NATIVE SCHOOLS.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 193, 12 August 1896, Page 3

NATIVE SCHOOLS.

Accosding to the report of Mr Popo, Inspector of Native Schools, the number of children ptt.endizjg tho native village schools increases rapidly. The average weekly roll-number in 1893 was 2,220; tn 1894 it was 2.4-'4 ; in 1895 it was 2,655. The . trict average nttendanee for these thvce j-ears has been as follows:—l,sßs in 1893; 1,775 in 1894; and 2.084 in 1895. The prepondtrance of Maori chiidreu among the pupils is on the increase. In 18'J4 they constituted 73J[ per cent; but in 1895 they were 76 percent, tlie remaining ,24 per cent being made up of balf-ca. te children (9 per cent) and European or inclining lo European (15 per cent). Forty-i-ix per cent of the pupils are over the age of ten years. Besides the childien here enumerated, there were in December, 1896, as mnny as 1,894 Maori and half-c. ate children <BO7 Maori, 103 half-castea Jiving as Maori, and 984 half-castes living among Europeans) attending the oidinary public schools; and there v. ere 75 Government scholars and 143 others at the iour denominational bomdiug-echools for natives. There were also 12 Maori boys apprenticed

to trades (4 with blacksmiths, 3 with saddlers, 2 with printers, 2 with carpenters, and L with a farmer), instead of holding scholarships at boarding-

neighbours and friends of his throughout the vicinity. "In the early part of 169.:,'' siys Mr Jackson, " I began to feel weak and ailing, I was low in spirits, and my bodily utrength seemed to to leaving me. There was a bad and nauseous taste in my mouth; my appetite, which had always been good, failed until I had no real desire for food whatever, and after eating I had much [lain at the chest and a fulness around the Hides. My stomach always felt BUitNiXG nor, and 1 had a gnawing pain at the pit of it. " I remained in this general condition until August of the same year when I was taken worse. My legs began to swell, and rheumatism set in ali over me, more particularly in the hips and back. Noloc.l treats ment had any effect upon it. It grew worse and worse, until I was no longer able to rise from my chair without assistance. In truth, I had no power over myself, and could not MOVE A YAIID WITHOUT HELP. " 1 suffered so much with meke paix that I could not lie in bod, and FOll OVER TWELVE MONTHS I NEYEII HAD MY CLOTnES OFF. " During this time I was attended day and night, being literally unable to do anything of importance for myself. All the sleep I got was taken in naps and snatches while I was bolstered up in my usual place in an easy chair. Under the terrible strain of the pain and loss of proper rest my nerves broke down so that any uncommon event in the house or n ise was more than I could bear. My heart was very bad, and thumped until I could scarcely atay in the chair and endure it. - " The doctor who had charge of rny case said my condition was critical. He said that my lurigs and liver were badly affected, and that I had Bright,s disease of the kidneys. Still his medicines did me no good, and after attending me ten months he said he could do no more for me. " I then got a doctor from Bolton to see me, and he held out but slender hopes of my ever getting any better. I thought the sume, and so did all who saw me. " In October, 1893, my daughter, Mrs Dickinson, of Bolton, told me how she had been benefited by taking Mother Seigle's Curative Syrup, aud thought it might possibly help me. I had small faith, but there could be no harm in trying. So we sent at once to Mr Pare, the chemist, in Ford Koad, Bolton, for enough to decide whether it would do me good or not. After taking it a short time I felt better. I could sleep better, and had some appetite for food, and what I ate agreed with me. This was hopeful and cheering indeed. '' I kept on with the the Syrup and it acted wonderfully with me. The worst symptoms abated, and I gained strength. Soon all the water in my legs passed off, and the rheumatism troubled me but little. Still using the Syrup, my condition continued to improve iu every respect, until I once more stood on my feet, and felt like a man of this world. I can now

walk fob miles and have no pain. All my friends think as I do—that under the circumstances my recovery was notliine short of marvelous. You