NATIVE SCHOOLS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1873 Session I, G-04

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1873. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE SCHOOLS.

INSPECTOR'S ANNUAL REPORT.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency.

The Inspectoe of Schools to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sic,— Napier, 30th June, 1873. St. Stephen's, Auckland. —The first school visited by me this year was that of St. Stephen's, Auckland. Here I found twenty-eight Native boys, between the ages of seven and sixteen (against eighteen of last year) ; eighteen of these were Maoris, and ten half-castes, besides whom there were ten European boys, who pay Is. each per week to the institution. The Natives appear to have been gathered from Coromandel, Waikato, Mahurangi, Whangarei, Bay of Islands, East Coast, and Rotorua. The appearance of health, comfort, cleanliness and good order of those children left nothing to be desired. There has been no sickness, nor has a doctor been called in during the year. The reading of the pupils was good, and their pronunciation well attended to; their spelling and writing from dictation also were good, as was the arithmetic of the first class, though that of the lower classes was indifferent. Small progress has yet been attempted in geography. The master appears zealous, able, and on terms of perfect confidence with the pupils, who talked with me and with him with greater freedom in English than I found in any other school. The master and mistress aro underpaid as compared with the masters of village schools, who receive after the first year £100 a year (at least), their work and general responsibility extending over four hours daily for five days a week, whilst that of the master of St. Stephen's lasts over the twenty-four hours of every day in the week, and takes in, not only their education, but their food, clothing, lodging, conduct out of school, and everything connected with them. This he brought strongly before me; but as he is engaged and paid by the managers of the institution, out of the capitation grant and other funds supplied to them, I do not feel called upon to offer any recommendation on the subject. The Government grant is supposed to be supplemented by a contribution of £5 per pupil per annum by the parents ; but this seems a very precarious source of supply. The bedding also is supposed to be furnished by the parents, and, as a rule, this appeared to be good and sufficient, though in some few cases rather slender. I visited them at their dinner hour. Their food seemed to be excellent, and sufficient in quantity, and the whole management and appearance of the institution reflected great credit on the Rev. Mr. Burrows, the master, and the pupils. I only regretted that such good buildings, large funds, and able management should not be devoted to educational purposes of a higher character than to such as are more readily obtainable in the village schools. The Native schools which formerly existed at the Three Kings, the North Shore, and other localities near Auckland, continuing in a state of collapse, as reported last year, I proceeded from Auckland to the Bay of Islands, Whangaroa, Mongonui, and thence by land (accompanied by Mr. Bertram White, Resident Magistrate, who kindly went with me through his district) to Kaitaia and Ahipara. Ahipara. —This school, which I reported last year as nearly completed and a master nominated, has since been opened and very ably conducted by Mr Josiah Masters. I know of no case in which the results of energy and aptitude for teaching are more evident than in this school. At my visit of last year the numerous children about the kainga were squalid, dirty, and half-naked; since then the schoolhouse has been completed, and I found fifty-four pupils in school, between the ages of seven and eighteen years, of whom forty-eight were Maori, one half-caste, and five Europeans. Their appearance was quite changed: all were clean in person ; and excepting in the case of orphans (to whom I have before alluded), were well clothed. There were three pupils absent, and the master anticipated a further addition to his numbers. They seemed to be cheerful, orderly, and respectful, perfectly under control without the use of the rod. Indeed, the master emphatically declares that if he could not manage a school without the aid of a rod he would give up the task altogether; but I am bound to say that his brother (also a successful master) is not of that opinion, and I allude to the subject in the hope that if this report be circulated amongst tho schoolmasters, it may be useful as enabling them to compare the experience of others with their own. , The attendance at the Ahipara School has been regular, and their progress good ; their reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic, all that could be expected from six months' tuition; their pronunciation is well attended to, and all instruction is given in English. The hours of attendance are four and a half; the pupils healthy; no death has occurred. The Committee are useful, and anxious to assist the master, with whom they seem thoroughly satisfied. I—G. 4.

