Page 6 Advertisements Column 1

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 747, 11 June 1853, Page 6 (Supplement)

instructing the youths ; a carpenter s workshop ; a mill, worked by horse power; and a raupo cottage for the agricultural instructor in connection with the school; besides other buildings, destined in part for the use of the mission. With some slight additions, these premises may he rendered all that can be required for the efficient working of such an establishment. A general plan, including the Mission premises is attached. (Flan A.) October, 1852, was as follows: Male. Female. Total. Children 32 32 64 Adults 10 6 10 Married 5 5 10 The average number of boarders during the year ending 23rd Jane, 1851, was 07 : the i average number during the year ending 23rd I June, 1852, was 85. The 1 nd upon which the school is placed, and the dwelling-house of the missionary, belong to the Church Missionary Society. A portion also of the school buildings has been erected at the cost of that Society. The main part of the tuition of the children and of the general superintendence of the chool and the operations connected with it, has been supplied by the resident missionary, the Rev. IX, Maunsell, and his wife. In the year 1852, a sum of £SO was given by the church missionary society, as partmaintenance of an English Teacher. The Government Grant to this sc.ool. In 185! was £250 In 1552 " £l5O A further sum of £l5O has recently been given to liquidate a debt due on the schoo'. Another portion of the income has been derived from sales of oxen, horses, sheep, and wool, the private property of the missionary. The amount produced by these sah j s up to October, 1552, was £l6l 15s. 2d. , Labour supplied by members of the Institution, in fencing the land, &c, is estimated at «£B2 7s. od. Private donations amount to £34. From the native parents, contributions of food have been received) amounting on an average to between three and four tons of potatoes in the year. A valuable piece of land, comprising about 100 acres, immediately adjoining the mission station, has been appropriated by the natives for the benefit of the school. Of this about 36 acres are under crop I his season. The sums paid to teachers were,—in the year 1851, £l9 2s. 6d. and in 1852, £54 19s. Sd. The Government have also paid £ll6 9s. Id, in wages, for a carpenter and an agricultural teacher. From accounts furnished to us by Mr. Maunsell, it appears that the actual outlay for ihe clothing and board of the 07 scholars durino the year ending June, 1851, was£l7:> 1 ls9-|d and for the 85 scholars during the year ending June, 1852, Avas £204 2s. 7-|d ; but as we have no estimate of the value of the produce o the farm which was consumed by the school, the yearly cost cannot be calculated. The boys are under the charge of Mr. Volkner, a German missionary, whose efforts to establish habits of order and regularity are most praiseworthy. The girls are under the immediate care of a native v\om;m, named Mary Ngataru, superintended by Mrs. Maunsell. The devotion of this Maori matron to her work is very remarkable. She has now for several yeais maintained a vigilant and maternal interest in the children committed to her care. Six of the boys have acquired a knowledge of ploughing; and they all take part in the cultivation of the land, and in the care of the sheep and cows. Two boys have been placed lately under the instructions of a skilful carpenter, who is employed in completing the buildings. Some of their work (in boxes, benches, sashes, and doors) does them credit. The girls are nearly all very young;they are employed in the ordinary household work, in sewing l , washing, etc. ; but as yet no occupation has been found for them to make their labour increase the fu ; .ds of the school. la religious instruction nothing has been omitted that could be done to ground the children well. They are very far advanced relatively to their different ages. The English language has not yet formed part of the general course of instruction. Only one class has been learning to read the Sciiptures in English. Others have been practised in the pronunciation of the more difficult English sounds; but, on the whole, the progress hitherto made in this branch is but small. All the children, except the very young ones, can read the Scriptures in their native language with accuracy. The elder children write remarkably well. The elder boys and gills are acquainted AYith the elementary rules of arithmetic up