STATISTICS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 15, 9 August 1873, Page 13

STATISTICS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF AUCKLAND.

Sisters op Mercy's Schools for Gißia. 1. Select, St. Joseph's, and Infant Schools. Number of pupils, 200. CTheso three schools stand within enclosed ground adjoining St. Patrick's Cathedral, and in a central situation. 2,. SI. Maiy's Boarding School, 21 ; Select do, 22 ; Orphan (girls) Ho, 41; jDay do, 26 ; lotal, 110. These are situated within the extensive ana wed laid out Convent grounds (15 acres), and surrounded by a substantial encc. The coi-vent itself stands on high open ground, cointnanainj a splendid view ot the harbour, city, and eurrouuding country. 3. Parneil Convent School (Select) and St. Joseph's, 80. These schools e-djoin 3t. Jolm the Baptist's Church on a main thoroughfare. Boys cf tender uge are also admitted into all these aohoftls. Boss' Sonoois. 4. St. Patrick's (select) i 40. Teacher, J. Plunkett, Esq. The schoolroom ii a spacious well finished hall. It stands on a main street at a little (iictauce from St. Patrick's Cathedral. 5. fE t. Pctara, 65. Teacher, Mr B. Hamill. Stands- enclosed in an eligible situation at the junction of three of the main streets of the town, and is guvrounded by a spacious play ground. This property was the gift ?i ft Catholic gentleman, lately deceasad. 6; \W»eSiM Street Sehcol, 55. Teacher, Mrs Colzan. 7. Newto-i Sctiooi, 49. Dr J. Wood. Opposite to what is at present the Government Common School. 8. cvaflekl View School, 25. Teacher, Miss Frazi. 9. Mr ilamill'a Wight School, ?0; All these school rooms are dry, clean, suitably lighted, aad ventilated, and well furnished with school requisites. Tbo ter.ch.ers are all duly qualified for their duty, are of unexceptionable moral character, and are under tho supervision of Bishop Croke and his clergy, the Bishop himself having had much practical experience in the business of tuition at a former period of his life, and it is mainly dv« to his Lordship's exertions that ibese schools are now on so efficient a footing. Tho above 634 Catholic children attending these "various- schools ure receiving a solid education, religious and secular, such us is fitted to make them good Christiana and useful members of sooiety ; yet, the just Government, under which wo havo tho happiness to live, repudiate all these schools, refuse to give one penny of the public money towards tlaoJß support, though they levy upon the Catholic* a- tax to- eapport

other schools not more, efficient, and to which from conscientiousmotives we cannot send our children. A so-called liberal press, and even some men professing to be ministers of the Gospel, commend this* glaring injustice. It may not be amis? here to mention that the last report of the Committee of Education of Her Majesty's Privy Council," laid before the Imperial Parliam-nt, shews that the Q-overnmei.it aided Catholic schools in England (under ecclesiastical control), and Government inspection were not only abreast, but actually far ahead of the other Government schools of the same class, even as regards secular knowledge. There is no reason why the Catholic sohools in this Colony should not attain a like preeminence ere many years- elapse. John Wood, Surgeon, late H.M.S, Pitt street, 14th July, 1873.