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I may here mention, in connection with the part that Natives should take in the education of their children, that they had proposed to pay £40 a year towards the master's salary, to which I acceded on the part of Government. My belief is, that such contributions should vary according to the pecuniary position of the Natives; for whilst in Hawke's Bay, for instance, they have fertile lands, improved farms, rents from sheep runs, and other means of wealth at hand, and where they drive carriages, ride on horseback, scorn to work for wages, and lead such a life of ease and self-indulgence as Europeans of no class habitually practise, I see no reason why they should not contribute at least one-half of the cost of their children's education ; whilst onthe other hand, in some districts in the North where their lands are poor, where they are remote from Europeans, and have scarcely any other means of obtaining money than by kauri gum digging, or the sale of a few head of cattle occasionally, I conceive they should be required to make but a small contribution, and that, not for its pecuniary value, but because they will not otherwise take proper interest in the school. I found, however, that the Natives will not recognize such consideration for the poorer districts otherwise than as an injustice to themselves; and having agreed to receive a contribution of Is. per month per pupil in some cases such as I have indicated, I found myself obliged to consent to accept the same rate from those of Ahipara and Pa-renga-renga, and I fear this rate will eventually have to be adopted throughout the Colony. Pukepoto. —This is the school alluded to in my letter of 14th March, and in your reply of 25th April, 1872 (Papers relating to Native Schools, F. No. 5, pp. 12 and 13), in which it was reported and agreed to that the sum of £50 having been generously contributed by the Auckland Provincial Government towards the erection of a new schoolhouse, a similar sum should be contributed from the Native School Fund, which would, it was supposed, when added to contributions of timber and of labour by the Natives, be sufficient for the purpose. But the proposed plan of building having been objected to by an officer named by the Provincial Government, a further sum of £40 became necessary to carry out his requirements, for want of which the erection of the schoolhouse has been delayed and the health of the pupils has suffered, though no death has occurred. As this is a purely Native school, and as the joint action of the General and Provincial Governments has not worked well, I proposed to the Auckland Board of Education I should recommend that the Pukepoto School should be entirely supported from the Native School Fund —the schoolhouse and 12 acres of land given by Timothy Busby, and at present vested in the Superintendent of the Province, to be conveyed to trustees nominated by the Natives, and appointed by the Governor, in conformity with the Native Schools Acts. This has been assented to, provided it can be legally carried out (see the Secretary's letter annexed) ; and as the effect would be to bring the management of this school into conformity with that of the other Native schools, I beg to recommend its adoption, and that, for the health of the pupils and the expansion of the school, no time be lost in lodging with the Resident Magistrate the sum of £40, in addition to any unpaid balance of the £50 already granted. I found forty-three pupils present in the school, between the ages of six and seventeen years, of whom forty were Maoris, one half-caste, and two Europeans. Their progress in reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic, and writing from dictation, was good —indeed the success of the school in a house not large enough for half the pupils was extraordinary. Mr. Masters, the master, is an enthusiast, restless and excitable. to a degree which to a visitor is distressing, yet no schoolmaster is more successful, and that in the face of all difficulties. I imagine the parents and pupils must recognize his anxious earnestness for their well-doing, for the result is admirable. He does not encourage (and indeed seems unwilling to receive) any co-operation from his School Committee. The pronunciation of English seemed to be well attended to, and I found the older boys able and willing to talk with me. Their manner was respectful, and the appearance of the pupils generally clean, their clothing good—their conduct reported as docile and orderly—the attendance (four and a half hours a day) very regular. The master has introduced singing by note (or numbers) into this school with great good effect, both pupils and parents taking great interest in the part-singing, and I am happy to say that his example has been followed in the other schools of the district. In this respect and in others, such as the simultaneous singing of the multiplication and other tables, the masters of the Kaitaia schools have contrived to give a life and interest to the work which is very wanting in some other schools. Awanui. —This is one of the schools to which I have alluded as having .already produced a marked change from ragged squalor to decent cleanliness in the appearance of the Native children. The master, Mr. Ernest Matthews, has been very zealous and successful. I found thirty-eight pupils in the school, of whom thirty-six were Maori, and two half-castes. Their progress in reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic, writing from dictation, &c, was good for tho period under instruction. They appeared to be in thorough accord with the master—their conduct orderly and respectful —their attendance (four hours a day) regular—their health good—no deaths. I am happy to find that it will be necessary to enlarge this school, as its numbers are increasing beyond the present accommodation. From Kaitaia I proceeded to Ururu, in the neighbourhood of which Mr. White, R.M., desires to establish a school, in connection with which subject I may say that I invited Mr. White and other Resident Magistrates to consider the question of a system of schools which should provide for the education of all the Native children of their districts. I consider that our efforts to educate them in the English language, which hitherto may be considered as of a tentative character, have been so far successful as to call for more systematic and extended movement, in all districts where the desire for schools is strongly and distinctly expressed. Mongonui Districts. —I beg to annex Mr. White's and Mr. Yon Stunner's reports, containing suggestions for schools which would educate all the Native children of their districts; and believing as I do that those schools, if carefully established and properly nurtured, would speedily convert the Maori into a good imitation of the Pakeha, I strongly recommend their reports to your favourable consideration. Returning by Whangaroa to the Bay of Islands and Waimate, I was sorry to find that the stagnation and inertia which seem to have settled down upon that district have been too much for the arrangements made upon my last visit. Aaeo. —At Kaeo, Whangaroa, where, as I reported last year, there is a Native church not now

