11

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I trust, Sir, you will give this your earliest consideration, as the winter is approaching, and it is bitterly cold for the children in the school without any means of warming themselves. I have, &c, J. H. Campbell, Esq., Eesident Magistrate, Eobeet AVabnee, AV"aiapu, East Coast. Teacher. Memorandum left by Mr. O'Sullivan, Inspector of Schools, on his visit to this School on the 7th May, 1875. Books required for the use of the school at Tokomaru, East Coast:— " Eoyal Eeaders " (Nelson's), consisting of Primers Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Vere Foster's Copybooks, Nos. 1, 2, 3J, 4, 4|, 5 (not 3). Chambers's " Introduction to English Composition." Desks should be made single; should be lowered ; and the writing-board made nearly level. Eobeet Waeneb, Teacher.

No. 12. Mr. E. J. Gill to the Under-Secretaby, Native Department. Sih,— Napier, 7th May, 1875. I have the honor to report, for the information of the Government, my inspection of the Native schools in Hawke's Bay and East Coast Districts—Pakowhai, Omahu, Te Aute, St. Joseph Providence, Whakato, Gisborne, Tologa Bay, Tokomaru, Akuaku, and AVaiapu. In no instance was my visit expected by the several school teachers ; it may therefore be taken that the conduct and attendance were in their usual daily form when seen by me. Pakowhai School, Napier. —The school buildings have lately been repaired, at a cost of £31. The schoolroom is large. Attached to it are four rooms for the master's use, with garden and playground for the children. The number of children entered on school register was 21—11 boys and 10 girls. There were present on my visit 11 boys. The attendance during the quarter ending December last averaged 11t*t each day. The boys read fairly ; had a knowledge of tables, weights, measures, &c. ; were advanced in spelling ;in arithmetic they acquitted themselves well; had a little knowledge of geography. The small attendance was owing to sickness (measles). I noticed a want of cards of illustration, &c, around the walls of the school. The copybooks I saw were clean, and the writing was of a fair average. Omahu School. —This school was closed when I called, owing to the resignation of Mr. Bower, the late master. I examined the children's copybooks. The writing of the girls was much above the general average of schools. The Natives interested in this school, of which Eenata Kawepo is the chief, have set aside a block of land named Ohaoko, Patea, containing 2G,000 acres, as a reserve for educational purposes. This land has been let by auction for 21 years, at a rental of £750 a year. Te Aute School. —This institution is possessed of between 7,000 and 8,000 acres of land, and under the management of the Eev. Samuel Williams. The master, Mr. James Eeynolds, with his wife, have the general charge of the school. On my visit, 23rd April, there were attending school 27 Native and 4 European boys. The first class consisted of 10 boys : they went through a course of lessons in reading, arithmetic, geography, grammar, and writing from dictation. In arithmetic they did sums in compound proportion, and understood their work. In the second class were 7 Maori boys, and in the third class 10. Each class was overlooked by a monitor. The system of teaching was good throughout. The schoolroom is short of wall maps and general diagrams. I visited the sleeping rooms, dining rooms, kitchen, &c. ; order and neatness was alike everywhere. This school is subsidized from the general school vote to the extent of £20 a year for 10 Native boys. St. Joseph Providence. —This school receives a capitation allowance from the general school vote of £20 a year for the education, board, and clothing of Maori children (girls only). The school is under the care of the superioress of the Convent. There were present on my visit 19 girls. The first class went through a course of lessons in reading, spelling, geography, grammar, and arithmetic, their knowledge of which was above the general average in boys' schools. The lower classes were also well advanced in the subjects taught them. The age of pupils varied from 10 to 16. They are kept at lessons from half-past 9 till half-past 3, with an interval of two hours in the middle of the day. In addition to these hours spent in the schoolroom, they are employed regularly at needlework, their clothing being all made under tuition ;in addition to this they are taught cooking, &c. Several girls have at times left the school to take situations as domestic servants. I visited the several rooms in the building : they are kept in admirable order. A selection of Johnston's " Illustrations of Natural Philosophy," also diagrams of geographical terms for the walls of the schoolroom, would be of service here. Q-ishorne School. —This school has been closed since 31st December. I do not recommend it being again opened. The Natives formerly living at Turanganui have nearly all removed to Waerengahika, only two or three families remaining. Before leaving Gisborne, I arranged that the children should attend the Provincial School, the Government paying at the rate of £1 a quarter for each boy so attending. Whakato School. —This school is but poorly attended. On the day of my visit there were only 5 boys and 3 girls. It is difficult to understand the cause of the falling off of the attendance here. The villages of Muriwai, Pakirikiri, Tapitahi, and Oweta are all within easy distance. The chairman of the school committee, Major AVcatrupp, has taken much interest in the school's progress. One reason assigned for the children not attending regularly is that the school is too far from their homes, and that if some whares were built near the school-house for them they would attend regularly, and return home only