Page:Letters from New Zealand (Harper).djvu/145

 mining, but a good boatman, a character in his way, and seldom absent from All Saints Church.

We have lately found a posse of boys and girls, much neglected, arrivals from Australia, attending neither day or Sunday School, and have begun a night school for them in a large iron building on the beach, built for a store, but hitherto unused. School is held four nights a week, with large attendance; the building being convenient, with a large central room, and several smaller. Our experience has been very encouraging, but certainly novel; no difficulty with those inside the bulding [sic], but outside we are beset with larrikins, who lurk about in the darkness and deliver every sort of attack on the walls and roof with stones and sticks; the walls and roof consisting only of iron, unlined with wood, the clatter and row caused by their missiles at times almost prevents work. To meet the enemy, we have formed a bodyguard of strong young fellows, who patrol the building every night; frequent scrimmages take place, but only add zest to the business, and I find no lack of volunteers for it. My post is that of Superintendent, with occasional teaching, and a watchful eye, sometimes also a ready hand, in case of any insubordination, a sort of argument which the lads understand and respect. One night the street door banged open, and a dead goose, well aimed, took me full in the breast, followed by the capture of the rascal by the patrol, and condign punishment quickly administered. Another night came a noise on the roof, and in a few minutes a boy who had clambered up to the top of the wide iron chimney, intending to chuck stones down it, missed his hold, and slid down to the hearth, fortunately fireless. Promptly seized, we kept him