SISTERS OF MERCY SCHOOLS, AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 284, 11 October 1878, Page 17

SISTERS OF MERCY SCHOOLS, AUCKLAND.

(JBroniour Correspondent.) At the distance of a mile from Aucklan d, to the right of the road leading irom the city to Ponsonby> is situated Mount St. Mary, the site of the beautiful convent of St. Mary, the convent schools, aboardin^-and a day school, an orphanage for destitute children, and a neat convent chapel, and among the abiding memorials of the erections of the first bishop of Auckland, the late Dr. Pompallier, there are none which reflect to so much advantage the merit of his character, or which so well attest the success that has attended his labours, in the cause of religion and education, piety and helpless humanity, as the sight of this group of useful and elegant buildings, with the charming scenery surrounding them. a joj o This site in the first instance was selected by him, and a better selection could not have been made ; it commands a full view of Auckland harbour, the vessels entering or leaving ; of the North Shore across the harbour, of Auckland city, its principal buildings and a wide expanse of the surrounding country. It covers a spaoe of about ntteen acres of a gentle slope facing the city and the harbour, and extends from the Ponsonby road, on one side, to the waters edo-e on the opposite ; its situation gives it its chief beauty, and is perhaps the healthiest and prettiest in Now Zealand, and although it is not too good for the occupancy of the Sisters of Mercy, or the use which they make of it, it is a most valuable possession, and will never fail to endear and perpetuate the memory of the pioneer Bishop of Auckland and of New Zealand. He bought the place in ISSI for a few thousands, four or five, find it would not now bo had for ten times as much ; the grounds are tastefully Laid out, intersected by paths and avenues, and scattered over with shrubs, pines, flower pots, &c, which, while enlivening the scenery, afford to the pupils every facility and amnle sooric for recreating and disporting themselves to their hearts' cofiteut ' The growth and expansion of the Order of Mercy and their schools since 1850 until the present time are highly checrino- an( i satisfactory ; in that year they opened a small school near St. Patrick's Cathedral for the children of tradesmen and the humbler classes • they were nine in number, and began duties within the first week after landing in Auckland ; and from this poor beginning, of one school and a few sisters, there have grown the present boautifal convent and schools at Mount St. Mary, Ponsonby ; a convent and two schools at Onehunga ; a convent and two schools at Ofcahu : and a convent and three schools at the Thames ; bosidos a filiation of three sisters who were sent to Wellington, and who opened a convent there Of course it would bo nacdless to dwell upon the excellence of the training and education imparted in those schools, as it is nothing else butthis very excellence which is the key of their success and popularity, which has overcome the early prejudice and dislike of non-Catholics, and which has made many amongst them to be as good supporters of the convent schools as the Catholics are ; and whose children, m consequence, have derived the advantage of an education and training, and have seen an example in the persons of their good preceptresses, superior to anything that could ba either got or saen by them at other schools. While having stated so much in general of the convent schools it would not be at all adequate unless something more definite was added in reference to the select or boarding school at St. Mary's Ibis school is, at onco, the highest in aim, and the most comprehensive in its scope of instruction, of all the convent schools in the district in addition to a course of sound English education, Italian, French and German languages, science, painting, music, &c, fire taught &ray attention is paid to personal neatness, orderly habits, and propriety of decorum ; children of all denominations are received as boarders or day pupils, and whose principles, it is quite unnecessary to remark, are never interfered with ; and this, the history of the school for the last twenty years most satisfactorily guarantees, even to the most suspicious minds. In connection with this school, which has been recently enlarged, there is excellent accommodation, with every appurtenance for a hundred boarders ; there are not this num\vlli a be PreSeUfc> bUt ttei ' e iS liUIC r °° m t0 d ° UbL that VGxy SOOU there It is not easy to overrate the value to society, in general, and to the Catholics, m particular, of these schools in the difficulties caused by the unjust Education Act to the latter ; only for the nuns' assistance their case would be far worse than it is, and it is not too much to say that only for the convent schools, among Catholics, educational matters would be in a deplorable state. It is a remarkable fact that the convent schools are all selfsupporting, and no cost to the Catholic community ; oven the convents, except at the Thames and at Onehunga, have been built by the sisters themselves ; they have paid for all their own schools, as well as the expensive furniture, and all this out of their means and the proceeds of their unceasing labours. Of course there have boon some contributions received, but the gross amount would not be a large one ; the cost of the St. Mary's schools was not under £4000, and this large sum, with the help of a bazaar and some benefactions, was paid orr by them in this way. There are 70 inmates at the Orphanage for destitute or homeless —the pitiable, waifs and strays, of neglected and bad parents (in the greater number of cases)— who are well cared for, educated, &c , by the sisters. The Government gives a small grant, but it is so triflinothat it would scarcely be sufficient for the cost of maintenance, not to speak of clothing, Education, &c. ; the deficit must be borne by the Bisters of Mercy, which is an unfair and unhappy arrangement, borne voluntary contributions are received by the sisters occasionally, but such support is, at best, spasmodic, and cannot in the hour of need, with any certainty or satisfaction, be calculated upon ; and as the Government support is altogether inadequate to recoup the expenditure of the nuns, it would be only fair that the Catholics generally, in the different parishes should assist by giving a certain definite $üm each in the year. Between the Convent of St. Mary aud the sea a building is now in ?? urse of erection, intended for an Educational Institute for native cb ildren, to be under the care of the Sisters of Mercy ; its cort was

fixed at £GOO, and out of this the Government has paid £250 ; the institution is very nearly finished, but, unfortunately through a scarcity of funds, the work has come to a standstill, or at least it is very nearly so, which is very much to bo regretted. The Association of the children of Mary was inaugurated recently at St. Mary's ; there were twenty-three candidates who received the medal and green ribbon, preparatory to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Sth Dec. next, -when they are to be consecrated children of Mary. The ceremony took place on Sunday afternoon in the convent chapel ; a practical instruction was delivered to the candidates by the officiating clergyman, which was followed by the Banediction of the Most Holy Sacrament.