MAORI GIRLS’ COLLEGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19983, 28 October 1927, Page 8

MAORI GIRLS’ COLLEGE

NEW BUILDING AT MARTON Foundation Stone Laid By The Governor-General For many years a straggling manse at Turakina has housed one of the most important Maori Girls’ Colleges of New Zealand. but this is not for long. Yesterday the Gover-nor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) laid the foundation stone of a college at Marton, which is to take the place of this old school

The Governor-General, accompanied by Lady Alice Fergusson. arrived at Marton at 2 p.m., and having been welcomed by the Mayor (Mr F. Purnell;, Borough Councillors, and representa tives of the Pesbyterian Church, was escorted to the site of the new college, where good work has already been done on the building. Among those upon the platform were. Tbeir Excellencies, the Rev. J. A. Asher of Napier (convener of the Mauri Mission Committee), the Bev. Dr. Gibb (Wellington), the Rev. Gather wood (Turakina). the Rev. 1). McNeur (Fordell), the Rev. D. Mclvor (Marton), the Rev. G. T. Brown (Palmerston North), the Rev. J. H. Bredin (Palmerston N.). the Rev. T. Miller (Folding), the Rev. W. Elliott (Gonviile), the Rev. H. Beggs (Wanganui), the Rev. J. Paterson (Wanganuij. the Rev. C. H. Watt (Westmerethe Rev. J. C. Mill (llunterville), the Rev. J. E. Ward (Mauri Missioner at Taumarunui), oanon Williams, and Mr A. F. Slewart (Bulls).; There were also present Mr and Mrs J. . S. Butler (Napier). Mr.R D. Sutherland (Hastings), of the Maori Mission Committee; and Mr and Mrs (•>. A. Troup. Mayor and Mayoress of Wellington. The foundation stone was inscribed: “To the Glory of Got! and for the good of the Maori People. thu> stone was laid by the Governor-General. Sir Charlesj Fergusson. Bart.. L.L.D., G.C.M.G., ELC.B., D. 5.0., M.V.O. October 27, 1927. ’ ’ The builder. Mr McLean, uf Messrs McLean and Gray, presented His Excellency with a trowel and mallet with which to lay the stone, and the architect, Mr Wm. M. Page, of Wellington, presented their Excellencies with paper weights made of silver-mounted Scots granite, of which the foundation stone is made. A Guard of Honour was provided by the Boy Scouts of Marton. Balls, and Turakina. and the Girl Guides were also in attendance. From Small Beginnings. Mr Asher, convener of the Presbyterian Church Maori Mission, said it was 65 years ago that the Presbyterian Church started its operations, not far. as the crow flew, from where they were that day. Great difficulty was experienced by the church in those days, and they were hard put to it to find £3O for a grant for the Maori Mission. Twentyfive years later only £2OO per annum was granted, but at the present lime there were no fewer than twelve stations; and. whereas in 1562 £3O was set aside for Maori Mission work, and 26 years ago £2OO was allotted, this year * £4OOO or £5OOO was expended on that work. Twenty-two or 23 years ago, the Maori Commission, as it was then called, recognised that very signal service could be done by the erection of a Maori girls’ school, and as a result the old manse at Turakina was purchased for the purpose. Three hundred girls had passed through that institution, and of them many had found their spheres

Tin work connected with the church. One ' was the wife of the missionary at i Taupo, the Rev. J. G. Lawton. The : daughters of many of the girls who bad ; passed through Turakina College were ■ now pupils at the school, and the influ- . cnee of the institution had permeated i the Maori people. The church had been I fortunate in those who had controlled i the sc hood —before the speaker’s I Mr aud Mrs Hamilton, and since he had ; been connected with the* work. Miss ; Kinross, a Jady among a thousand, and one who bad rendered great service to I the school. The buildings were now I very old and ramshackle, and this had j become known to the church. The Young Women’s Bible Class Union had donati ed £2OOO as the nucleus of a fund, and the Marton people had given £220 to the cost of erection. The building had been designed to cost £14,000, the plans having been in the hands of Mr W. M. Page, of Wellington, and Messrs McLean and Gray, of Wellington, were the j contractors. The rapid progress that hrf been made already was a tribute to their work. Education of the Native Race. His Excellency the Govern or-General said that Mr Asher had expressed thanks to their Excellencies for being there, but he assured those present, that there was no need for thanks as they considered it a privilege to be at what was an historic and an interesting cere- ; niony. The education of the Native race ■ was bound up with the history of the J Dominion of New Zealand, and the 1 speaker was surprised to discover that i tne first mission school was founded at the Buy of Islands in 1816. All through the early days it was the aim of the settlers to provide for the education of the children of the Native race, even before the education of their own children was placed upon a sound footing. In 1847, 185©, 1867, and xB7l, successive Acts Of Parliament were passed dealing with the education of the Maoris. The settlers were alive to th fix ; responsibilities and they showed an interest in the people who had occupied the country before they arrived. Apologies for absence were received from Sir Apirana Ngata, Sir Maui Pomare, the Rev. J. Wilson, Mr W. S. Glenn, 51. P., the Hon. li. Newman, Mr and Mrs Hamilton, Mrs J. Boss, whose old home the manse was, and the Right Rev. George McNeur, Moderator of the General Assembly. Following the National Anthem, the girls of the Turakna College sang a Macri song of welcome. The Old Hun dredih Psalm was sung by the gathering. the Rev. R. H. Catherwood read the lesson from Deuteronomy IV., 1-8, the Rev. D. Mclvor made a prayer, and prayer uf dedication was offered by the Rev. John Paterson, 51. A. The School then gave a programme of Maori songs and pois. and afternoon tea was served in the Town Hall.