Maori Mission.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume I, Issue 6, 1 December 1910, Page 9

Maori Mission.

HUKARERE SCHOOL.

A very important branch of the work of the Qhurch m the Diocese of Waiapu has been seriously interrupted by the disastrous fire which -destroyed the Hukarere school buildings on October 21st. This school was the continuation of work begun by Archdeacon W. Williams (afterwards the first Bishop of Waiapu) as far back as 1847, when a boarding school fo~r Maori girls was started at Whakato, about seven miles from Gisborne. In 1 854 an effort was made to develop the educational work on an industrial system so that the pupils might contribute something towards their own support. As the land needed for this was not to be had at Whakato, a new station was formed at Waerenga-a-hika, where, m addition to the girls, young men and boys were taught; the men and boys being accommodated m temporary buildings, la J865 the

workatWaerenga-a-hika was abruptly brought to an end by the Hauhau invasion, which made it necessary for Bishop Williams and the staff to leave the place. Most of the buildings were destroyed by the Hauhaus, and the state of the country for several years was such that the Bishop had to seek another home, and came to live m Napier. In 1868 the General Synod transferred the Province of Hawke's Bay from the Diocese of Wellington to that of Waiapu, and Bishop Williams made arrangements to reside permanently m Napier. Being anxious that some educational work should be resumed as soon as possible, he contrived by the aid of friends m England, to get a building erected at Hukavere, which was opened with a small number of girls m 1875. The number of applications for admission made it necessary to enlarge the building m 1877, and, through the liberality of the late Archdeacon 8. Williams, further additions were subsequently made, so as to provide accommodation for sixty pupils with the necessary rooms for the teachers. Until the opening of the Victoria School at Auckland m 1903 this was the only secondary school for Maori girls m connection with the Church of England, and pupils were received from all parts of New Zealand, and even from Stewart Island and from Chatham Island. Nearly all the domestic work of the establishment has been done by the girls themselves, and, m addition to the usual school curriculum, special attention has been paid to needlework, dressmaking, laundry work, and cookery. By favour of the Hawke's Bay Education Board, many of the girls have attended the dressmaking and cookery classes at the Napier Technical School, and the City of London Guild's Cookery examination has been passed with credit by some of the girls. First Aid also has not been neglected, many girls having obtained certificates from tlfe St. John Ambulance Association. It is hoped that the. new buildings may be erected on a more roomy site m Napier, and it is m the highest degree desirable that the material used should be of a durable and fire-proof character. ; The cost of such buildings may be from £6000 to £7000. Unfortunately there is no adequate building fund available, and unless liberal assistance should be provided from outside, it will be impossible to restore the school to its former standard of efficiency. It will be a grievous calamity that such a useful institution

should be crippled for lack of means, and there are probably many who would gladly help to make the school at least as effective m the future as it has been m the past. Any contributions to this object will be thankfully received by the Bishop of Waiapu. Pending the erection of new buildings, arrangements will be made, if possible, to carry on the school m temporary premises, though possibly on a somewhat reduced scale.