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used as such, and suitable for a schoolhouse, wanting only some trifling alterations and repairs which I undertook upon the part of G-overnment, where there was also an experienced schoolmaster, desired by the Natives and willing to undertake the work, nothing has come of it. Waimate. —l arrived here on Saturday, when, it being a holiday, I could not see the pupils. 1 however saw the schoolmaster (Mr. King), who gave me a very discouraging account of his school—of the drunkenness of the adult Natives of the district, and of the irregular attendance, indifference, and even insolence of some of his pupils. There is not even an accommodation house for strangers at Waimate (though there has apparently been a grog-selling license, of most evil consequences), and I was obliged to return to the house of a gentleman some miles from Waimate. Here I was flooded in for a fortnight, and unable to proceed either to Waimate, Mangakahia, or Hokianga without losing more time than my other duties would permit. I had opportunities, however, of visiting Mr. Edward Williams, Resident Magistrate, Mr. Henry Williams, Chairman of the Oromahoe School Committee, and Mr. Marsden Clarke, who has kindly taken an interest in the schools in the absence of his brother the Venerable Archdeacon Clarke. . \ Ohaeawae.—As regards the school proposed to be erected at Ohaeawae, and for which all preliminary arrangements wore made last year, no action appears to have been taken. Mr. Henry Williams was at that time elected Chairman of the School Committee, but no intimation was given him of his election, and having subsequently, accepted the chairmanship of the Oromahoe Committee, he declines that of Ohaeawae. Kaikohe. —l understand that some small action is heirtg taken here in the way of sawing timber. Punakitere. —Here an endowment of 100 acres of good land was offered by the Natives, and to find the timber for the school, and place it on the ground. Nothing has been done. Oromahoe. —This place alone affords any sign of vitality. So soon as Mr. Henry Williams became aware that he had been elected Chairman of the Committee (which was not till long after his election, and then by accident), he took the necessary steps to set the school in motion. It is now nearly completed; a master (Mr. Jameson) has since been recommended by the Committee and appointed, and I hoj^e soon to hear that the school is in successful operation. These schools strongly illustrate the effect of interest or indifference of Europeans towards them upon the Native mind. If they are led and encouraged, they will cordially co-operate ; if no interest is taken, the Natives become as indifferent as the Europeans. Mangakahia. —I regret very much not having been able to reach this school, and also that Archdeacon Clarke, who used to visit the settlement periodically, has now gone to Australia. It is scarcely ever visited by Europeans. The schoolmaster (Mr. Eraser) reports that for the last six months his average attendance has been thirty ; his greatest number thirty-five, of whom thirty were Maori and five half-caste ; the least number, twenty-two ; their ages from four to fifteen years. Their progress in English and in writing remarkably good ;in other branches fair; their attendance, which is from 10 to 12, and from 2 to 4, is remarkably regular ; their health is on the whole good; no deaths, though as many as eighteen pupils were really ill at one time from influenza, induced by their habit of playing in the rain before school time, and sitting all day in their wet clothes. With few exceptions, they are clean and decent in appearance, but not in habits. He has no difficulty in managing them. The Chairman (Kamareora Te Wharepapa) is particularly useful to him; the rest of the Committee are merely nominal. I append Mr. Eraser's letter for further information. Waima. —Of this school Mr. Yon Stunner reports that he visited it on the 21st ultimo, and found sixty-one pupils present in school (fifty-five of whom were Maori and six half-caste), between the ages of six and sixteen years. They were remarkably neat and clean, and moderately well clad; their progress in reading, writing, spelling, dictation, simple arithmetic, and tables, was very satisfactory for the time they had been at school ; their pronunciation was necessarily imperfect; their intelligence great. Mr. Yon Stunner found no difficulty in making himself understood in English, which only is used in their instruction. The greatest number of pupils has been sixty-three, the least number thirteen, the average fifty-one. No serious case of illness has occurred amongst them. The hours of attendance are three and a half, viz., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with an interval of half an hour. Mr. Yon Stunner adds, " Their health does not seem to be affected in any way ; in fact, a more healthy, merry lot of little faces it would be impossible to find anywhere." The schoolmaster, Mr. Moore, seems to command the respect of the pupils, and the Committee seem to be well satisfied with him. They take great interest in the school. Mr. Moore complains that the Native portion of his salary is not well paid, but the Committee have promised to see to the matter. They have been slow to carry out their undertaking to collect £50 in consideration of the contribution of £100 promised by you, but Mr. Yon Stunner is pressing the matter upon their attention. Waitapu. —He reports of this school that he visited it on the 23rd ultimo, and found forty-one pupils present in school, between the ages of six and fourteen years. Of their progress in reading, writing, dictation, arithmetic, tables, and object lessons, it would be difficult to speak too highly. They were clean and neat in appearance, well conducted, and seemed much attached to their teachers (Mr. and Mrs. Watkin). The greatest number of pupils has been forty-four, the least nineteen, and the average thirty-five. The attendance is increasing ; the number on the roll (but not apparently present on any one day) is fifty-four, of whom twenty-eight are Maori and twenty-six half-caste. (This is the largest proportion of half-castes that I have met with in New Zealand.) The hours of attendance are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No illness of any kind has occurred. There have been twenty-two admissions this year, and six withdrawals, of pupils who have left the district. The whole instruction is given in English, and the correct pronunciation and knowledge of English, after so short a time, is very great. The Committee take the greatest possible interest in the school, and express their great satisfaction with the way in which it is conducted. Mr. Yon Stunner most heartily concurs, and recommends the increase of Mr. Watkin's salary to £100 a year, to which he becomes entitled after the 30th instant. The Native portion of his salary is regularly paid, and there are no arrears to date. Hokianga District. —l beg to commend Mr. Yon Stunner's report to the attention of all who are interested in the subject. He indicates the following localities for Native schools, to complete the provision for the education of the children of his district, Hokianga:—Whirinaki, Waimamuku, Waihau, Mouth of the Maungamuku, North side of the Whangape River.

