NATIVE SCHOOL.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 194, 8 April 1848, Page 3

NATIVE SCHOOL.

On Thursday last, the 6lh April, the founda-tion-stone of a Native School, in connexion with the Wesleyan Mission, was laid at the Three Kings, within four miles of Auckland, by His Excellency the Governor-ia-Chief, assisted by the Rev. Walter La wry, General Superintendant of the Wesleyan Missions in these seas j the Rev. Thomas Buddie, Wesleyan Missionary ; Mr. Walter Robertson, architect ; and Mr. Henry White, contractor, and in the presence of a number of natives. The building, which is to be of scoria, will be devoted to the instruction of natives in reliigon, industry, and the English language, and is designed to accommodate fioui eighty to one hundred persons. The expense of the erection and maintenance of it will be defrayed from funds supplied by the Colonial Government, under the authority of the " Education Ordinance," passed iv ihe last session of the Legislative Council. After the Governor had gone through the ceremony of laying the corner-stone, prayer was made by all present, conducted by the Rev. W, Lawry. His Excellency then briefly addressed the Maories, pointing- out the advantages to be derived by them from the establishment of these schools; and they, in turn, sprved up a repast, consisting of pota* toes, pumpkins, and melons, grown on the spot, of which His Excellency and all present partook. One of the natives, in the name of the rest, called the Governor's attention to the godless conduct of certain of their countrymen about Auckland, who profane the Sabbath, marketing and getting drunk, instead of attending divine worship. These statements were listened to by His Excellency with evident concern, and a promise was given that the subject should have his earliest attention. Upon the whole, we cannot withhold our testimony to the very great importance which attaches to this wise scheme of instructing the natives ; and to the fine taste which was shown in the whole of the proceedings of the day, in founding the first ot' these schools for carrying out its purposes.