THE GIRLS’ HOSTEL SOCIETY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2125, 6 July 1907, Page 1

THE GIRLS’ HOSTEL SOCIETY.

The AVellington Girls’ Hostel Society, which consists of the Presbytery of AVellington, with Bishop AVallis anil others whom lie may nominate to act with him, has been formed for tlio purpose of establishing a hostel for girl students, which will give them all tlio essential comforts of a student life. The society exists under a constitution drafted by the Hon. Dr. Findlay, the Rev. Dr. Gibb, and the Bishop, and it will be registered forthwith to enable it to hold property. This is practically the whole function of the society as a body, for its activities in achieving the specific objectare delegated to a committee of ladies.

There will be nothing of a sectarian nature about the hostel, and no religious test will be exacted on admission. The sole object is to provide girl students at Victoria College and the Training College with comfortable and'inexpensive lodgings, where they will have the added advantage of a general atmosphere of culture. - It will not lie ill any respect a boarding-school jvilh regard to discipline. There will, of course, lie a certain amount of discipline, which will subsist, of a code of rules, bub the intention is to obviate the .necessity for a comprehensive code by fostering a. spirit of culture among students. There will lie second, third, and four-year students in the hostel, who will exercise a healthy influence over the new students, coming in from year to year. The hostel, which will probably be erected in i\lcKoiisbe-tor-race, will accommodate at first about 40 students! Besides bedrooms, there will be a large dining-room, rooms for study, frith proper heating appliances, and apartments for the lady superintendent. Provision is made for shutting oil’ two of the rooms for use as a hospital in case of sickness. One of the great drawbacks to students’ life under existing conditions is the inability of the unfortunate students to get hot meals. Many of the girls, who arc living in lodgings and engaged during the day,find it impracticable to be present at the ordinary meal hours, with the result that they may go from breakfast till bedtime without a hot meal. The liostol will provide a hot meal for the students at such time as they can get away from their studies between five and nine o’clock in the evening. Another drawback to life in lodgings is the difficulty girls experience in getting their laundry work done properlv. the result being that they have to devote much of their spare moments to laundry work and needlework. If there are 40 girls in the hostel, it is hoped that such a staff can be maintained as will be able to relieve the students altogether of the burden of doing laundry work, which will lie thoroughly done in the institution. The superintendent of the hostel will he selected with due regard lor her religious and educational cptalificats ions, but the general air of culture ! about the hostel wii[ not he allowed , to develop into priggishness or ped--1 antry. There will bo prayers in the : j institution, but the attendance will nob be compulsory.