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Kaipara. —I had intended on my return to Auckland to visit the Kaipara district, having, as I reported last year, met the principal chiefs of that district in Auckland, and subsequently visited Kaipara, by arrangement with them, but was unfortunately unable to get the leading men together. A small steamer has since been placed upon the Kaipara waters, and I hoped this year to have opened the district to Native education. Tour Memorandum, however, of 22nd March last, precluded my visiting a district until a school had been initiated by the Resident Magistrate or other officer, and I can therefore give no further information as regards Kaipara than is contained in my report of last year. I proceeded, therefore, from Auckland to Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty, and on the day following my arrival visited the school called "Whareroa," on the opposite side of the harbour. I found twenty-one pupils present in school, of whom seventeen were Maori, two half-castes, and two Indian and Maori half-castes, between the ages of five and eighteen years. The greatest number had been thirty-nine, and the lowest twenty-one, at which number I saw it. The appearance of the children was clean and neat —their conduct orderly and respectful—their reading, spelling, writing, and writing from dictation, were only moderately good for the time the school has been in operation (two years) ; their knowledge of arithmetic and tables was good; geography they were only commencing. Their pronunciation of English was bad, and they had little knowledge of colloquial English. The master appears to be competent so far as his own knowledge goes, but his heart does not seem to be in his work, and unfortunately for the pupils he has acquired some knowledge of their language, in which his instruction, or rather his explanations, are given. There is no Committee such as the Native Schools Acts provide, but there is a nominated Committee of some two or three ; but excepting the chief Hori Ngatae, no one has taken any interest in the school, which he says has not been visited for two years. The schoolhouse, which is surrounded by three acres of worthless land, is in the wrong place, so far as Native population and the jealousy of hapus is concerned. I was told a promise had been made that a sleeping-house should be provided for pupils coming from a distance, and that authority had been given for tne expenditure, but no house had been erected. I promised to bring the subject under your notice. There is altogether an air of languor and depression about the establishment, such as I noticed at the Bay of Islands, but I think if a proper Committee were elected, with an active chairman, who would visit the school once a week, and encourage the master to keep away from Tauranga, of which he appeared somewhat too fond, to stick to his business and take a pride in his school, that a little more life might be infused, and the Natives induced to take advantage of the school, though it may be a little out of the way. Maketu. ■ —Erom Whareroa I went on to Maketu. I found the school in a state of collapse—shut up, indeed, as regards pupils, but still in the occupation of the late master. As I was told an inquiry had been held into his conduct, and a report made to you, I need not here allude further to the subject. I understand a new master has since been appointed. Matata. —Proceeding on to Matata, I inspected the school under charge of Mr. and Mrs. Creek. I found thirty-five pupils in school, of whom thirty-one were Maori, three half-caste, and one European. Their reading, spelling, and writing from dictation, were but moderately good; writing good; pronunciation of English bad, and no attempt at colloquial English. The pupils were less cleanly in appearance, and worse clothed, than in any school which I had previously visited ; and their attendance was reported to be very irregular. Vet, notwithstanding those unfavourable circumstances, I was more favourably impressed by this school than by some others of which I have been able to report more favourably. It is a lawless district, comparatively, but the Natives seem to be in earnest. The pupils come from long distances, riding, some of them, twelve miles to school; bringing food with them to last from Monday to Friday; then returning home for Saturday and Sunday, but living in great discomfort during the school days. The master and mistress also appear cheery, hopeful, and anxious to do well by the pupils. They complained of the same neglect that I heard of in every school in this district (even the late master of Maketu School attributed his misfortunes to the absence of any supervision), but at Matata there seemed to be a disposition to make the best of things, instead of the worst, as I find sometimes the case. I strongly recommend compliance with the Native Schools Acts, as to Committee, school site, &c, and, if possible, the election of some European residing in the neighbourhood as Chairman of Committee. It seems the Natives have hitherto paid £40 a year towards the master's salary, but they complain this is too much for them, and, after due inquiry I promised to recommend that their future contribution should be Is. per month per pupil, as in so many other cases. Ohiwa. —The next school is that of Ohiwa, which I did not visit on my way to Opotiki, nor indeed had I heard of it until I met with Mr. Brabant, Resident Magistrate of Opotiki, who kindly accompanied me on my return, when we visited the school together. It is one of those which show the disposition towards self-help which the Natives sometimes evince when earnest about a matter. William Marsh, the well-known Rotorua chief, appears to have secured the services of a Pakeha (Mr. Avent) on his own account, and giving up to him a small Native house, a school has there been carried on since August last. I found about a dozen or more pupils, men and boys, busily at work sitting on the ground with their slates on their knees, having neither desks nor forms, and but little light, yet making good progress ; better indeed as regards speaking and spelling English than in some schools having greater advantages. A subsidy of £40 a year has, lam informed by Mr. Brabant, since been given to this school, and books and other necessaries are being provided. Whakatane. —The next schoolhouse is at Whakatane, where there is a large Native population. It is the cheapest and best built school which I have yet seen, the contract having been taken at £140. If a good teacher be appointed here, I have no doubt the school will be a great success. Opotiki. —l found here no semblance of a Native school. There is an excellent Provincial school, attended by a large number of European children, and by one remarkably intelligent little Maori boy. It seems to have been intended for a mixed European and Native school; was opened about April last, when eight or ten Natives attended; but they fell off speedily to the one whom I have mentioned. I saw the chief Hira Te Popo in company with Mr. Brabant, and pointed out the propriety of his sending his children to the school, but he objected to the distance (a mile and a half).

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It was suggested to me, however, that the fact of the Natives being Eoman Catholics, and the teacher a Presbyterian clergyman, might be a greater objection than the distance. I was impressed by the great ability of Mr. Martin as a teacher, and should recommend, in case of the establishment of a superior school for Natives, that his services should be obtained if possible ; at present the Native School Fund simply sacrifices any salary paid from it to him. Mr. Brabant informs me that the following additional schools will complete the arrangements for his district. Omaramutu. —Here a school has been completed for the children of the surrendered Whakatohea. There are eighty-eight children living close to the building, and it is expected that at least half of those will attend. The Government has furnished £160 for this building. Torere. —Here two acres of land have been given by the Natives, who have also promised £75 towards the schoolhouse, for which the Government has also authorized £200. Te Kaha. —Here also two acres of land have been given by the Natives, who have also promised £55 towards the schoolhouse. No specific authority has been given yet by the Government, but a general approval of its erection has been received by Mr. Brabant. I am not aware what contribution is to be required from the Natives towards the schoolmaster's salaries in this district. Mr. Brabant is of opinion that the above school will supply ail the requirements of his district. Boto-iti. —Eeturning from Opotiki to Maketu, I proceeded thence to Eoto-iti (near Eotorua), and on tho 22nd ultimo inspected the school there under charge of Major Wood. I found only eighteen pupils in school, all Maori, whose ages varied from five to fifteen years. The numbers vary greatly, from the peculiar circumstances of the locality (the Lake district). The highest number has been, sixty-one, the lowest (the day before my arrival) ten ; the general average has been about forty-five. The pupils come by canoe from Taheke, about a mile; from Mourea, two miles; from Huharua, one mile; from Euato, eight or ten miles, which takes three hours' canoeing. They bring food with them from the long distances to last them the week, and live in small whares near the school. There ia something very remarkable in this keen desire for schooling on the part of the Natives who have to seek it under such difficulties. The appearance of the pupils was clean and decent, their behaviour respectful and orderly; their reading, writing, spelling, and arithmetic wore good for the time they had been at school. The instruction is given only in English. Their progress and pronunciation were fair. The health of the pupils is good. The hours of instruction nominally from 10 to 12, and from 2 to 4, but as the place is very isolated, and there is no other amusement or occupation for either master or pupils, those hours are often lengthened. Major Wood states that he has a nominal Committee, but Waata Tanui, the chief of Taheke, is the only one who assists him, and he is very useful and anxious for the success of the school. Eoto-iti is so out of the way that there has been great difficulty in getting workmen to undertake the necessary work. There has been no supervision, and the consequence is that what has been done has been not only very expensive, but miserably performed —everything, indeed, requires alteration, repair, or improvement, and I shall have to recommend considerable further outlay upon this school. Lake Tarawera. —I was not aware until I heard it from Mr. Henry Clarke, Civil Commissioner, that he had shortly before established a school at Lake Tarawera. He has kindly furnished me with the annexed memorandum, by which it appears to be under the charge of Mr. Cowan, whom I understand to be also a medical man. Mr. Clarke found, upon a recent visit, sixty-eight pupils in the school, between the ages of eight and fifteen years, and from their earnestness he anticipated success. The Natives have given two and a half acres and contributed £50 towards a schoolhouse, to which the Government has added £100, w rhich Mr. Clarke thinks will be sufficient for the purpose. Eor the present, school is held in the church, the use of which has been kindly allowed by the Eev. Mr. Spencer, and the Natives have given the use of a house of five rooms for the master. I have directed the usual supply of books, <fee, for fifty pupils, to be furnished to Mr. Cowan, and have authorized tho usual supply of school furniture. Eeturning to Tauranga, I had to proceed again to Auckland for passage to Poverty Bay, which I reached on the 29th ultimo, and the following day inspected the school at Turanganui. Turanganui. —Here I found thirty-two pupils present in school, of whom twenty-three were Maori and nine half-caste; the greatest number has been seventy-one, the least thirty-two, and the average fortyfive. The appearance of the pupils was clean and decent, their behaviour orderly and respectful; their progress in reading, spelling, writing and dictation fair, considering the time the school has been in operation. The schoolmaster is able, but does not appear to have any special love for his work, which however he appears to attend to conscientiously during school hours, the rest of his time being spent in the adjacent township of Gisborne, where he has a night school and other occupations. He does not appear to receive any assistance from his Committee in the way of visiting, or otherwise showing interest in the progress of tho pupils, and on the whole there seemed a want of life and vigour in the school. This may arise, however, from a feeling of irritation caused by the knowledge that though they have an endowment yielding £400 a year, the Committee have not hitherto had the means of spending even trifling sums for the comfort and convenience of the master and pupils, the school property continuing unfenced, and other desirable improvements unattempted. But I believe all this will now cease, as a payment of £70 will be made to the Committee, and a large yearly income bo at their disposal. Prom Turanganui I proceeded up the East Coast to Tolago Bay and Tokomarua. I last year extended my journey to Tuparoa and Waiapu, where I made arrangements for the erection of schools ; but as they have not yet been put in action, I have, in accordance with the Memorandum of 22nd March, abstained from visiting those localities. I understand that great difficulties have arisen in the erection of those schools, and some change in their positions, owing to tho great difficult}'of landing the timber in the places selected, and the expense which would have arisen in removing it from the spot where it was necessary to land it to those where the schools were intended to be. Other complications have also arisen from the absconding of the contractor, who had undertaken the erection of the schools, before their completion; but they are being finished by his sureties, and I hope no further obstacle will arise to retard their opening. Since writing that part of my report which alludes to the drunkenness that I witnessed on the

