PUNIHO NATIVE SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 99, 24 April 1903, Page 2

PUNIHO NATIVE SCHOOL.

FORMAL Ot'ENISQ. j An important step in the educational advancement of the Maoris of this coast is the erection of the first native iecbool on "the coast." Puriiho h'S b: en chosen as the mo-1 suitable ppof, to begin operating uud the. e ;s no ■ioubt if this scbcol proves a stwess ottr rs will fallow in diffure it 'oeatties in the district. Last Wednesday was obosen as the day tor the fo< m-d opev insf, and great preparations iw made tor the eve it, Tbu H-n. the Native Minister was to h*ve presided but on ■irrivalit New Plymouth Mr Carroll found that his presance was urgently ft quired further north, and consequently ho was unable to attend. I'hough disappointment was felt at his absence the affair went off very sucnes >- fully, the function being atendod by a large crowd of natives and Europeans representative cf tLe coas". Amongst those present from a distance were Arobdoicon and Mis Cole, Rjv<>, Bennett, Young and Whits, Mis Evans, ilr aud Mrs E. M. Smith and daughter and Mr Jennings. But before describing the festivities i word as to the school is necessiry. Ttie s'ih'iolh)use is a c impact w I'fioished building fited up with every oonveni-nee obtainable in the country, The dimensions- are 28 x 20, giving seating accoinmoda ion for 40 pupils. The school opened on Wednesday 15ch, ind there are alroady 34 on the roll, 21 of whom, however, are European children. Ttta prospects of the school are excellent, and the Committee and parents are fortunate in h-iving the services of Mr and Mrs P. H. Olemance who hive had a wide and varifd expsriebceof native school work on the East Ojast. The mister's residence is also a nicely furnished building, and the workmanship certainly reflects

great credit on the contractor, Mr Loveridge. The future management; of the fcchool is in the hands of a Native Oommit.tea' composed as follows : Wiki Maukonga, Tama Pere, Henere Pere and Puhara. The first part of the day's proceedings took the form of a public luncheon in a large marquee pitched specially for the occasion. The spread was an exceptionally gr.od one, and rifbeked th« greatest credit on the ladifs of the district responsible, namely, Mesdames Prfc-ke, Ashley, 8 eveoson, Thompson, Hill, and Word-worth, ani Misses Greenway, Bell (2), Gibbons, and So'e. Mr Gret-nway presided, and thebtnquet was keenly appreciated. Th re was, moreover, a hrge company to feid -co l'-ss than tt.ree relays. " When the multitude hid b->en fed" ao fldj )urnm-nt was nnde to the school, whan Mr Greenway agaiii presided. After a few introdu -fcory reraaiks, ivi which he expressed his pl-a-ure at seoiog ho many pr.sant, and theh.itmony that existed between the two races, the Chairman called on Archdeacon Colp, who s'atad that he was gratifi- d when he recjived an invitation to he present, as it gave him tin opportunity of showing his interest in the Maori race. It was to him a plea 3ure to see the tivo races co-mingling and eitiug together in harmony ani assisting to celebrate a good objredone of the finest objects in life, the education of i's people.. They were uaited to give effdet to a grand purpose —to educate the natives to become a batter, nobler, and a purer people. He could not conceive anything nobler than that. It was, indeed, one of those platforms upon which they all could meet and join hand-) they wero united to bring up the Maori and European racos together, to be made nobler, better, aod purer men and women. Tne world in which we live required nobis man —men of strong mental and moral character, and thiie was nothing that would eff c. this be'tnr than education of the mind, for the education of thi heart would certainly follow. He wished also to urgo upon the native: that in educating thsir children they should ba taught to preserve tho nobkst trad tions of their r-ice - traditions ex-

lending for mnturi-s backhand of su;Ji a character that nothing excelled fcfcem ia European ' isfcory. He would siy educate the children so that they might shoulder to shoulder with the pakeha and take thoir pait in rh* making of a great nation, *nd, at the game time, to kvep ever bcfo-e thorn the noble traditions of their great and glorious forefathers. (Applause) Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., said it was a source of great pleasure for him to ba preseut on that memorable oc-oar-ion. He congratulated the district on the distinct advance made, and especially the committee who had instituted and carried on the important work. The buildings, he said, wi:rs first clfiss, but he believed that in a *hort time the school and house would be too small, and when that time cams ho would be to assist them in every way possible. He wished tlw i school every sucuoss, and he believed ] that imdev Mr Oleraanoe fch« school .vould thriva and He thou referred to 'he pleasure with which hi* desciiptions of the natives wme listened

i to in the Old Country, and expressed his pleasure that '■ he n<itiv«s warn shovvi ing sijjm of improvement on evoiy ' hand in the sb .pa of better residences and general living, whilst th« school > was another important step in th-> right' direction. (Appliusp.) i j Mr Jwniogs M.H.R., after expres-: sing his pleasure at r« : ins» present, siid t the Hon. Mr Carroll would have b en , ■ as pleased. As a colomil, tho " fusion of the two rices was to him an ' ; interesting question. The present! i function was exceptionally gra'ifying: , in view of the trials and troubles of • both races in the early days. It was, also an evidence of the earnestness of 1 Mr Carroll on behalf the Maori race. t He had been a memhar of the Native I p Affairs Committee of the Legislative.; • Council, and could speak with authority on this subj-et, «nd wh. n he said there ' wore now 103 schoo's in the colony; de iling wi' h th? education of the Maori \ I children, ha thought it could he truly ! said tint the Government were ■ ■nuch towirds elf-vntine tho Maori 1

