Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1885. Native Boarding School.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1775, 23 December 1885, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1885. Native Boarding School.

The Natives of the Lower Valley have long been anxious to send their children to the Papawai Native School, but the difficulty has been how to board them. It was their hope that the Government would have made some arrangement for boarding children in connection with the new school now about to be erected in that locality, andalittle disappointment is felt among some Native parents that no such provision has been made. The Government, however, cannot be blamed for any omission. They have authorised the erection of a new schoolbouse and teacher’s residence, and if the Natives are desirous of sending their children from a distance to this school they should try to make an arrangement with the Government. We have no doubt the Native Minister would do all in his power to further the educational interests of the Lower Valley Natives. We are glad to see such an interest taken in the welfare of the rising generation by the Natives themselves, and there is no doubt that a boarding school .would have many advantages, but we are inclined to think that they could enter into some arrangement with a private individual to board a certain number at so much per week. In connection with this subject there appears to be a misunderstanding concerning the ownership of the ground where the new school house is being erected, The late chief Manibera always contended that tho land was given for educational purposes by the Natives, and we find that many of them share this opinion to 'the present day, while there are a few who believe that the land was sold to the Government and that the church afterwards purchased it. Those who believe the land was given for educational purposes think the revenue from it ought to be devoted to the building of the boarding school. Should Mr Ballanoe be interviewed concerning the proposed boarding school we hope he will fully explain to the Natives how the case stands with regard to this piece of land.