGE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10054, 15 February 1927, Page 2

NEW COLLEGE.

CHRISTIAN BROS., -OAMARU.. Sheltered from the westerly winds by a range of rounded hills, nestling in a* cosy forest of long-aged trees, with an eastern aspect to the rising sun, in sight of the ocean and separated .from the main road by a wandering avenue of half a mile through rows of , eucalyptus, “Redeastle,” Oamaru, {is, ah icSeal site for the new hoarding school which was \opened by the Christian Brothers recently. The property is part of the McLean estate which, seventy years ago, extended from the outskirts of Oamaru up to and across the , Waitald River. Successive sales of large sections of the estate to the Government reduced the property to the present day dimensions of one thousand acres. The original homestead was a large one-storied house with thatched roof. The better known of the two brothers, “Jock” M’Loan, had a nice taste and an eye to beauty, and he kept a gardener of fame, Mick Moloney, under whose fostering care there grew up around the home that artistic interweaving of holly and ivy, old-world and native trees-, shrubs, and plants that give such an ideal setting to the present stately mansion. Jock M’Lean visited the Old Country and died there. The property passed into the possession of a. sisterV son, 8L John Buckley. The old homestead got burnt to the,. ground, and was replaced by the present splendid pile which since its erection has borne the name ,of “Redeastle.” The bias of its owner for well-bred horses and racing was evidenced by the magnificent suite of stables erect ed on the estate. These are included in the purchase which the Christian Brothers have made for their new boarding-school, The choice that the authorities have made for guiding the destinies of the new college is a particularly good one. The appointment of Brother Magee is highly acceptable and gratifying to the Catholic community. Brother Magee was a teacher for over eight years in Dunedin and was head of the school for a period. Sinde ' then he has been in charge successively = of throe boardingschools in as many States of the Commonwealth. Early in the year just past he represented the Institute of the Christian Brothers at the grand Jubilee celebrations in Dunedin. His administrative experience, high culture, line educational outlook, broad sympathies, and buoyant .nature are a splendid endowment for his new responsibility. The new college is setting oitt from the first to put itself in line with the standards that obtain in the best public schools. .Boys will be prepared for all the public examinations up to and including University Scholarship . Science laboratories are now being equipped, the principles of Commerce and Technical Training’-as wcdl a'Agricultural Science maud Wool Classing have a place in the scheme of education'. Specialisation is not encouraged until a boy has reached a. good general education; at the same time a particular vocational bias 'will receive prudent encourage ment. Religions and moral train, ign, are, of course, of the very fibre of the daily life of the school.