13

G.—2

The boys positively refuse to do anything whatever. One, who was made to chop up some firewood for the schoolroom fire, was immediately removed by his father, who complained that his boy was made to work when the great revenues of the endowment were sufficient to pay for any labour required. Mr. Baker seemed to hope little from the boys, whose one thought whilst in school was how to get out again. The school is supported out of the revenues derived from certain lands in the Motueka district. These lands yield a gross rental of ,£344 55., but the amount is insufficient to meet the cost of maintaining even the small number of pupils now attending the school, who cannot be boarded and clothed, so Mr. Baker finds, for less than 9s. a week each. lam inclined to think that if the number of children were increased, the expenditure per head would be lessened. There is at present an annual deficit of £113 55., which has to be met by the Bishop of Nelson. The charges on the revenues of the endowment are as follow : — £ s. d. Master's salary .. .. .. .. .. 190 0 0 Collector and Bailiff, fees, at 10 per cent. .. .. 34 0 ,0 Board and clothing of ten children, at 9s. per week .. 234 0 0 £458 0 0 The Bishop is desirous to obtain an annual grant from the Government sufficient in amount to cover the difference between the receipts and expenditure. Such a grant might be made for five years, on the understanding that after 1881 (when it is estimated the income from the estate will exceed £700), the money shall be repaid to the Treasury by yearly instalments of not less than £100. Arahura Native School, Westland: Master, Mr. S. Fittall.—Ascertaining from Mr. Commissioner Mackay that the number of Native children attending this school was very small, and finding that he inspected it in November last, I thought it unnecessary to proceed there at present; but, in order to complete my report, I requested him to give me some information about the school, which he kindly did. The memorandum he furnished me with I append. The recommendation contained in it, that the present Native school should be transferred to the Board of Education, is worthy of favourable consideration. If there is no fear of the school being removed to a situation more convenient for the English children, and less convenient for the Maori, I think it would be a great advantage to the Native children if the character of the school were changed, for, as I have elsewhere remarked, the Maori children make more rapid and certain progress in the English schools than in those set apart exclusively for themselves. But if there is any danger of the school being moved to such a distance as to interfere with the attendance of the Native children, I do not think the mere question of expenditure ought to have any weight in favour of the change. It is of the utmost importance that the future owners of such valuable estates as exist on the West Coast should receive the best education that can be given them by the administrators of their property. The cost of keeping up this school can be little more than the cost of keeping one, or at most two, boys at a boarding school, and is after all a very slight charge on the revenues of the Trust Estate.

Enclosure 2 in No. 10. Memorandum.—Mr. Alexander Mackay to the Key. Mr. Stack. I took the opportunity, while at Arahura in November last, to ascertain the condition of the Native school there. On my visit on the 17th November I found that there were 9 pupils on the roll, 7 boys and 2 girls, only 6of whom were present. The children in attendance were clean and intelligent, and had been carefully taught the subjects they had been instructed in. The schoolroom also was in excellent order, and well supplied with school requisites. Of the pupils present, three could spell words of two and three syllables very well, two fairly, and one was learning the alphabet. Two could read fairly in the Second Reading Book (Phillips's Colonial Series,) one fairly in the Third Book, and two moderately well in the First Reading Book. Three could write very well in copybooks, and two fairly on slates. In arithmetic, two did sums in compound division correctly, and one in common division; the others were only beginners. Three had a very fair knowledge of New Zealand geography. The others had not commenced. The master, Mr. Fittall, complained very much of the small attendance, and the difficulty he had in getting the children to attend regularly. There are 6 children old enough to attend living at Hokitika, about four miles distant from the school, but the parents cannot be prevailed upon to send them, as they are afraid to do so in case any of them might be taken ill and die away from home. At the time the school was established there were 20 children living at Arahura and in the neighbourhood, and there were others at Bruce Bay who were expected to attend. For the latter it was proposed to provide accommodation and maintenance at Arahura, if the parents would consent to send them. Some dissatisfaction prevails amongst the Natives of Westland in regard to educational matters, owing to their having to pay the rate levied on householders under clause 14 of " The Westland Education Ordinance, 1874," besides a capitation rate of 10s. for every child between the ages of 5 and 14 years, as well as having to contribute to the salary of the master