■-ihildrf n. He would urge the native j p treats to seod their children regularly, j as no good re-ults would ensue unless ' this were done. He hoped the soho.il , •rould increase year by year, and that ' ■ he children would ba healthy and \ strong, both intellectually and physi- i callv. (Applause) j Rev, F. W. Bennett said it was. Vai-dly necessary for hira to say how p'eased and gra'ifiod he was to have. • he opportunity of meeting so many. people under the "ew school rnnf. As i'«s known, Mr Grav and he tadii-l vitcd an officer fiom thn Education Department to cme up and 8)e for himsilf the necessity for a native school in the Puniho district, A ' met Mr Pop*, who cam o up, on the \ pwsent site, and, after hearing 'hem,'l he gave tho impression that the school ' Vould be buils. The Government, how- ' ever, were apparently like the Maoris, ] great believers in " Taihoa," for that i

interview took place three years ago. (LtUs?hter.) However, they could congratulate tbenvelv. s that tbey hud now a fine school and a good mister, ho tha' he f«k bucoiss was assured fram the j start. In fsct, the Heating aecomm>I dation at thu school was already near the prescribed limit, and more d.skwere already wanteJ. He expresel his pi insure with Mr Can-oil's interest in the Maori r.ue, a»id touching on <ha liquor traffic as (.fitting the native, spjke of the degrading ■ ft ct it had <-u hem, and he was glad to say tha 'during the coming session the law would be s>m mied s> as to give the a vote in the local option poll At present they h*d no voice in the matter wtnttsver. H« was gratified at the eviJ-uv interest of tht> pjkehas in che Maori p opb, and, speaking of the future of the Maori, be did not think hey would ever b"c«me extinct and di«t out, hut he believed the Maori nlood would be almost entirely absarbod by the p ikeha, and out of the fusion would spring a grand nation of Nkw Zeilandera—men pr jud to trace their ancestry to the demi-gods of the Maori race. If such were to take place, they mujt level up tbe Maori to the pikehu sandatd. He was glad to note the interest the Government w.is taking in the natives, and he hoped the fohooi was only the f >rerui,ner of miny mo r e in the best intercuts cf the Maoji peipl j. (Liud apphuae.) Kev. White spoke a few words of appreciation and encouragement. Rev. Young added hie tribute cf preis' and reminded tho Funiho piop'.o that the eyes of Taranaki were n i w upon them and that it behoved them to maintain a high standard of efficiency. Spsaking of maintaining the traditions of the race he sugges' od that some outward symbol should be shown by the collection of curios iu connsction with the school.

Mr Gray (one of the principal promoters of th.i school) iu his speech poinded out tint the salvation of the Maori was in caring for the young p'ople,ind this sentiment had promp'ed him to U56 his best efforts in promoting the school. He also spake highly of the R<sv. Bennett's untiring serviops in connection with the school, and oneluded with expressions of pleasure tha*: such perfect harmony cow existed b> twean the two races.

Kihui spoke feelingly of the assistance given by Messrs Bennett and G<av. the Ma ris, be said, looked forward to the time when there wou ; d ba a true fusion of hoth rac6B) but the Maori had first ti be educated up ti tha European standard for he added characteristic ;lly " W« c ,nnot weld red iron and cold—the Ms o ri inn must be rßd too,"

Raogi, Tangahon, Mr Buck (a riding native atuler ) and other influontul ur>tiv.-8 ftlso spoke. Mr Elvin, one of the oldest residents ef the co is*-, spoke a word* of (appreciation and Bp'cklly referred to the desire of ihe older youths and maid 6! s for a night school. Mr E'win hoped this could be done, though ha point' d out that it was beyond Mr Olemanc-'s duties, but probably fee could be induced to start a class.

Mr Olemance (the master) returned think* for the many kindnesses shown hirn by the aiUlera since his arrival at Puniho.

The Chairman during the proceedings apologised for the unavo'dab'e absence nf Mrs Doughwrty, Father Ongne'; and Mr and Mrs Dockrill (Mayor and Mayoress of New Plymouth). The procwdings oloeed with three hearty cheers (proposed by Mr Smith! for the ladirg and gentleman responsible for the arrangements. The Reception Committee consisted of Messrs Greenwav, Priske, Ashley, Oaptaia Knight, Hill, Thompson .v d Griy (secretary) and they certainly deserved all tha praise bestowed upon them.