The Waka Maori. WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1875. IRUHARAMA NATIVE SCHOOL, WHANGANUI.

Waka Maori, Volume 11, Issue 2, 26 January 1875, Page 14

The Waka Maori. WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1875. IRUHARAMA NATIVE SCHOOL, WHANGANUI.

A feast was given in connection with the above school on Christmas last, at which parents, children, and visitors enjoyed themselves exceedingly. This practice of having such yearly reunions is becoming quite common, and is a pleasing feature in connection with Native schools throughout the country. Its effect must, of necessity,, be to create a kindly feeling between the teacher and the taught, to cement the union between parents, teachers, and children, and to encourage all in the vigorous prosecution of their good work—a work which is doing so much to improve the position of the Native race in New Zealand; and which, if not neutralized by habits of intemperance among the Native people themselves, will eventually confer upon them all the advantages enjoyed by the Pakeha. At the feast in question there was a large gathering of Natives from the different settlements on the river, above and below Iruharama, all dressed in holiday attire, The weather proved most propitious, nothing occurred to mar the enjoyment, and the utmost harmony and good feeling prevailed throughout. The Native tribes made liberal provision for the visitors, the quantity of food being, as usual on such occasions, more than sufficient. Three large canoes conveyed the provisions from the town of Whanganui to the school-grounds. "With the aid of some timber, supplied by the Natives, a long table was made, reaching from one end of the school-room to the other, for the accommodation of the parents and elderly Natives, whilst the school children, numbering seventy, were seated at the desks along the side walls. A meat pie, a bread roll, and a large piece of plum pudding, with a pannikin of gingerbeer, were laid for each scholar; and the large table literally groaned with provisions, cooked by the Natives, consisting of baked fowls, roasted and boiled pork, potatoes, kumara, taro, and other delicacies. This food was brought up from the pa by a procession of women and men in the usual Maori style. G-race having been said by the Hev. Mr. Taylor, the feeding commenced. It is unnecessary to say that ample justice was done to the good things by both parents and children. Several toasts were drunk most enthusiastically. The Queen's health was first proposed, with long life and happiness ; then the healths of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Royal family; then followed the healths of His Excellency he Governor and his lady; the Government; the Premier, Sir Donald McLean, the "Whanganui people and their children, R. Woon, Esq., R.M., and chairman of the district; and last, but by no means least, the " Ladies."

Mr. Woon, the E.M., addressed the company, congratulating the Ngatihau on the success which had attended their efforts in getting up the feast, and dwelling at some length on the advantages of education, which, he said, the G-overnment was doing all in its power to encourage. He thanked the people for the assistance rendered by them in starting the two schools, at Parikino and Iruharama, and expressed a hope that another school-house would ere long be erected at Utapu, when the Natives of that pa had returned from the Waikato. Hakaraia and other chiefs replied. Hakaraia, among other things, said that he should like to see a college erected, at some central part of the river, on the boarding school system, for the instruction of the more advanced pupils in the higher branches of learning, and concluded his remarks by saying he was so much pleased with the feast at Iruharama that he had determined upon having a like entertainment at the Parikino Schoolhouse, next Christmas, to which the Ngatihau and their school children should be invited. After dinner the boys got up a cricket match, in whicLMr. Nickless, the schoolmaster, took an active part. * Some of them seemed well up to the game, which, however, was not played out, as tea was announced before its completion, and there was no time to resume play afterwards. Some of them made some good fielding. Young Alick Hakaraia, who had been at school in Wellington, handled his bat like an experienced hand, and made some good scores. At six o'clock the children sat down to tea, and were plentifully supplied with bread and butter, plum cake, and buns. After making a hearty meal, they dispersed outside on the green, were scrambles were had for fruit (oranges, apples, plums, and figs), and sweetmeats, to the great glee of the juveniles. On the evening before Christmas a magic lantern was exhibited by the Eev. Mr. Taylor, which much amused and astonished both old and young. The Eev. gentleman had Divine service during the day, and he married several couples, besides christening a number of children. The Pipiriki Natives expressed a determination to rebuild a church there, with the view of having a clergyman located among them. And so ended this social gathering, which we hope may not be the last by many which our Whanganui Native friends may live to enjoy. The Natives are desirous of expressing their thanks to the Europeans of Whanganui, by whose subscriptions a sum of £lO was raised towards defraying the expenses of the feast.