KAIAPOI NATIVE SCHOOL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2127, 17 December 1880, Page 3

KAIAPOI NATIVE SCHOOL.

The celebration of the school anniversary festival is usually made the occasion by the Natives of this pah for a kind of gala day, and on Thursday the proceedings -were very well oarried out. The first part of the day was spent in inspection of the Horticultural Show and an Exhibition of flax mats, baskets and greenstones. During this time the Native scholars, who were all dressed in new uniforms, sang a number of songs in very good time and harmony, and also gave a □umber of recitations, which alike reflected credit on themselves and the teachers. The show of flowers was somewhat limited to a few specimens of window pot plants and bouquets, which, however, the Maoris took great pride in exhibiting. The display of new potatoes was very good, while in cabbage, carrots, turnips, onions, peas and beans there was a keen competition. There was but a small show of fruit, of which, however, the gooseberries wore very prime. Upon the flower stand were ahonrn several specimens of the dressed flax baskets, two or three of which preaented great ingenuity in their manufacture, as well as the taste with whieh the dyed colors were interwoven. Two babies' hats made on the pattern of the smoking cap were especially attractive items to several of the visitors, who were perhaps also amused with this article of native finery. Five or six greenstone meres were shown by Hone Uru and Natanahira. One of these at least seemed to have experienced active service. There waa a slab of greenstone, 3ft x Ift 6in also displayed, while a similar unpolished piece of the same stone a tenth of the sizs was ticketed for sale at the modest figure of £SO. In connection with the fancy fair, there was a keen competition for a prize given for bouquets made by ehildren, some of whom showed great oare and judgment in the arrangement of their flowers.

In conjunction with 'the flower show there was competition for the best kept garden, for which the Hon. H. B. Gresson offered a guinea prize, as well as second guinea for the neatest grounds about Maori houses. There were about seven competitors. It may here be stated that in the instructions to the teachers of Native schools, the Government impress the necessity of teaohers keeping a garden which tbey are expected to keep constantly in good order, and making it if possible <he model garden of the village. There could be no doubt but that the master here—Mr H. J. Beeves, fully asts to those instructions, his garden being a perfection of order and taste as well as being well stocked with flowers, fruit trees and vegetables, arranged on the plans of modern gardening. Judging from the imitations of Mr Beeves' garden, which met the visitors in other parts of the pah, the Natives are not slow to copy habits and systems of Europeans. The Bev. Teoti Pita Mutu, ihe clergyman of the district, has a very neat garden with some well grown "conifers in front, surrounded with neatly kept flower beds, in which there seemed to be at least twenty different kinds of our favorite roses in bloom, a variety of picotees, dahlias coming forward, and other plants in the centre of a grass lawn, but the latter wanted a recent trimming. The fences were wellplaced, and here there was a fair kitchen garden. The next was the garden of Wiremu Wee, the beds of which were laid out in squares, and looked toD formal; but here the flowering plants boro evidence of attention, while there was not a weed to be found. He also had a small plot in vegetables. Tihema I'e Aik presented a fair show in the front garden, and a well-stocked plot of vegetables, including marrow, kumura and Indian corn ; and no doubt this garden would take the priz9. Wiremu Nahira, whose flowers were a largo display of sweetwilliamt, had also a well-stocked garden of culinary herbs. Hone Hape entered a well-stocked garden, which was well cleared and neat. Mary Ann's garden was also a very creditable one, the vegetables being plentiful and the flower portion well arranged. The prize takers were— Bound potatoes—lst prize, Wiremu Nahira ; 2nd. Hone Urn.

Kidney potatoes—lst and 2nd prices, W. Nahira.

Broiid beans—lst prize, Hone Urn ; 2nd, H, J. Keeves.

Peas—lst prize, H. J. Beeves ; 2nd, W. Nahira.

Cabbage—lst prize, Pita Mutu. Onions—lst prize, H. J. Keeves; 2nd, W, Nahira.

Lettuce - Ist prize, 55. Crane. Carrots—lat prize, H. J. Beeves; 2nd, W Nahira.

Oaulifl iwer—lst prize, H. J. Beeves. Gooseberries—lst prize, H. J. Beeves ; 2nd, Bone Urn.

Currants—lst prize, Martini ; 2nd, H. J. Beeves.

Raspberries—lbt prize, Martini; 2nd, H. J Reeve j.

Cut flower*, carnations, best collection, and bouquet of flowers—lst prize, H. J. Beeves. Best kept prarden (Hon. H. B. prizes)—let prize. .£1 Is, Tihema Te Aik; 2nd, : ss. W. Nahira; 3rd, 10a, Hone Urn. Dating the tsfierroon a number of games, a ctioket natab, Pakeba v Maori, and quoit matches, Maori and Pakeha, also races and jumping, were carried out. In the evening mi entertainment was held, at which the Oomiques Troupe gave a varied and amusing programme, concluding with the farce, "Troublesome Servants." A display of rockets and blue liehts concluded the-day's programme. The whole affair, it must be stated, was thoroughly well organised by Mr Beeves, to whom tbe oomplimonts of a large number of visitors who attended duriagthe latter part of the day are due.