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East Coast, I have read the statement in the Hawke's Bay Herald, which I annex herewith; and as it describes a state of things amongst the chief men and promoters of schools north of Tokomarua worse even than that which I have described, and as it is vouched by the signature of the writer, I beg strongly to call attention to the facts that he discloses. Tokomarua. —Here I found twenty-five pupils present in school; of whom seventeen were Maori, six half-caste, and two European; their ages varying from eight to eighteen. The numbers have varied greatly, from eighty-five to ten; the average up to March being seventy-two, and during April sixty-two ; the hours of attendance from 10 to 12, and from 2 to 4. Their health has been good, except from influenza ; and there has been one death— a child of seven years old. The appearance of the children was clean, and their conduct respectful; their progress in reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic was small; their pronunciation of English good, so far as it went. The master has, I imagine, no special gift of teaching, but both himself and wife appear thoroughly interested in the Natives, and anxious in every way, in school and out of school, to improve them in all ways. The chairman of his Committee is described to me as drunken and immoral in the extreme, and he is the only man to whom the master can look for assistance. I think the coming year may possibly produce one of those changes which sometimes suddenly occur in the habits of the Natives; but at present the prospects of this school are not very hopeful. Uaioa, Tolago Bay. —Eeturning to Tologa Bay, I inspected the school at Uawa, which, notwithstanding the unfavourable circumstances which attended its opening, and the drunkenness which is so prevalent in its neighbourhood and amongst its Committee, has already effected a change amongst the children which the residents tell me is most remarkable. The master, Mr. Parker, appears to have obtained a control over them which has already reclaimed them from habits of theft, insolence, and general annoyance, which were much complained of, but have now in a great measure ceased. I found the temporary schoolhouse which the Natives have lent for the purpose completely filled with pupils. I have misplaced my memorandum of the actual numbers, but they could not have been much under fifty, chiefly Maori, but with a few half-castes ; the order, regularity, silence, and observance of the pupils were complete. Their progress in reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic excellent. Mr. Parker is ably assisted by his wife in the management and teaching of so large a school; and I was much impressed here, and in some other schools, with the great effect which is obtained by a teacher who knows his work, compared with that of one who, however well informed himself, has never been accustomed to teach others. I recommend, therefore, that two or three additional teachers should be always employed in assisting our best schoolmasters, so that they may be themselves instructed in systematic teaching, and be replaced by other candidates as they themselves are appointed to the charge of schools. The attendance at Uawa is for the usual four hours. The health of the pupils is good, and there have been no deaths. I received from the Committee, before leaving Tolago Bay, a written agreement to bear half the necessary expense of a new school building, and certain additions to the schoolmaster's house. Whakato. —Eeturning to Poverty Bay, I inspected the school at Whakato, about ten miles from Gisborne. Here the numbers were so small, only ten pupils being present in the school, that I could form little idea of what effect is being produced. The numbers who have attended are as high as seventy-three, and the lowest seven ; the average to 31st March was fifty; from that date to middle of May, twenty-five ; from then to tho day of my inspection, ten. The master attributes the falling off to the gathering in of the crops, and thinks the general progress of his pupils tolerable. He gave me the idea, however, of being a most amiable and willing man, without any aptitude for the work he has undertaken. He says he has received no assistance whatever from his Committee, has never even received a visit, but has no trouble in managing his pupils. The general result seems to me, that in the most beautiful spot in Poverty Bay, with a good schoolhouse, a possible number of seventy-three pupils, a rich Committee who have considerable rents from sheep runs, the most fertile land, and every advantage, the school is dying of inanition. It would give me great pleasure to hear that a better appointment had been found for the present master, in some other line of duty; that an active, intelligent, and experienced teacher had been .appointed to Whakato; and that a little emulation was excited between it and the school at Turanganui. Eeturning to Gisborne, I took passage to Napier, my inspection in the Auckland Province having occupied me nearly three months. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. A. H. Eussell.

