TIGERKLOOF.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16283, 10 July 1917, Page 5

TIGERKLOOF.

NOTABLE r.. ' SPREADING <JI VILIS ATION S. The Rev. "W. C. Wiliougliby, o3 the London Missionary una .x'resicient- of the Tigerkloof in Soutn Africa, who, aceomp'anieci By -liis jviie, is now visiting: New gave an interesting address in., tne Congregational (Jniucn last liigiit,oa tne mission work at Xigerkloo., Matabeleland. There was a good attendance, and the Rev. W. S. Ferine presided and briefly introduced the visitor. Mr Willoughby spent thirty-five years in riouth and Central Africa, and in 1883 he was' deputed by King Mirambo to approach the British Government to take over his territory, so that it would not be seized by Germany or any other nation having possessions in the .vicinity.

In his address, Mr Wiiloughby /said that since Tigerkloof was started,about thirteen years ago, they had gathered round " ; theiu SOOO 11 a'fcive members of. the Church, and these were spread throughout 200 clmrclies. They liad", 500 schools and they had found that tiie only way to run them success--' fully was to get certificated natives to do thr-teaching. They had a special class teachers, who after a three-years' course received certificates, and the trained teachers were doing spendid work in the native schools. When they preached it wis to tell the natives to'live a tiigh moral life, but they could not do so living in their round houses, about 14 diameter. They could not Cuild other houses for themselves and Svhiie labour, at the rate of 35s per ilay, could not- be employed, so it Was thought best to erect an institution where the natives could be taught Sifferent trades. They started Tigerkloof about thirteen years ago, and it then consisted of two old beQl tenta, and . a marquee. Now it was one of. the best equipped villages in South Africa, tvorth £70,000, and known throughout the south of the continent. Tiie Institution commenced with teaching carpentry and masonry. The instructors put their hearts into their work, and taught with great success. In their schools English only was spoken, and

the natives soon came to bo able to speak Jiingiisu fluently. i''or. three years tuey nad passed every' papa tmougli tne Government examinations. -Wvery. inmate of tiie ' institution was given a uniform, simple," neat, and serviceable, to replace their own apparel, which they were accustomed to wear till it dropped *off, and in two months the wearer of ■ the uniform ■could hardly .be recognised as the ■slouchy figure that had donned it at jthe start. The' uniforms' were now made at the institution. They had a" motto which said that "Tigerkloof could make everything "that Tigerkloof needed." Th^y-had a post office and had even started to erect a printing and a bookbinding establishment, but ' the war came and these had to come .to. a ,standstill. They also taught office ivrork and"bad "turned out niany excellent office boys. There were also .establishments for the. girls and women and all were in good running order,. The local cihiefs, sensual to the last degree, were au obstacle, but as their sons were being taiight at .the mission ;he hoped the next, generation of chiefs would be different. The native has a wonderful memory, but. no forethought ■or tliinking power, and these faculties ihad to be cultivated. The cost tVS the institution was borne not by missionary -funds but by fees and subsidies from the Imperial and Cape Governments. Tne institution was known throughout, the whole of South Africa. One thing they insisted upon was discipline. The dormitories each contained eleven beds, and these must always be kept in "apple-pie order." There was a great sense of "esprit de corps" in the institution, and obedience, discipline, and punctuality were enforced. They had all types of sports and pastimes, and they had societies of all kinds. Visitors from all parts of the world visited Tigerkloof, and were well pleased with their inspection. The value of the sciiool'ng •was emphasise'-' 1 in Mr Willnughby's statement, "T 2 the Gospel is to be preached w<th success, it must be r-reached to the people by the people.".