TURAKINA MAORI GIRLS’ SCHOOL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9026, 13 December 1907, Page 2

TURAKINA MAORI GIRLS’ SCHOOL.

One of tiie great events of the yoai at this institution took place oi Thursday, -when the school disperse! lor the holidays anil the prizes wen distributed. The committee metal (lie school, the 11 cv. Mr Rybnrn, chairman, presiding. At the invitation of the teachers and committer there was a large assemblage of tin Maoris and friends of the school. Owing to the high galo the function could not lake place outside, as it usually docs, but was hold in the sowing-room, which was not nearly adequate to accommodate the visitors. However, at windows and doors a good many managed to watch and to hear wind was goiug on. Those who have the privilege of attending this function are .struck every year witli the increasing eiJlcieuoy of the school. The neatness and modesty of the girls is a delight to witness. Too much credit cannot ho given to Mr and Mrs A. G. Hamilton, who, from its inception, have had charge of the school. The various examiners who passed the ‘girls through their hands spoke highly of their work. The report cf Messrs Bird and Por toons, inspectors of native schools, was road by Mr Ryburn, and amongst the features specially mentioned and commended was the fact that the girls make'their own dresses, and in all other ways are getting a training

which compares more, than favour

ably with any other school of tlio kind in the country. The girls iiad ( been examined in physical drill and . breathing exercises by Mr P. D. Opio, wiio thoroughly understands the system, and stated that the girls excelled in this branch. Tlio prize in tills fell to Nellie Durio. Tlio girls' needlework was examined ami reported on by Mrs McCully, who said some of the work was the best she had seen. The prize takers w ere Ngarougo Miriuna 1, Tonga Rangihouoa and Koiiu Downs 2. Thy folowing is the prize list: — Gold Medal: Tainiul To Waowac 1, Adelaide Thompson 2. Silver medal; Nellie Doric. In class work first, prizes fell to Louie Stubbing, Tuti Iwikau and Norah Thompson ; and second prizes to Potaki McDonald and Whaitere Paipi to. In memorising scripture j again Tainni and Adelaide were first in the senior and Mary Kioto second. In t!ic junior Tuti Iwikau 1, Margaret Jonys 3. In special subjects, when the aggregate of marks was counted, Houoria Maraea and Laura Matiuga were equal and first, and Nellie Durio second. In housework Tonga was fi ,- st, but bad taken the gold medal before, so it fell tills year to Houoria and tiie silver to Kcim Downs. In sowing Ngarougo 1, Tonga and Kubu (equal) 2. The scullery prize fell to Adelaide Thompson, and the best girl in the wash-house was a Turakina girl, Carolliuo Maugahuka. For manners Huia got tiie prize, and for neatness Tonga. May ] Kioti got! it as the most improved girl,.and she also took the prize for garden and outside work. Margaret Jones gained the prize as best and most assiduous dairy girl. In the evening in the public ball the girls gave a concert of a varied and interesting character to a good audience, who heartily appreciated

what was put before them. The programme opened with a pianoforte duct by two of tho girls, Adelaide Thompson and Nellie Dario, which was rendered with accuracy aud skill. liy their poi [ dances with historic and varied j titles the girls displayed their | genius for co-operative movement, j „ The poi dauco lends itself to a great variety of movement aud has been J cultivated .to a high artistic pitch, | ; representing the movements of a : canoe, work at a fiaxmill, , and various other interesting tilings. 1 Solos wore given by somo of the ( pupils, which deservedly received ( encores. The pupils who sang solos 1 were Caroline Maugahuka, Adelaide * Thompson, aud Huia Tnatini. A ‘ number of action songs and glees 1 were also very creditable ' displaying well tho gifts of die girls lor con- j c certed action of any kind. Mr j { Hamilton sang “The Tin Gee Gee.’’ c with good effect. Tho concert, i c which was highly successful, closed \ with the National Anthem. I i