Enclosure 1. The Secbetaby Boabd of Education, Auckland, to the Inspectob of Schools. Sib, — Board of Education, Auckland, 23rd May, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge your Memorandum of sth May, and to inform you that the Board will agree to the transfer of the Pukepoto School on the terms which you propose therein, and will agree to the appointment of new trustees if the Superintendent can divest himself of the present trust without expense to the Board. I am, &c, Eeedeeick J. Moss, Colonel Eussell, Napier. Secretary.

Enclosure 2. The Eesidewt Magistbate, Mongonui, to the Insfectob of Schools. SlB a — Eesident Magistrate's Office, Mongonui, 21st April, 1873. I have the honor to request that you will be good enough to bring to the notice of the Government the application of the Natives of Kaitaia for assistance in establishing a school near

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Kaitaia (Victoria). Tou have the particulars of their offer, and engagement to carry out certain portions of the work. I need not, therefore, further enlarge upon this offer than to cordially recommend it to the acceptance of the Government. I must confess, sir, that I have never been a very sanguine believer in the support that the Natives themselves would give to this educational scheme, but the tour of inspection which wo have together taken through this district has tended very much to strengthen my hopes. I am sure you will cordially agree with me that nothing could be more encouraging than the progress which has been made in this district, aud this in spite of some rather disturbing elements. Tou will remember, on your last year's tour (I was at the North Cape at the time), arrangements were made relative to the Kukepoto School, established by the Provincial Government. The schoolhouse, a building lent by Timoti Puhipi, was far too small, and not fit for the purpose ; it was therefore arranged that the Provincial Government should give £50, and tho General Government £50, towards the erection of a new schoolhouse. Timoti Puhipi gave 12 acres of choice land; which has been conveyed to the Superintendent. Now it appears that through the interference of Mr. Eenton— I cannot say whether authorized or not by the Provincial Government—the building of the schoolhouse has been delayed, and further that the estimated cost of the building will not cover the actual cost by £40. 1 do not think it is likely that the Provincial Government will consent to pay this extra £40, or continue to pay the school teacher £60 per annum, the half of the salary now paid him, the other portion being paid by the General Government. I would therefore suggest that as this school is of a purely exceptional character, that the General Government should take over the whole responsibility of the school, paying the teacher and the extra sum required for the building —assuming, of course, that the Superintendent will hand over the endowment of 12 acres to the school trustees, otherwise there is every probability that the school will lapse. The scholars have made so much progress, and the teacher is so zealous, that I should be very sorry to see any check to its advance. A school was also started at Awanui. The people being poor, and it not being supposed that a full complement of children would be able to attend, an arrangement was entered into that the parents should pay £20 per annum, the Government paying the remainder of the teacher's salary. The school has progressed well under Mr. E. "W. D. Mathew's teaching, and afforded a most gratifying sight on Tuesday last, the parents taking the greatest interest in the examination their children went through. The Ahipara School has been established six months —Mr. J. Masters teacher. There has been a large attendance. This will in all probability be the largest school in the district, now that the vexed question of how the teacher's salary was to be paid has been settled —Is. per month for forty pupils, £24 per annum paid by the Natives, £56 by the Government. This arrangement has given great satisfaction. There is another pleasing element in this school, wanting iv the others: the European settlers about Ahipara send their children, and is a practice which I should like to see more general. Of the schools generally, I was very much pleased at the progress the children had made, the apparent facility with which they master their lessons, their clean and tidy appearance, and the very intelligent part they took in the course of examination. I have been looking forward for this opportunity to place before the Government a scheme by which a plain English education would be placed within the reach of the whole Native youth of this district at a very moderate cost. I cannot conceive that a Government can have a more noble end to achieve than the education of its people ; but it appears to mo that there is a moral obligation resting on the Government of this country, wanting in others. It is by the superiority of our knowledge or education that we are possessing ourselves of the uneducated man's birthright. But I need scarcely advance argument when I am sure there is every inclination to do all that can be done. I have not had time yet to talk with all the people, but I would propose that the Kaitaia School be immediately established, and the following schools in their order : — 1. Kaitaia, or Lower Victoria. 2. Peria, near Oruru. 3. Kohumaru, near Mongonui. 4. Parapara, near Taipa. 5. Mangataeore, at Upper Victoria. 6. Taupo, on the Coast between "Whangaroa and Mongonui. 7. Herekino, near Whangape. 8. Motukaka, on the Coast between Mongonui and "Whangaroa. In all these schools I quite expect the full number of forty children would attend, except Parapara, where perhaps not more than twenty-five or thirty would be available. This would enable every Native child in the district to attend school at a comparatively moderate cost. The people of this district have no advantages. The European settlers are poor ; and such a class are more likely to act as a check than to improve the position of the Natives. I should indeed be glad if at the termination of my career of active service in the Government, I could see such a benefit placed within the reach of a people I have lived amongst as Eesident Magistrate for the last twentysix years, and from whom I have always received the most respectful attention. Tou have to some extent witnessed the affectionate and respectful manners of the people towards me. But I will leave in your hands, if you approve, to further urge the subject on the attention of the Government. I have, Ac, The Hon. Colonel Eussell, H. B. White, Inspector of Native Schools. Resident Magistrate.

