G.—2a.

2

gratifying to visit this school and note the progress the children make. It has been long established, and the children are more advanced than in any other of the schools in the district. Awanui, —This school is also progressing very favourably; the average attendance 14'39, is not so good as I should have hoped, but there is no doubt of the progress made by the children. In both this and the Pukepoto very great proficiency has been made in singing, and it is really a most interesting spectacle to visit the school during the singing lessons. Kaitaia.— Average daily attendance, 1822. Considerable progress has been made since the completion of the school-house ;it has made the school more popular. I have already reported on the requirements of this place. The teacher and wife are very insufficiently accommodated. Peria —I look upon as the best school in the district. The people seem to be more impressed with the advantages offered to their children by education, and are more willing to make the necessary sacrifices towards that end. They contributed very liberally towards the erection of the school premises. Mr. Capper, the teacher, seems to be heart and soul in the subject. The allotment has been fenced and cultivated, and presents quite a pleasing appearance. The daily average attendance is 39, and very considerable progress has been made. With men like Mr. Capper, success is almost certain. This is the only school from which I can obtain the stipulated fees. From Pukepoto I received a promise to pay the £25 annual fee on the receipt of their land revenue, but I have not received a farthing. The other schools have not even promised to pay. I should think little of this if I thought the people would have difficulty in providing the means to educate their children, but I know for a fact that they have ample means, which are mostly spent in debauchery. I begin to fear that these schools will remain a charge on the Government. Notwithstanding that I feel this, I cannot close this report without hoping that the schools should be continued. The very great advantages to the rising generation will amply reward any sacrifice that may be made now by placing their young people in a position of equality with the children of the European settlers in carrying on the business of life. I have, &c, W. B. White, The Under Secretary, Native Department. Eesident Magistrate.

No. 3. Mr. von Stubmeb, E.M., Hokianga, to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sib, — Resident Magistrate's Office, Hokianga, 22nd May, 1875. Enclosed I have the honor to forward a report on the condition of the Native schools now in operation in my district. With the exception of the Waitapu School, the report will, I conceive, be considered most satisfactory. It will be observed that resident Europeans are so pleased with the manner in which these schools are conducted that they do not hesitate to send their children to attend them. Owing to the resignation of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips in the beginning of last April, the Whirinaki School has been closed for the past month ; but Mr. and Mrs. Holmes having been appointed to succeed them, the school will re-open in a few days. During the month of February the measles was very prevalent in this district, and the whole of the schools were closed for two or three weeks. Three of the children, attending Eakau Para, Waitapu, and Pakia Schools respectively, died of this complaint; otherwise the health of the school children has been good. Mr. Hill, the teacher of the Waitapu School, gives as a reason for the falling off in the attendance that at the time the school was compelled to be closed on account of the measles the pupils were dispersed amongst the various settlements, and that it has been difficult to collect them again. Thia may be in part true, but it must be borne in mind that this school was the first established in Hokianga, and was built at the express desire of the Natives on a piece of ground at least two miles from any settlement, they stating to Colonel Eussell that it was their intention to form a new settlement close to the school-house. This, however, they have not done; hence, on the establishment of other schools, the parents sent their children to the nearest and most convenient, as I find at each of them one or two of the pupils who formerly attended at Waitapu. For this reason Ido not expect that this school will ever have a very large average attendance, probably not over twenty. I have spoken very seriously on this subject to the members of the committee and Mr. Hill, pointing out to them the necessity of doing their utmost to maintain the character of the school. At Eakau Para, Mr. Harrison, the teacher, has for the last two months employed as an assistant a Native named Eorona Paniana, who has a fair knowledge of English, which he acquired at Kaitaia. As there are upwards of sixty pupils attending this school, I would be glad if the Government would make a small allowance to Paniana as an assistant master. At the schools where a female teacher is emploved the girls take lessons in sewing, also assisting in the master's house to bake and attend to other household duties, thus preparing them for a useful future. The number of children now attending these schools is between two and three hundred, and the amount of ability they display in learning to read, write, and speak the English language would astonish any person not acquainted with the Natives. I have examined the children principally in their knowledge of English, as I consider it to be the most important part of their education; but geography and arithmetic have not been neglected. Each school is supplied with excellent maps, and the children well understand the use of them, and they are well forward in arithmetic; but this, to most persons who have any knowledge of the Natives, will be readily understood, for as a race they have always shown a peculiar aptitude for this branch of education. In every instance the children are well clad and remarkably neat and clean in their persons, thus setting a good example of tidiness to the older people. They are very fond of amusing themselves in the same manner as European children, and the cricket bats, balls, &c, given to them by the Government have seen good service during the past summer, and there are some very fair cricketers amongst them. Whilst on this