E—No. 4

The average attendance of scholars for the year 1860, was one hundred and four; for 1861, seventy-seven. In the month of February, 1862 there were one hundred and fifteen names on the books. Of these, fifty-eight were Ngatiporou (Waiapu District) ; twenty-seven Ngatikahungunu (Te Wairoa, &c.); thirteen Titangakouiti (/I'okomaru District) ; twelve Rongowhakaatu (Turanga); one Ngatitapti (Turanga) ; and four half-castes- Of these, two are orphans, and are received as Maoris ; the other two are clothed by their parents, who also pay five pounds per annum towards their support. Their ages were—twenty years and upwards, male and female (the latter being the wives of the senior scholars), 50 ; fifteen to twenty years, 13 ; ten to fifteen years, 16 ; the remainder under ten years. The time is disposed of as follows : — Religious instruction for all 6to 7 a.m. Men—School 8.30 to 11a.m. Work 11 to Ip.m. Boys—School 11 to 1 Women—School 9 to 11.30 a.m. Dinner, for all, 1 p. m. Men —Work 2to 5 » School , sto 6 Boys Work 2to 5 School , sto 6 Women—Needlework 2to 4 School 4to 5 Prayers, for all 6 p.m. On Saturdays, only the forenoon is devoted to these duties. The scholars provide their own books for Maori lessons. Of English books there is a pretty good supply. The lesson hooks at the time of inspection were, " The Circle of Knowledge, or reading without spelling." This appears to be more suitable for Maori schools than anything that has yet been published but a work specially prepared for them is much needed. Maori Reading. —All the men read fairly ; of the boys eighteen read well, four indifferently, in the lowest class nine knew their letters, and four were beginners. Arithmetic. — Men ; sixteen understood Simple Multiplication; seven Long Divisoin; seven Compound Multiplication; three the Rule of Three. Boys : fifteeu understood Addition ; ten Multiplication ; nine Division. Geography. —Men : twenty-eight were examined, the questions being put in simple English. One answered readily, the rest imperfectly. The boys were better than the men. Writing. — (in copy books). — Men : Six are good; fourteen indifferent; seven bad. Boys: — seven good ; five indifferent. It was observed that the amount of writing done was very small. English Reading. —Eight men were examined. They read two or three pages of words of one syllable with tolerable facility, but their pronunciation was so bad as to make it necessary that the eye should follow the book in order to understand what was said. They translated English into Maori pretty well. Of the boys, twelve read words of one syllable in the same manner as the men; nine knew their letters. Great difficulty has been experienced on this head, the whole of the instruction in English having devolved upon the Manager. It is hoped, however, that with the arrival of the Teacher from England, a new impulse will be given to what is certainly the most important branch of Maori Education, and is most anxiously desired by the Natives for their childten. Singing is taught on the system introduced by the Rev. A. Purchas. They seemed to take considerable pleasure in the exercises, which were, however, performed in an indifferent manner. The discipline of the School appears to be imperfect. There was an evident lack of that prompt and cheerful obedience, especially among the boys, which it is so necessary to instil into the minds of the Maori youth. The want of this is one of the greatest evils of the Maori social system, and makes it more imperative that it should be strictly enforced at their public schools. William B. Baker, R.M.

REPORT ON THE TE AUTE NATIVE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, IN THE PROVINCE OF HAWKE'S BAY. Mount Herbert, 25th June, 1862. Sir, — In compliance with the request conveyed to me in your letter of the March last, I have made a careful enquiry into the condition, past and ptesent, of the above Institution, and beg now to forward my Report thereon.

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ON NATIVE SCHOOLS.