Enclosure 3. The Resident Magistrate, Hokiangi, to the Inspector of Schools. Sib,— Hokianga, 26th May, 1873. I have the honor to report that on the 21st instant I inspected the Native School at "Waima. I arrived at the schoolhouse about 11 a.m., and found the school in full operation, with an attendance

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of sixty-one pupils, of both sexes, from six to sixteen years of age. The children were remarkably neat and clean, and moderately well clad, though a large proportion of the pupils were barefooted. * I examined them in reading, writing (on slate), dictation, spelling, simple arithmetic, and tables, in all of which the answers given were very satisfactory (considering that the school has only been open since January last). Their pronunciation of English was necessarily very imperfect, but the amount of intelligence shown by the pupils far exceeded my expectations. The whole of the examination waa conducted in English, and I had no difficulty in making myself understood. The pupils have received no instruction in geography, as Mr. Moore (the teacher) considers that without maps he would have considerable difficulty in making them understand him. The greatest number of pupils during the year has been sixty-three, the lowest thirteen, and the general average fifty-one. Of these, six are halfcastes, the remaining fifty-seven Natives. English only is used as a medium of instruction. There have been two pupils dismissed from the school for bad conduct. No cases of serious illness have occurred amongst them. The pupils seem to be well supplied with books, and the only articles at present required are maps. The hours of attendance are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with an interval of half an hour. Their health does not appear to be affected in any way ; in fact, a more healthy, merry lot of little faces it would be impossible to find anywhere. Mr. Moore appears to command the respect of the pupils, and the Committee seem to be well satisfied with him. The schoolhouse at present in use ia quite unfit for the purpose, without windows (only wooden shutters), no desks or forms of any description; the children are unable to write, except on slates which they hold in their hands or on their knees, but the Committee are about to erect a new schoolhouse, at a cost of £150 ; in fact I have given them to understand that, unless they do so immediately, I shall be compelled to recommend the Government to discontinue their aid. Mr. Moore informs me that the Native portion of his salary is not regularly paid, and I have spoken to the School Committee on the subject, who have promised to see to the matter. The Committee seem to take great interest in the school, and are doing all they can to forward the erection of the new building. "With reference to the school at Waitapu, in charge of Mr. R. F. "Watkins, I beg to inform you that in company with Mr. John "Webster, one of the principal settlers here, I proceeded to inspect it on the 23rd instant. "We arrived at the school between 11 and 12 in the morning, and found the pupils in school; both Mr. and Mrs. "Watkins were teaching, the number of pupils present being forty-one, of both sexes, from six to fourteen years of age. I proceeded to examine them in reading, writing, dictation, the first four rules of arithmetic, tables (multiplication, money, and weights and measures), and object lessons. It would be difficult to speak too highly of the progress made by the pupils in this school, and Mr. "Webster agreed with me that few European children of the same ages could have answered the questions put more readily and correctly. In dictation, the proficiency was particularly striking, notes of interrogation, stops, &c, being in every instance correctly marked, and amongst a class of twenty pupils, only three errors in spelling occurred. In tables aud arithmetic, the children were all most proficient. The pupils were neat and clean in their appearance, well conducted, and seem much attached to their teachers. The supply of books, &c, with the addition of those now on their way from Auckland, will, I believe, be sufficient for some time to come. The greatest number of pupils during the year has been forty-four, the least nineteen, the average being about thirty-five. The attendance at this school is increasing, the number on the roll being fifty-four, of whom twenty-six are half-castes and twenty-eight Natives; the number of admissions during the year being twenty-two, and voluntary withdrawals during the same period six (who have left the district). No illness of any kind has occurred, and the hours of attendance, which are from 10 to 2 o'clock, do not seem to have affected their health in any way. Geography has been taught in the simplest form for want of maps. The whole of the instruction is carried on in English, and the correct pronunciation and knowledge of English shown by the pupils after so short a time is very great, the letter " s " being pronounced by all with ease, the greatest difficulty being in distinguishing between the sound of "c" and "g." Sewing is taught on Tuesday and Friday in each week, for an hour at a time, and the elder girls are very neat and tidy in their work, but I do not pretend to be a judge of these matters. During the time I was inspecting the children, several Natives had collected about the school, amongst whom were three members of the Committee, viz., "Wi Tana Papahia, Hiriwini Mangu Mangu, and Hori Harimana, all of whom expressed their great satisfaction at the manner in which the school is conducted, in which I most heartily concur ; and I have great pleasure in recommending the increase of Mr. Watkins' salary to £100 a year, upon the completion of his first year's service, which will be on the 30th of June next. Both Mr. and Mrs. "Watkins desire to continue in their present office, and have no wish to leave the district. The school building is a fine spacious weather-boarded structure, well fitted with the necessary desks, forms, tables, &c, and is kept neat and clean; each pupil has his or her own seat numbered, with place for slates, books, hats, &c. The Native portion of the master's salary is regularly paid, and there are no arrears to date. The Committee seem to take the greatest possible interest in the school. One of the sashes of the schoolroom has been destroyed by a gale of wind, and is only repaired in a very temporary manner ; also, a little paint would be an improvement to the interior of the school. A door-step and scraper are also required, and the Committee have requested me to ask you if you would authorize an expenditure of £5 for the purpose of supplying these wants, as the Natives have but little money amongst them. As the Natives have paid up all school fees, &c, I would recommend that if possible the sum named be granted, and I would undertake to see that it be expended with sufficient economy. At both "Waima and "Waitapu, the children are very much given to amuse themselves like other school children, rounders being one of their favourite games ; and I am sure a present of cricket materials, a football, and a dozen tennis balls for rounders, would be acceptable, and beneficial to the health and morals of the children. In conclusion, I am afraid I have hardly done sufficient justice to "Waitapu School, the conduct of

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which reflects the highest credit upon both master and pupils ; and I trust that when the Waima School shall have been as long in operation, I shall be able to report as favourably upon it. I have, &c, Spencer yon Stunner, Colonel Russell, Inspector of Native Schools, Resident Magistrate. Auckland.

