Feilding

New Zealand Tablet, 1 November 1906, Page 14

Feilding

(From an occasional correspondent.)

With the knowledge that Catholic education is con-, sidered a matter -of the greatest importance by the ' Tablet,' and through its columns by its numerous readers, a few notes with a local application may not be without interest. With the establishment of a convent school in our progressive- town, it was a foregone conclusion that . a want, long and keenly felt, would be supplied, and results in the attendance of pupils speedily realised the most sanguine predictions, as already, after only eight months' activity, there are over sixty day pupils, for whose teaching accommodation the facilities are totally inadequate. St. Joseph's Convent as such is certainly «, credit to the town, and for its special purpose is calculated to supply all needful requirements for many years to come. Up to the present some of ■ its larger rooms have been- utilised as class-rooms, not because of their suitability for such a purpose, but to collect the children as a first measure, and eventually prove the need for providing accommodation on definite and permanent lines. The time for extended _a,cti6n has -evidently presented itself, and the congregation— with that generosity so marked a feature of our people everywhere, and certainly not lacking here— are. urging their genial pastor, the Rev. Father O'Meara, to at once undertake ' the erection of a separate school building. Fortunately, the Catholics of FeildiiTg'a're possessed of plenty of ground space, so far as regards site, so that with their present fine convent and parochial residence, together with the church and school which is to follow, it will be equipped equal to any centre of like proportions. Casually visiting - the convent recently, I was most kindly received by the Sister Superior (who, by the way, was brought up in an atmosphere of sohoolteaching) and the three assistant Sisters of the congregation of St. Joseph of Naxareth, an Order famed wherever established for success in the teaching profession, educational and musical; and was shown over the fine spacious, and well-appointed . building which has been recently described. The pupils have just gone through the first examination by the inspector of the district- Board- of Education, with very satisfactory re;sults,-, although details are not available. Apart from the ' teaching > and care of the children," the Sisters since their advent haye^ exercised a most- beneficial fn.fluence in the community, a^ result which is a marked •feature wherever and -whenever so . circumstanced. As showing the appreciation in which the Sisters are held, quite a large percentage of their pupils jn .Feilding are non-Catholics, especially so in regard to musical studies., - . , „.-. .•- • '