Dunedin Kindergarten Association.

This association was formed during the present year (1889), for the purpose of establishing free kindergartens for the children of the poorer classes. The association is purely unsectarian, and is supported by voluntary subscription. The annual subscription for members is one guinea (with right of nomination of a pupil), or half a guinea without such right. Honorary members pay 2/6, and children 1/-. Any one may become a life member (with right of nomination of a pupil) by a payment of £5. The following are the office-bearers: President, Mrs. W. H. Reynolds; Vice Presidents, Mrs. Belcher, Mrs. A. S. Paterson and Miss Bathgate; Treasurer, Miss Marsden Smith; Secretary, Miss Kelsey; Assistant Secretary, Miss F. Wimperis; twelve members of Committee, and six members of Finance Committee. The association began operations some months ago, having obtained from St Andrews congregation the use of the Mission Hall in Walker Street free of charge. At present one well-qualified lady teacher and two assistants are employed. The school meets from 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., with an interval of two hours. There are about 40 names on the roll of pupils. The association is still in its infancy, but as its sphere of operations becomes enlarged, and the value of the work proposed to be accomplished by it is more widely known and appreciated, in-calculable benefits will no doubt be conferred on many of the poorer families of the city.

It is worthy of mention that other valuable educational work is carried on in the Walker Street Mission Hall. On Monday evenings there are penny readings, and occasional scientific experiments of a simple and interesting character. These meetings are crowded by the poorer classes in and around Walker Street. On Wednesdays there is a Juvenile Singing Class, and on Thursdays a class for girls for the giving of instruction in household management, &c. It is in contemplation to begin a page 178night school on another evening in the week, for teaching boys the elements of arithmetic, combined with technical instruction of some kind.