A very interesting story , thanks , Elaine. thanks also for taking the time to type it out for us all Ray >From: Elaine Mattsen <mattsen@paradise.net.nz> >Reply-To: nz-auckland@rootsweb.com >To: nz-auckland@rootsweb.com >Subject: [NZ-AUCKLAND] HBH 1892 Aug 2 page 4 AUBERT >Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2007 08:56:22 +1200 > > >HBH 1892 Aug 2 Page 4 AUBERT > >**NB by Elaine-typed as written > > >A trip up the Wanganui River-From the Otago Witness. > >When we reached Hruharama (Jerusalem) we went ashore to pay our respects to >Sister Mary Joseph, whose name and fame have recently been blazoned forth >in the chemists' shops and advertising columns of the newspapers of the >Colony. > >We found the old lady at home dispensing medicinal aid to a number of >waiting Natives in front of the Mission buildings, where there is a level >grassy space over-shadowed by well-grown oaks of no inconsiderable size. >We found her to be a pleasant, shrewd old Frenchwoman, speaking English >with a slight foreign accent, and she received us graciously. > >Asking us to excuse her for a few minutes, she attended to the wants of the >waiting Maoris, and then invited us to inspect the schoolroom. She informed >us that it was a difficult matter to do much with the Maori children, as >they are subjected to little if any, parental control, being free to go to >school or run wild as they list, and they choose the latter alternative-as >I fear most children, whether white or dusky, would if left to their own >sweet will. > >The good sisters, of whom there are eight, have some half dozen white >children of vicieus parents as the nucleus of their school, and we saw >these children at play in the sunshine, looking healthy and happy. The old >lady informed us that progress was rather slow, but that they had >influenced the Maoris for good. > >A neat little church, with a lofty, tapering spire, stands on an elevation >above the village, forming a pleasing feature in the landscape, and is a >monument to the self denying labours of the sisterhood by means of which >the funds have been recently provided for its erection, the former church >having been burnt down not long ago. > >Besides the nuns there is a missionary priest resident here, who >occasionally visits Ranana, where there is also a little church. The Rev. >Father has also another flock besides his dusky parishioners, as he owns >700 acres of land which he has acquired from the natives, and which has >been cleared of bush and sown down in English grass. Sister Mary >hospitably presented us with some enormous and delicious apples, besides a >glass of raspberry vinegar and water. > > > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >NZ-AUCKLAND-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >quotes in the subject and the body of the message _________________________________________________________________ Live Search delivers results the way you like it. Try live.com now! http://www.live.com