OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIV, Issue VIII, 23 February 1895, Page 171

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

SOME SWIMMING PEOPLE. TWO pictures are given on page 173 of some wellknown swimming folk. One is of the New South Wales representatives who came over here for the Championship Meeting, and the other is of the New Zealand champion water polo team. Christchurch claims the winners. The final game was characteristic of good feeling between both teams, and of neat passing by the Christ, church swimmers. From their play it was evident that the Christchurch team had made a study of the rules, and every man in the team played a fine game, passing to his man in fine style. The Auckland team showed a want of practice and combination, but in time should make a good team.

A picture is also given of the ASSOCIATION MEDAL. This was the design adopted at the Fourth Annual Meeting as being most appropriate. The obverse displays as border a life-buoy with four diagonal divisions (separated by bands, each with a star thereon), containing the words * New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association.’ Inside thelife-buoy, on a bath sill, are two swimmers, one European, one Maori, supporting a shield on which are quartered the arms of (Ist) England, (2nd) Scotland, (3rd) Ireland, (4ch) the badge of Wales, divided by a So. Clair's cross, on which appears , the constellation of the Southern Cross; the shield being surmounted by an Imperial crown. The design is intended to be in part symbolical. The lifebuoy and motto indicate the humane purpose ; the national arms and imperial crown the imperial nature of the pastime ; the St. Clair cross is commemorative of the founder of the institution ; while the Southern Cross identifies it with the Southern Hemisphere; the water and bath platform the scene of operations ; and the supporters the performers. The reverse is left blank for inscribing the name of presentee, also date of and event for which awarded. The clasp does not necessarily accompany the medal, which can be used as an ornament but not as a decoration. The ribbon is of Association colours, black and silver.

NEW BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOYS AND GIRLS—RAROTONGA. The boarding school for boys and girls of the Cook’s Group which has been erected by the London Missionary Society was recently opened under very auspicious circumstances. A Rarotonga correspondent sends us the following account: — The weather was favourable. The sky was somewhat cloudy, but in this hot climate we. have no objection to occasional cloudy days. There are about 12 acres of good land surrounding the building, which will be brought under cultivation. The school is 121 feet long by 44 J feet broad including the verandahs, and consists of four portions. These are the school room, the dormitory, the teacher’s apartments, and the caretaker's room. The building of the foundations was commenced on

the 28th of May, and the whole work was finally completed on the 21st of December. The foundations cost £1068'66c. The total cost of the building including the foundations was £10260'20c. The total local contributions, including those of the opening day were £1672 80e. The cost to the London Missionary Society after deducting the local contributions was £8587 40c. In the early morning the people might be seen carrying baskets, or driving carts laden with food towards the place of meeting. At 9 a.m. the scene was quite animated as one looked from the verandah of the school at the scattered groups of gaily dressed people, and at the number o buggies and horses on the ground, which are evidences of a prosperous and a happy people. Soon after 10 a.m. the proceedings of the day commenced. The missionary (Rev. J. J. K. Hutchin) read a programme of the day’s proceedings, and stated that the school was intended for the children of natives of the Cook’s Group. Queen Makei had been chosen by the Parliament as the head of the Federation, and he had thought it only fit and. proper that she should be asked to open the school, which she proceeded to do amidst the discharge of muskets and the applause of the assembled natives. A public meeting was then held under the presidency of Mr Moss, the British resident, who has manifested much sympathy with the undertaking. Mr Mose, the missionary, Tepou o to Rangi, Chief Judge of the Islands, and three Native pastors gave addresses. The boys now in the boarding school went creditably through the varied manoeuvring of an action song under the superintendence of Miss Ardil). After the public meeting the inevitable feast took place and there was abundance of food for all the people.

‘MA MIE ROSETTE.’ The Comic Opera Company are steadily working their way north. IVellington is now being delighted with the catchy music, costly scenery, and lavish dressing of * Ma Mie Rosette.’ This opera has bad a perfectly phenomenal success in the colonies. The Sydney people simply went wild over it, and the good folk of Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington have now got the airs pretty well by heart. The Company is doing splendid business in Wellington, as it certainly deserves to do. No better opera combination ever visited New Zealand.

VULCAN ISLAND VOLCANO. A picture is given on our front page of one of the largest volcanoes in the Pacific, or for the matter of that in the whole world. Vulcan volcano is off the coast of New Guinea. Our picture is from a sketch by a German officer on board the Samoa.