NATIVE SCHOOL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9915, 2 August 1910, Page 1

NATIVE SCHOOL.

A MAORI COMPLAINT. The Native school at Tuahiwi, which wajs destroyed by fire in August last year, has been replaced by ;». new building, tho main part of which, divided into two lofty and well-finished rooms, covers a ground spaco of about 30ft by 40ft. There is also a largo porch, which can be used as a class-room, and the building gives ample accommodation for the pupils, the roll number at present being fiftv-four. The building was erected by the Education Board, and.the school has now come under the control of the Board. The formal opening of the new building took place yesterday afternoon, in the presence of a fairly numerous gathering of the Natives, though a number were prevented from attending by sickness in. the village. There were also many Europeans present, including Messrs H. Langford and K. Boyd, representing the Education Board.

Mr Langford, who was introduced by Lieutenant-Colonel Cossgrove,' master of the school, said that it gave him pleasure to be present to open the school. For a year the teachers had carried on their work in the village hall under difficulties. Expenditure on the education of the Maori youth was .money well spent, and it was pleasing to find that the Maoris themselves were taking an interest in education. Ho hoped that the opening- of the school would begin a new era in the history of education in Tuahiwi, and that_ the parents would show their appteciation. of the advantages afforded : their children by sending them regularly to school to receive an education that would make them a-n honour to their race and to the Einpiro to which they belonged. Mr H. Boyd said that tho year had been one. of retrenchment, 'and the Board had not been in a position, to erect as large a. building as it had wished. The Department had suggested that the village could do without the school and the children could be sent to Woodend, but the Board knew this would mean irregular attendance, and would be a calamity to the Natives, consequently it had strongly opposedthe proposal. In Mr Cossg'rove they had a capable and enthusiastic teacher, and he trusted the children-would attend regularlyto receive the full benefit of the educational facilities offered. Mr J. H. Blackwell (.Mayor of Kaiapoi) and Mr R. Moore also offered congratulations on the opening oP the school, and expressed the interest taken by tho people of Ivaiapoi in the welfare of the Maoris of Tuahiwi. Tho Rev C. A. Fraer. vicar of the Native parish, speaking for the Maoris, said the Europeans had but done their duty in erecting tho school, and the duty had been done but char'ilv. Whilst they appreciated the work of' the Native Department, and in the direction of the education of the Maoris, 'thoy still felt they were not being treated as well as they ought to be. 'They' felt that they were somewhat out of touoh with the Europeans. They were qniie prepared to admit the truth of previous speakers' statements that they were a very fine race, and to prove themselves to be so, but they could not forget that the Europeans had taken their land) and their means of subsistence and had not taken the Natives by the hand as j they should have. done. It must be always remembered that they were not a ' conquered people, but had. ceded: their lands for the 'general benefit of the Europeans, and they felt that those i whom they had benefited, the rank and j hie of the people, should treat them better.; He sincerely hoped that the Education Board would do something for them.in tho fray of technical education to fit them to work side by r,ide with the Europeans. They had land, but they were compelled to gain their'agricultural education from their tenants and neighbours. Considering the disabilities they had. laboured under, ho thought they had not done badly as a people. What they wanted was an education that .would make men and women of them, and they could not get this without religious teaching in the schools.

Mr J.aitu Bape said ]io wished to say a few words in the of tho jiew school for them bv the education Board. In the year 1848 all their land was sold to tho Crown, and it was tho promise of the Government that the Maoris should havo a school of their own. They had their sohool, which they looked after themselves, but from that day the school had been taken away from them and made one under tho control of the Education Board. They held that by this being done the promise made to them was broken, and both their land and their school had gone from them, and they did not know their position. Mr Parati, on behalf of the School Committee, thanked the Education Board for erecting the school. Lieutenant-Colonel Gossgrovo eaid that he had received letters from members of the Ministry expressing regret at.being unable to be present and sympathy with tho work of education amongst tho Natives. He thanked those who had attended and helped towards the success of the opeuing function, and complimented Mr Clark, the contractor for the building-, on the excellent job he had made.

Mr Langforci then declared tho school open, and the interior of the building was inspected by those present.

The visitors were- afterwards entertained at afternoon tea by Mrs Cossgrove.

During the proceedings a recitation was given very nicely by Harcata Nihoniho, one of the little girl pupils.