Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 313, 30 May 1849, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sir — Feeling assured that you take some interest in the advancement of the native population, I venture to offer you a few remarks on the subject of local schools, hoping that your valuable journal will be the means of calling forth some assistance from the public, as also of enlightning them on the state of native education in the interior. I was present the other day at the Easter examination of the Kawhia School, formed by the Wesleyan Missionary Society, and was astonished to find the advancement the chilren had made in the English language. In fact, the whole went off with great eclat, and in a manner highly creditable to both children and teacher. It was gratifying to find that the meeting, which was held at the station of the Rev. J. Whitely, was very numerously attended, not only by the parents and relatives of the children, but also by the Europeans (of all creeds) in the neighbourhood, who evinced their interest in the cause they had met for, by presenting a suit of clothes to the boy and girl who had made the most improvement during the past year. General unanimity of feeling seemed to exist; and a few small donations were made towards the support of the school, but not at all adequate to the expenditure of the institution. Now, Mr. Editor, would you be kind enough to lay before the pubic the following notable facts. Firsily, That local preparatory schools being in the very centre of the natives, are likely to be much more beneficial than those in the European settlements, because they would be conducted with much less expence, and comprise a much larger number of pupils. Secondly, That the natives generally have a great antipathy against having their children separated from them, but are anxious, at the same time, to give any support in their power to local schools, and that chil - dren trained in this manner would then be ready to draft into any other institution in Auckland. I have now merely to place myself entirely in your hands, and feel assured that, with your able pleading, a generous public will not be backward in contributing their small mite to so praiseworthy an object ; and hoping you will excuse my thus far trespassing on your time, Remain, sir. your very obedient servant, S A. Joseph. Kawhia, May 13, 1849.