3

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been as regularly attended as I could have wished; but as the new school building will be fit to be occupied in a few days, I expect to see a better attendance than hitherto. The number of children on the roll is 41, of whom 2 are Europeans, 1 half-caste, and 38 Natives; the largest attendance being 40, the smallest 31, and the general average 35. There has been a great delay in the erection of the school buildings at this place, owing to the difficulty of procuring sawn timber in the district, a portion of the timber required having to be brought by vessel from Kaipara. The progress of the schools in this district during the last twelve months is, on the whole, satisfactory, and the progress made by the children good; but the school fees due from the Natives have not been as regularly paid as they should be. This refers more particularly to the Waitapu School. There are also fees due from the Whirinaki School; but as there has been no proper schoolroom or supply of books, I think this is in a great measure excusable. Two new school buildings are now in course of erection at Pakia and Rakau Para, and will be finished very shortly, and I anticipate an average attendance of 40 pupils at each school. The establishment of a school,at Whangape, and another at Waihoa, would, I think, complete the school requirements for this district. It is, I think, difficult to overrate the value of these schools to the Maori people. The children are obtaining a knowledge, not only of the English language, but of English manners and usages, which they carry to their homes, thus conducing to the advancement of both the old and young; and it is not too much to suppose that should these schools continue in operation over the country, as at present, that a few years will see a large section of the Maori people, to whom the English language and ideas would not be, as they now are, a sealed book. If a small sum were allowed annually to each school, to be distributed in prizes, it would, I think, have a good effect, and might be the means of inducing a more regular attendance than at at present. The present made by the Government to the Waitapu and Waima Schools, of cricket bats, &c, last October, has been a great source of amusement to the children, and been much appreciated. I have, &c, Spencer Yon Stunner, Resident Magistrate. The Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington.

No. 5. Mr. R. J. O'Stjllivan, Inspector of Provincial Schools, Auckland, to the Hon. the Native Minister. Sir, — Auckland, 20th June, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that, in accordance with your desire, I visited the Native Schools at Karakariki (Waipa), and at Taupiri, and at St. Stephen's, Auckland. I now heg to enclose my reports upon the same for your information. In the absence of specific instructions, I confined my inquiries principally to matters affecting the teaching in the schools. I have ventured to make some suggestions as to the teaching of English in Native Schools, which I hope will meet with your approval. I have, &c., The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Richard J. O'Sullivan. Taupiri {Waikato), sth May, 1874.—0n list, hoys and girls, 24. Present—girls, 16. Eight of the pupils, I was told, had gone home to their parents. Maps, &c., in the school— Europe, Africa, Asia. Ball-frame and reading cards. No map of the World or of New Zealand. No black-board. No desks. The school is held in the church. The knowledge of the pupils was very slight indeed. Nearly all of them, I was informed, had been but a very short time at school. The girls are not taught sewing. Some picture reading cards in the school are found very useful. The want of a black-board, of desks, and of the maps of the World and New Zealand, seriously impair the efficiency of the school. The teacher, Miss Heta, speaks English well, and has an excellent manner. Of her other attainments I had no opportunity of judging. Karakariki Native School, 4th May.—On roll : boys, 33 ; girls, 18=51. Present—boys, 28; girls, 10=38. I was informed that 8 girls and 5 boys were sick, and had gone home. Maps, &c., in the school — Europe, New Zealand, Africa, Asia, Palestine. A very small black-board. No map of the World, picture wall cards, or ball-frame. . This school is situated on the left bank of the Waipa, about nine miles from Newcastle. The schoolroom, 30 feet x 18 feet—large enough to accommodate about 70 pupils—is unlined, and appears out of repair. The school furniture can scarely be called adequate. There are two teachers, —Mary Barton, principal teacher or manager; and Wm. Osborne, assistant teacher. They are both Natives. I consider the pupils' knowledge of arithmetic very satisfactory, so far as it went. Their writing was, on the whole, very fair; their knowledge of geography, or rather of the maps they had studied, fair. A few of them could read English fairly; a few