MISSIONARY SCHOOL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 6, 4 December 1926, Page 3

MISSIONARY SCHOOL.

CLOSING EXERCISES. _ A visit to the New Zealand Missionary School at Longburn this morning by a “Standard” reporter found a sceno of activity, the pupils in residence busily preparing for the recoption of 100 or more visitors from all quarters of the Dominion—from tho North Capo to Invercargill—who will attend tho closing exercises on Sunday evening, which will mark .the termination of another year’s working. The school, which is a very handsome building, stands in extensive grounds and is a fitting monument to the early activities of tho movement in the Dominion. Thirteen years ago tho Oroua Missionary School, as it was then called, was opened, an area of 30 acres having been secured for that purpose. However, this area proved inadequate, and in 1919 15 acres was added by the generosity, of a neighbour, Mr G. F. Wright. Owing to lack of accommodation, a number of students were for some years housed in several buildings of a temporary nature, but this situation was rectified at the beginning of 1924 by the addition of a second storey to the dormitories. The passing years revealed that even greater accommodation was needed urgently, both for class rooms and housing purposes and to-day finds the work of erecting two new wings in its initial stages, but it is hoped that the additions will be completed for tho re-opening of the school in March next. Tho institution has a two-fold pur-pose-first, the training that will develop such, character as will stand in time of trouble, and the preparing of young men and women to carry the everlasting gospel to this world in this generation. Tho year closes with a roll of 60 students, but the addition of the new wings will permit of increasing the strength of tho school to about 98, after making amplo allowance for parlours where tho students will bo able to spend their leisure hours in comfort, tho one on the oastern wing being for tho young men and that on the western wing for the young women. Tho estato, consisting as it does of 45 acres of excellent agricultural and dairy land, is conveniently divided into paddocks of a suitable sizo for grazing and rotation of crops, wlrilo tho orchard is now capable of producing a fair harvest of apples, pears, plums, gooseberries and peaches, whilst tho garden supplies an abundance of excellent vegetables. On tho farm are grown potatoes, peas, beans, onions and also crops for tho winter feeding of the dairy herd. Every endeavour is made to make the school self-supporting, nnjst of what is eaten being grown on the estate. All maintenance work is done by the school, every student being required .to spend 15 hours pec week in some kind of labour assigned by tho management. The young ladies, under the direction of the matron, prepare tho food and perform the general housework and the young men care for the farm, garden etc., credit being allowed for this work so that, while receiving a practical training in various lines, the j student is also reducing the amount | to bo paid in fees. Duo allowance is naturally made for tho students fulfilling their studies, while music is also one of tho subjects contained in the curriculum. The music room, which is away fiom the main building, is most complete, being a series of small rooms with a larger one at the rear. The walls are lined with felt and run right up to the roof itself, while all doors aro double, thus making each room sound proof. Tho school, while possessing a number of fine vocalists, also has its own orchestra of some 20 instrumentalists, who pfesent many fine entertainments for tho edification of the other inmates. In conversation with

one of tho students, the reporter was informed that, while looking forward to his visit to his people, lie had spent such an enjoyable and profitable time during the year now closing that lie was leaving tho school with a fdeling of reluctance.