The Daily News. TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1902. LADY TEACHERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 105, 6 May 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1902. LADY TEACHERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA.

! We are exceedingly glad to nee that the Government gave thu lady teachers, I who have been selected for service in South Africa, an official send-off. The function took place on Friday afier- ; noon when the teachers, amongst wlr m was Miss Arrow, of New Plymouth, wore entertained at afternoon tea by I the Ministry. Among thosa present ;at this official leave-taking were the I &cting-Premier (Sir Joseph Ward), I the Minister for Education (Hon. W. 0. | Walker), tbe Minister for Public | Works (Hon, W. Hall-Jones) and Mrs f Hall-Jones, the Minister for Mines and Justice (Hon. J, McGowan), and the 1 Minister for Lands (Hon. T. Y. DunIcan), The staff of the Education De- [ partment was represented by the Secretary and Inspector-Qeneral (Mr G. Hogben), the Assistant-Secretary (Sir E 0. Gibbes), and other officers. Prom the New Zealand, Times we gather that the Minister for Education made a most sensible and appropriate speech in wishing the teachers farewell, Godspeed, and every success. Mr Walker said the belief was very largely shared by the ladies of New Zealand that they should do their part in the great matters that were takirg place in South [Africa, and along with tbeir brothers help in bringing about an end to the present state of affairs in thar, country. " I am quits certain," continued the Minister, " that the work you are going to do is quite as important, more important, in fact, than the fighting aud putting down by force of those who are in arm"i against the Imperial authorities. Your work, I hope, will be of a j lasting nature,and render it ever after] impossible for South Africa to be aj danger spot to the Empire. You go, I know, desirous of maintaining the reputation of your colony. You also go feeling that you have on your shoulders the responsibility of representing one of the most important professions that anyone can belong to. We take school-teaching so much as a matter of course that the profession is not apoken of perhaps, or thought of, as of such importance as it deserves. But if anyone thinks of the enormods responsibilities that are placed in the hands of school teachers—thnt the futore of a nation depends on the conscientious care of the growing young poopls cf this cobntry - we must all admit that the responsibilities are of the heaviest kind. You are going to South Africa to undertake a task which is of the greatest importance to that country, and you are going there to represent, not only our colony, but also the teaching profession of New Zealand. Wa hope th'»t oar teachers are as well equipped as those of any other count'y. At all events, we have always had reason to be proud of thetn, and we feel quitt certain that when you come back you will do so with tha personal satisfaction th'it is given by good work accomplish' d, and with thu thanks of the Hume Government, and of the different Administrations under whom you will have served. J d'.sire, on behalf of m) department, to wish tint all good luck and every go"! fortune may ut'end you. •ha'••your health will be gtoJ, that your work will ha pleasant and tuccwsfu', and tint you may c 'too hack tgain at the end of your year's st-rvioe with a certain co' fi-it nee that ) ou are coming back to rh«> bvt coun'rw in the w»ild We hliall be g'ad to see you back again, Und to follow your fontsteps and your work while you are away,"

'i' J. G. Ward also uniit a w j ind wordf, rnsd cordially echoed Iw sentiincurs giv.sn expro.-sion to by ,i« coi eagues. The last contingent of roopfi that was dip itched from New leiland to South Africa was, he said, :nown as the " Trusty Tenth." The eaehers followed so eoon afterwards, hat h•> thought jr. svas right that, they, s representing the. teaching profession j n the colony, should be known collecively by some short denomination. It lid been Suggested to him that they •hould be known as th<» " Learned

tilflventh, and na ttiought tnat prombly nothing more appropriate in the ihapii of a name could be piven to hrm. The colony as a whole would ook with a great deal of interest to :he work the teachers ware :>houfc to indertake. The Minister for Eiuntion also presented to each teacher \ silver fernlonf brooch, bearing the ietters " N.Z," and ihe proceedings ilesed with " Auld Lang Syne," and the " National Anthem."