Papawai Native School.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1735, 18 September 1885, Page 2

Papawai Native School.

DISTRIBUTION OP PHIZES,

Theta ’vas a pk-asmit giiUiiTon; "I jhddren at the native school at I’iipawai. i our Greytown, yesterday afternoon, whoa the prizes, awarded from a rertain sum ot money apportioned to this school by thu Government were distributed to the chilnrcu by Mr W. C, Nation. Several natives of both sexes were present and the table was laden with shirty socks, neckties, hats, diess pieces, calico, &e ( &c. It is one ui the stipulations of \j ja Government that the gifts to the clip j rf . n attending native schools shall take thus ( o)nj ; sevenal of them were of the value ol t ,u rt ; the others about ss. Tho appearw , 0 ~( the children was clean and neat, at*', there was marked intelligence displayed i r , mfU , v features. The native oommittaa was present and took considerable inlet#' rf t in the proceedings Mr Curtis, tho teutbv,, uitioduccd Mr Nation, and that grnO tman for a while looked like a salesman in a soft goods store as be dealt out the \v z ( , 3 to those who had earned them. In r.Jdtcssmg the rhildrrn (Mr llobett Maruhf ia interpreting) he spoke upon the ni eesaity of their using their in ads quite as much v, their hands. He pointed out in a simple way how some worked with their brains, v, idle many toiled with the spade or the axe. It was by the exercise of their brains ths.t they would save their hands much UKur when they grow up to he men and women ; they would find thni knowledge was power, enabling them to overcome many diflj'culties that mere physical force could not accomplish. Ho urged upon tho children not to neglect their lessons, but to strive and bring credit upon themselves, tbcii: people and their teachers. He hojied they would prepare for the examination whici. was close at hand, when he hoped the good report of the past would be repeated. As the children received the prizes they cheered the recipients, even the absent ones, and then cbcciud for the Committee, Mr and Mrs Curtis, and Mr Nation. Mr John Manihern thanked Mr Nation for Ins words to the children ; be was glad ho had said such words, and he hoped the children would stick to their books, not so much for the prizes as lor useful knowledge in the Jays before them. Mr John Jury said it would not be long before the new school and teacher’s house would be erected; when they were ready there would be several children sent up from the Lower Valley and tho Coast for instruction. Mr Nation asked when the last examination took place and upon referring to the book it was found te be in October last, by Mr Pope. The visit of Mr Hislop recently was not in connection with any examination, but merely to select a place for the new school. In conclusion, Mr Nation expressed a hope that when the prizes were awarded the next time it would be in the new building, and that there should be somewhat of an entertainment for the children and more Europeans present. Tho company then dispersed, the children going in (or a scramble of nuts and lollies upon the given. —,