Pukekura Training School, New Zealand
By F. L. CHANEY
The second term of the Pukekura Training School closed July 20, and as we take a brief backward glance, we find much cause for gratitude to our God for his prospering hand in the work. The attendance has remained about the same as during the first term, the enrolment in the advanced department being fifty-seven, and in the primary department, fourteen. Classes have been conducted in the following subjects: Bible, grammar, arithmetic, bookkeeping, physiology, English history, ancient history, pedagogy, Latin, algebra, geography, penmanship, reading, spelling, drawing, vocal music, cooking, sewing, and carpentry. Throughout the year a class of about twenty pupils has been taking lessons on the organ and piano, under the efficient instruction of Sister Edith Caro. At our Friday evening social meetings we have been cheered as we have listened to the students bear testimony to their faith in the living Christ and his power to save from sin, and we trust that he which hath begun a good work in them “will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Wrongs can not be righted, nor can reformations in conduct be made, by a few feeble, intermittent efforts. Character building is the work, not of a day, nor of a year, but of a lifetime. Several more students are desirous of being baptized, and Brother Smith is now conducting special studies with them. Our much-needed laundry is now completed, and the old laundry building, which was a part of the cottage on the place when the school purchased the land, is now being used as a blacksmith shop. One of the students contributed liberally toward getting the blacksmith forge and tools. The work done there is a great saving to the institution, and we trust will also be a factor in practical education. In the plumbing department several large tanks have been made, a waste water system has been provided for each floor of the wing, and various utensils have been made and mended. A fire-escape for the back part of the building has been erected, and each week we have fire-drill. The carpenters have been kept busy finishing the laundry and school building, and making washstands, tables, etc., for the school home. Some paper-hanging, painting, and varnishing work has been done. Acting upon instruction received from the school board and conference committee, a part of our dairy herd has been disposed of, and the grass land has been plowed for wheat and other crops. We now have in about forty acres of wheat, and the seed and manure for twenty acres more. Cleaning out swamp-ditches, hedge trimming, wood carting and cutting, orchard pruning, and other lines of work have kept the farm boys employed. In January, 1908, the net worth of the institution, including the “Christ's Object Lessons” account, was £2,021 5s. 4d. In January, 1909, it was £2,313 9s. 7d. July 20, 1909, it was £2,648 2s. 6½d. All current accounts are paid to date. While these figures show a steady increase in our net worth, yet there have been times when we have been very hard pressed for cash to meet promptly our current accounts as they became due. We feel thankful to God that the industrial feature of the work has, even in this early stage of its history, been the means of helping so many to attend the school. But while God has been faithful, we do not feel at all satisfied with our own efforts. Much more might have been accomplished in every line had our consecration, wisdom, and diligence been greater. But forgetting the mistakes of the past, and with the prayer that we may be taught the lessons we should learn by these failures, we look into the future with hope and courage, confident that the work God has established in his providence will be carried on to a successful issue.