PAPERS RELATING TO NATIVE SCHOOLS.

25

P.—No. 5

Enclosure 5 in No. 27. Feiend the Seceetaet, — Aratapu, 16th December, 1871. Salutations to you. We have seen the Schools Acts of 1867, and a piece of land has been set apart for a school. We are willing to have schools established here for our children at Te Aratapu, Te Kopuru, Oruariki, Opango, &c. From your loving friends, Apeeahama Taonui Henaee Taeamoeeou And 7 others.

No. 28. The Hon. the Native Ministeb to the Resident Maoisteate, Hokianga. Native Office, Sib,— Wellington, 27th October, 1871. With reference to your letter of 17th June, 1871, informing me of the offers made by Wiremu Tana Papahia for the establishment of a school at Hokianga, I have the honor to request you to apprise that chief that I consider his proposals very liberal, and that I feel very desirous they should be carried into effect with as little delay as possible. Tou will inform him that my absence from Wellington, and the press of business consequent on the meeting of the Assembly, have prevented a reply being sent earlier. With regard to the necessary action to be taken, I have to refer you to the " Native Schools Act, 1867," (a copy of which is forwarded herewith), and to request you will explain its provisions to Wiremu Papahia. Tou will observe that the first requisite step is that a considerable number of the Native adults are to memorialize the Colonial Secretary for the establishment of a school, specifying the limits of a district; a meeting will then be called by the Colonial Secretary, and if at this a majority declare their wish that their district shall be constituted an educational one, and are willing to assist in the expenses, it is to elect a committee of not less than three, or more than seven (the majority being Natives), who will choose a chairman and report to the Colonial Secretary. This Committee of Management is to be elected annually, and to carry on the school under the provisions of the Act, and under such regulations as may from time to time be issued. After the receipt of the above Report, the Governor has the power to subsidize the buildings, &c, but not before. In tho case in point, the offers made do away with the necessity of considering the proportion to be borne by the Government for tho erection of a school-house, and the latter arc prepared to comply with the request that they should build the teacher's residence. It must, however, be clearly understood that the endowment of 15 (fifteen) acres as proposed, is to be vested in Trustees, as laid down in Section 2 of Clause 8. On the endowment being settled, the Government will appoint a married schoolmaster, defray his salary, and provide books, Ac. Tou will have the goodness to explain to the Natives the provisions contained in Claues 10, 11, 12, and 21, relative to the method of collecting subscriptions, of making payments, and to the obligation that the English language shall be taught. In conclusion, I have to request you to urge the speedy convening of the preliminary meeting, in order that tenders may be called for at once for the erection of the teacher's house. I have, &c, Donald M'Lean.

No. 29. The Resident Magisteate, Hokianga, to the Hon. the Native Ministeb. Resident Magistrate's Court, Sic, — Hokianga, 16th December, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of the 27th of October last, with reference to the establishment of a school in this district, under the '' Native Schools Act, 1867," and in reply beg to state that I fully explained the Act to Wi Tana Papahia, and others, and that a meeting was called for the purpose of sending an answer to your letter. And a reply was forwarded to you by the last post, signed by the whole of the Natives present, (owing to a severe attack of illness I was unable to attend the meeting). I have since ascertained that the number of children represented by tho signatures to that letter will be upwards of sixty (60), between the ages of six and sixteen years. The piece of land set apart for the reserve is a portion of the Otuaka block, which has been surveyed and passed through the Native Land Court, and is well situated on the banks of the river, and admirably suited for a homestead, being rich land, with a constant supply of water. I have, Sec, Spencee Yon Stuemee, ■ Resident Magistrate.