Flowers, mirror and girl (Miss Wiki Rota)—a study of hostel life by Peter Blanc. A girl remarked to him “What a lovely hostel this house would make”. That put the idea in the minister's mind. He approached the Presbytery to see if the home could be sold to the Government for a hostel. The Government of the day sanctioned the purchase and the large home for 26 girls in Ponsonby was handed over to the mission to run. The Union Street house was filled with boys but the need for a larger house for them soon became apparent. As a result the Government bought the home at 89 Gillies Avenue, which had been used for an American Officers' Club. The Union Street building was sold and the money used to develop Hepburn Street. There was still a need for more accommodation and Sister Jessie found a suitable house at Shelly's Beach Road, Herne Bay, for which again she received official support. Are the hostels always full? It appears that there are usually some vacancies for young Maori boys and girls coming to the cities. Parents who are worried about their children's move to the city are able to place them there if they wish. They provide a protection against the impact of city life on young people from the country whose life was previously far more sheltered.

TARANAKI MEETING HOUSE PRESERVES FAMOUS NAME The opening of the Taiporohenui meeting house near Hawera last May was attended by the Minister of Maori Affairs, the Hon. E. B. Corbett, who made this the occasion for his farewell speech to the Maori people of Taranaki. The meeting house, named Whareroa, was dedicated by the Superintendent of the Methodist Maori mission, the Very Rev. G. Laurenson. It stands on the site of a formerly very important Taranaki meeting house on the Taiporohenui marae. The name Taiporohenui was originally given to a very large conference house—180 feet long—which was built in 1853 when the Maori King movement was first mooted. This building be came the first pillar of the movement; others being the beautifully carved storehouse (Pataka) at Wi Tako, Lower Hutt; another at Papawai, near Greytown, under the chief Potangaroa; and still another at Waihiki (Taradale) at the pa of Tareha There was another at Pukawa, Lake Taupo, the pa of Te Heuheu Iwikau. Three other meeting houses of the same name (Taiporohenui) have been built since the original one was destroyed by fire.