E—No. 4.

the morning ; I try to get them in the afternoon." In answer to other questions, Mr. Macdonald stated, " There are prayers at the school-house at 6 a. m., by the Native teacher, and at 7 a. m. at the College for any who choose to come. I come down to the school-house at the Point about 10 a.m. :if the boys are at the College, I teach them there, if not, I come to the Point. School then from 10 to 12, after that they are supposed to go to work at a trade, or at farm labour. They work the rest of the day mostly. Evening prayers at 7p.m. by the Maori teacher. They are made to wash their clothes and keep themselves clean." Subjects of instruction.—Figures, writing, surveying, reading Maori and some English. They take their books and slates to their own whares :we saw very few indeed. From the sixteen who were mustered for us to inspect, the following results were obtained :— Three could write fairly ; four could read Maori fairly, only one could read English, and that only in words of one syllable ; three worked a sum in reduction ; two were said to be able to do sums in mensuration, but on being given a rectangular parallelogram of so many chains, length and breadth, only one could find the area. Generally, there was a want of completeness, readiness, and intelligence even in what they could do. General Remarks. —Management bad, discipline so lost as to be almost non-existent; cleanliness Very insufficient; a general " laisser-aller" system prevails. Nothing but the most vague and looselyworded information could be extracted from Mr. Macdonald. He appears unable to make himself obeyed or even attended to by his scholars ; he complains of having an unmanageable lot, many of them being the Kawau powder robbers, and one the ring-leader in that affair. An error appears to have been committed in trying to turn almost the whole population into scholars. In the meantime the Inspectors are of opinion that the population of North Shore Point are receiving more harm by the tacit sanction of their Maori bad habits by their teacher than good in the way of instruction. We, therefore, suggest that the Government should intimate to the Roman Catholic Board of Education that, in consequence of the exceedingly unsatisfactory and insufficient discipline, management, registry of attendance, and instruction at St. Mary's School, no further grant will be paid until the school be again inspected and reported upon more favourably. There are 5 half-castes in this establishment, 3 boys, and 2 girls. ST. ANN'S R. C. SCHOOL FOR NATIVES OF BOTH SEXES. Inspected February Ist, 1862. This establishment is divided into two entirely distinct schools, that for men and boys, and that For women and girls, the buildings and grounds being separated by a fence. The boys school was inspected without any previous notice, about 10 a.m. The Superintendent of the girl's school had some hour's notice while we inspected the boys, and while she sent to the Bishop for leave for us to inspect the girls' school. Men and Boys School. Daily average attendance.—The Rev. Mr. Garavel having been Superintendent during the past two weeks only, could not give us the average attendance for the past year. The present attendance, as shown by the Register, is 19, 13 of whom were mustered for inspection, and of this number 7 were adults. Land and Buildings.—Eighteen acres are attached to the College ; quality very poor, they are fenced in; 6 acres are under crop in potatoes, melons, and pumpkins. The boys' school-house consists of one large lofty wooden building, without chimney or fire place, which serves as a school-room, dormitory, kitchen, and dining-room ; it has an earthen floor, and is rather dirty ; fourteen bunks are arranged along the sides. Besides this building, there are two Maori whares near the beach, one of them with a chimney. In th«se sleep five of the men and boys ; they appeared to be tolerably neat and clean, and had bunks in them. No monitor or teacher sleeps in the large dormitory. Footh, Clothing, and Bedding.—The scholars are clothed by the College, the supply appeared sufficient ; in winter they are allowed extra blue shirts or coats ; their clothes were rather dirty and ragged ; they are allowed one clean sheet weekly ; the girls wash for them ; they are also allowed two blankets each. _ m m Food at breakfast, potatoes. Dinner, potatoes ; a little meat three times a week, sometimes fish. Supper, potatoes, and sometimes flour. They make use of plates, knives, and forks. Average cost per head.—Of this, Mr. Garavel could give us no estimate. The friends and parents of the scholars do not contribute in money of any kind. The Roman Catholic Board of Eduation allow £10 per head to this school. Division of time.—7 to 7J a.m. school. Breakfast. 9to 10 school; 12 dinner; 4to 5J p.m. school; Bto 9 school. Saturday a holiday. _ _ .Subjects of instruction.—Reading and writing, English and Maori, arithmetic, singing, scripture, They work on the land in the intervals of schooling, are not taught any trade or handicraft. The books and slates are in good preservation. In writing in copy books 5 were good, 6 indifferent. Maori dictation 3 good, 3 indifferent, English dictation (easy phrases) 1 indifferent, reading Maori, 4 good, 4 indifferent. Reading English (monosyllabic words,) 2 good 1 indifferent. Arithmetic Rule of Three, 2 indifferent ; Long Division, 4 good, 1 indifferent, 1 bad; multiplication 1 good, 1 bad; addition, 1 good. They sang a hymn in unison tolerably well.

19

ON NATIVE SCHOOLS, 1862.