Enclosure 4. Mr. De Gennes Feasee to the Inspectob of Schools. Sic,— Mangakahia, Whangarei, Auckland, 31st May, 1873. I am only now in receipt of your two letters, dated respectively 3rd March and 7th May, as I have had no opportunity within the last three months of obtaining my letters from Whangarei. There being a store established at this place, prevents the necessity of Natives going into Whangarei. I have sent copies of the plan you forwarded of the schoolhouse to two different men, one at the Wairoa and the other at Waimate, asking them to make an estimate of the cost. There will be no difficulty in obtaining windows, doors, &c, from Auckland, and having them shipped to Kaihu, and from thence brought by boat via Mangakahia Eiver to this place. W 7ith respect to my school attendance, for the last six months the average number of pupils has been thirty, the greatest number thirty-five, and the least twenty-two. Their ages are from four to fifteen years. There are twenty-one boys .and fourteen girls, five half-caste and thirty Maori children (no Europeans). With regard to their progression, I consider it very fair; and as they show great willingness to learn English, I have great hopes of their speaking English in the course of a few years. I find difficulty in getting them to pronounce certain words, particularly those euding in sh and th. Tho whole of their instruction is given in English, and their progression in English and writing remarkably good. I have not yet taught any geography, but would commence at once had I some editions of geography for beginners, none having been sent from Auckland among the other books, except one edition of Cornwall's Geography, which is useless for young children. I will at foot mention the books, &c, I require. Their state of health is on the whole good, although I had as many as eighteen children really ill at the school from influenza a few weeks ago. The children arrive perhaps two hours before school hours, and in wet weather are out in the rain playing ; they then come in and sit in their wet things all day, so it is not to be wondered at that they should fall sick. With few exceptions, they are clean and decent in appearance, but not in habits. I have no difficulty whatever in managing them, and as you will see from the average, particularly regular in attendance —the hours being from 10 to 12 a.m., and 2to 4 p.m., which Ido not consider affects their health in any way. I should think it desirable to establish a few European games, such as cricket, marbles, and tops. With respect to the Committee, it is quite a nominal one, who have not the remotest idea what their duties are —the only one whom I get asssistance from, and who is really useful to me, being Kamareira Te Wharepapa. The following are the books, &c, which I require : —Geography for beginners, with some large school maps; 1 black board and stand (which I should suggest the carpenter should make when building the schoolhouse), 20 more copies of Nelson's " Step by Step," Part I.; 2 boxes of slate pencils. I have, &c, Colonel Eussell, Inspector of Native Schools. De Gennes Feasee.

Enclosure 5. The Resident Magistbate, Opotiki, to the Inspector of Schools. Sic,— Opotiki, 11th April, 1873. I have the honor to inform you that contracts have been entered into for the erection of Native schoolhouses at Whakatane and Omarumutu, in my district. I anticipate that the former will be completed in about two weeks from this date, and the latter very shortly after. The building in each case is a schoolroom 30 feet by 20 feet, with two rooms attached for masters' apartments. The Whakatane School is erected on a reserve of three acres given by Government, the Natives subscribing one-third of the cost of the building. I think from thirty to forty children may be expected to attend this school. The Omarumutu School is for the surrendered Whakatohea, and is built on an excellent site of four acres given by them. The Government put up the building, but the Natives do some fencing, &c. There are eighty-eight children living close to the building, aud I hope that at least half of them will attend school. I am instructed that you have been informed of my recommendation that Mr. R. O. Stewart of Taupiri, Waikato, be offered the appointment as master to one of these schools; and I propose, if approved, that he should be sent to Whakatane, and that notice be sent him at once. I have also to inform you that there is a school in operation at Ohiwa, eight miles from here, conducted by Mr. J. Avent, which the Government have subsidized to the extent of £40 per annum. I take leave to request that you will be good enough to have sent to me a supply of school books, copy books, stationery, &c, for the three above-mentioned schools. I would also suggest that three or four wall maps be allowed for each. If these are sent altogether to me at Opotiki, I can have them distributed to the different schools. I have funds authorized for desks and other fittings. I have, &c., Colonel Russell, Inspector of Native Schools, Heebeet W. Brabant, Wellington. Eesident Magistrate. 2—G. 4.

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Enclosure 6. Mr. Civil Commissioner Clabke to the Inspectoe of Schoois. I took an opportunity, when on a visit to the Lake District last week, to make a hurried inspection of tho Tarawera School, under the charge of Mr. Cowan. I found a good attendance of children, of ages varying from eight to fifteen years. There were present thirty-nine boys and twenty-nine girls. The school has been too recently established (five weeks) to say much as to their general progress. Some few of the boys are advancing satisfactorily; and from the earnestness of the scholars, I hope that the school will ultimately prove a success. We can hardly expect that the large attendance of children above noticed will be kept up. After the novelty of the thing has worn off, we shall bo better able to judge what the average attendance will be. I venture the opinion that it will be high, seeing that the Tuhourangi have contributed a considerable sum of money towards the establishment of the school. They have given 2{- acres of land in a delightful situation, and have contributed the sum of £50 towards schoolhouse. The Hon. the Native Minister has added to this the sum of £100, which I think sufficient for the purpose intended. The school buildings have not yet been erected, but the Natives have, as a temporary arrangement, given up a house containing five rooms to the schoolmaster, and the Rev. S. M. Spencer has kindly allowed the church to be used as a schoolroom. I considered this a good arrangement, and far better than hurrying the building of a house with green or unseasoned timber. I hope to have the building up in the early part of next summer. Mr. Cowan furnished me with a list of books that he now requires. I have ventured to suggest some reductions, as I have thought it advisable to cut the supply as low as possible till the school is in a thorough working condition. He will however require forms and desks at once, which could be moved into the schoolhouse when built. Would you give me authority for this expenditure ? I have, &c, H. T. CIABKE, Tauranga, 25th May, 1873. Civil Commissioner. By Authority : Georgb Dissbc-y, Government Printer* Wellington.—lSTS. [Price 9d.]