MASTEJRTON GIRLS' COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2623, 19 November 1915, Page 6

MASTEJRTON GIRLS' COLLEGE

ESTABLISHED BY THE PRESBYTERIANS.

(From a Correspondent.)

Auckland, November 18. - I esterdqy tho Presbytery of the Wairarapa met in St. Andrew's Churcli. Auckland, the Rev. Bowden Harris, Moderator, presiding, to take steps to present to tho General Assembly a progress report_ on the Girls' College now being established at Masterton, under the auspices of tlie Presbyt-ery. The Kev. G. K. Stowell, clerk to the Presbytery, and Mr. W. Fisher, elder, reportea that under the encouragement 9 tlle Presbytery a number of the mem. bers of tbe church with two members of other churches had constituted themselves a Board of Governors. They had scoured for a girls' college Solway. House, at Masterton, on lease with . a purchasing clause, had become guarantors to the bank, and had appointed as principal of the college Mrs. Lawrence rhompson, wife of the minister wiio, for health reasons,' had just vacated the parish of Carterton. Mrs. Thompson was a graduate of < .?„ " ow Zealand University, an M.A. y.itn honours in mental science. She helu tho Government teacher's certin^ ass A, tiio highest class of all. After serving her apprenticeship as a pupil teacher in the George Sti eot School, Dunedin, and receiving her higher training ;vt tho Dunedin University and Training College, she becamo successively second assistant mistress in the Waitaki Girls' College, Oamaru, first assistant, and t'hon for three years lady principal of Prince Edward Methodist College, Auckland a college for boarders and day pupils' and finally first assistant mistress or Southland Girls' High School, until

her marriage seven years ago to tho minister of Carterton. When Mr. Thompson had to rest a wliile from his strenuous labours in the multiplying services among tho new settlers of hi 3 P' l ri ,s h> Mrs. Thompson received the offer of an important position iu one of tlie principal colleges of the Dominion. The gentlemen wlio were promoting the Wairorapa College acted with all urgency to perfect tlioir schema and secure Mrs. Thompson's services. Tho scheme had been received with enthusiasm throughout the Presbytery. Hie property acquired consisted of a; largo country house surrounded by oighteen acres of good land excellently laid out with lawns and plantations, with paddocks suitable fen playing holds. The property faced tho main road at a point two miles from tho Masterton Post Office, while afc the back of tho property was placed the Sol* way station on tlie railway. The Moderator, who had been associated with tho movement from tho beginning, was confident that Mrs. Thompson's distinguished scholastic career would receive its perfecting in this college. Mr. Thompson, himself a trained teachor before he entered tha' ministry, would bring to tho college alt the strength and truth of his own noble course. He would specially care foe tho religious instruction of the college. Mrs. Thompson thanked the Presby-i tery for tlieir reception. She said when! a year ago tlie Masterton gentlemen who were promoting tlie collego approached her that she might become principal she refused; lier husband waa happy in tho 'ministry of his choice, and she was happy in the manso ana in the work of the Carterton parish. When recently her husband's strength failed for a timo she consented to accept the offer of the position at Solway House., which would now be their home, and the home of their girls and pupils. Tho biggest' asset her husband and she together could offer tho community was heme lifq. They would hold iii the college to tlie religious _ principles' and practices of their parish work; they would work for the extension of the Kingdom of God among tho little ones.

Tlie Moderator, tho clerk, and the Rev. J. Macgregor were appointed a committee to lay a report boforo the General Assembly, and to arrange that Mrs. Thompson should address the Assembly.