5

G.—4

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