15

G.—2a,

Comparing the present quarter with the corresponding quarter of last year, there is apparently a slight decrease in the attendance, 27 being the highest number for June quarter, 1874, and 24 for this. But as there were six English children on the books during that quarter, whilst there are only two now, the number of Native children is actually larger than it was, being for this quarter 22, as against 21 in 1874. The average for the current year is 19; for 1874, 18. The average attendance shows an increase of one over last year ; and as the same children, with only one or two exceptions, have attended during the year, gratifying evidence is afforded that both parents and children value the school. During his stay in Canterbury, his Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Lady Normanby, honored the school with a visit, and expressed themselves highly pleased with the attainments of the children. I have to express my best thanks for the readiness with which my applications for school requisites have been attended to. James W. Stack, Manager.

No. 16. Mr. E. J. O'Sulliyan, Inspector of Provincial Schools, Auckland, to the Tlndee Secretary, Native Department. Sie, — Board of Education, Auckland, 7th July, 1875. I have the honor to enclose reports of my visits to the following Native Schools, and schools attended by Native children : —Parawai School (The Thames) ; Tokomaru Native School (East Coast) ; Karakariki Native School (Waipa) ; "Whakato Native School (Poverty Bay); Alexandra School; Tolago Bay Native School (East Coast). I have, &c, The Under Secretary, Native Affairs, Wellington. Eichaed J. O'Sulliyan. Parawai School (The Thames), 26th February, 1875.—12 Maori children —11 boys and 1 girl— attend the Parawai District School (European). This is an excellent school, and the Native pupils are getting on remarkably well. Four are reading from the " Royal Reader No. 3," and in arithmetic are learning the compound rules and reduction. They are taught, besides, geography, English composition, writing from dictation, &c. Two are reading from the "Royal Reader No. 2," and are learning the simple rules of arithmetic, composition, geography, &c. ; six are reading the " Royal Reader No. 1," and are learning simple addition, and the other branches suitable to their stage of advancement. All join the classes and take part in the ordinary work and amusements of the school, and seem quite able to hold their own with credit among the European children, both in school and at play. Tokomaru Native School (East Coast), 6th May, 1875.—0n roll : Boys, 20 ; girls, 20=40. Present: Boys, 4. Maps : World, Europe, New Zealand, Asia, Africa, North and South America; black board, ball-frame, royal wall cards, four double desks, 11 feet each. Though there are 40 children set down on the roll of this school, the actual attendance is very small indeed. The four pupils whom I saw knew next to nothing, but I was informed they could not be considered a fair sample of the school. I learnt that most of the Natives in the neighbourhood take no interest in the school, so it is not surprising it should be carried on in a languid fashion. The school has an unnecessary number of maps. For most schools, maps of the World, of New Zealand, Europe, and British Isles are sufficient; for some of them a map of the World and one of New Zealand would be enough. Teachers, 2 : Master and mistress. Karakariki Native School (Waipa), Ist July, 1875.—0n roll: Boys, 22 ; girls, 9=31. Present: Boys, 13 ; girls, 2=15. (The 16 pupils absent had, I was informed, been sent home to their parents on account of illness.) Maps, &c.: Hemisphere, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, Africa, America; small black board let into wall. No ball-frame; no diagrams or pictured wall cards. Two tables, 10 feet x 4 feet each ; one desk, 20 feet, hinged to side wall. When I visited this school in May, 1874, I was able to report favourably of it in some respects, particularly as to the knowledge of arithmetic shown by many of the pupils. The majority of the pupils present on that occasion had left; those who remained appeared to have made little or no progress. Eight of them present could write fairly in copybooks, and about as many could copy on slates from books fairly. Five were reading " Royal Reader No. 1," and 7 were reading " No. 2." They read badly, and did not appear to understand in the least what they read. Arithmetic was bad; knowledge of geography very slight. I cannot avoid the conclusion that the school has been carried on in a very negligent fashion since my first visit. The school-house has been newly shingled and painted. The dormitory is a raupo house, some 25 feet long; the beds are placed on a wooden platform about 6 feet wide, and of the same length as the building. Neither the building nor the platform was at all as clean as it should be. I saw the pupils at dinner in the cook-house. They eat rice from the pot in which it was cooked or from tin dishes, lifting it to their mouths with their hands. They had no spoons or plates, no seats, and no table. Teachers, 2 : Mistress and male assistant, both Natives. Note.—l did not visit the Taupari School, as I was informed that the teacher had sent in her resignation, and that the school was about to be closed. Whakato Native School (Poverty Bay), 30th April, 1875.—0n roll: Boys, 23; girls, B=3l. Present: 8. Maps, &c.: World, New Zealand, British Isles, Australasia, South America ; ball-frame, black board ; four double desks, 12 feet long each. The attendance of pupils at this school is exceedingly irregular, and the attainments of the pupils are —so far as I could judge from the fewpresent —what might be expected under the circumstances. No master can produce good results if his pupils do not attend with at least tolerable regularity. A few of those whom I saw on the day of my visit could write fairly and copy from a book fairly. They were beginning to read " Nelson's Eoyal Reader, No. 1," and had a slight knowledge of the first two rulei of arithmetic. The girls