G.—4,

1877. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE SCHOOLS (PAPERS RELATING TO.)

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. W. B. White, R.M., Mangonui,. to the Under Secretary, Native Department. Sir, — Resident Magistrate's Office, Mangonui, 21st May, 1877. I am glad to be able to report the very satisfactory progress of tho Native schools in this district. My visits are made irregularly, and on each occasion I have found that these schools are becoming more and more part of the every-day life of the Natives. The parents are taking more and more interest. The last quarter's return shows how steadily the schools have kept up, and even increased, in the number of pupils. Peria School is quite a model school in the regularity and order of its arrangements, and also in the regularity with which the fees are paid. All the other schools in the district have unfortunately followed the example set by the Pukepoto School, and have ceased to pay fees, notwithstanding what the late Sir Donald McLean had said to them at Mangonui on the occasion of his last visit. But I attribute the steady and regular conduct of the Peria people to the energy and admirable management of Mr. and Mrs. Capper, who have, by their zealous discharge of duty, acquired great influence. The Victoria Kaitaia School, under Mr. and Mrs. Dunn, is also showing marked improvement, and now that a nice residence for the teachers has been built they will be relieved from the very uncomfortable position they were placed in by having to live in a home half finished, belonging to Hare Reweti. The parents here have made no effort to assist the school. During my last visit they promised to send more children. Awanui, under Mr. E. W. D. Matthews, shows signs of revival. The teacher has been indefatigable, but there are many drawbacks over his control. I am waiting a promised visit from some of the chiefs, to submit a proposal to Government about a schoolhouse —-the present one will soon be uninhabitable. Pukepoto. —This school has increased in numbers lately, many children going from Ahipara. It is composed of children from all parts, in and out of the district. Mr. C. M. Masters is in a sense too zealous, his zeal often taking him beyond discretion. After much difficulty, Mrs. Lambley undertook the sewing class, and, though many obstructions were at first placed in her way by Mr. C. M. Masters, things have now settled down in a regular and, I hope, permanent way. The school has hitherto been too much patronized by a class of scholars, of both sexes, too old, I think, for such a school, coming as they do from long distances, and having no proper supervision out of school. With a people so immoral as the Maoris, I need scarcely explain my reasons for objecting to this. I trust that shortly change will be effected, and some of these youths will leave school to earn their daily bread. The arrival of Mr. aud Mrs. George Masters has enabled me to open Ahipara School. We are all favourably impressed by the appearance of the new teachers. A most comfortable house has been erected for them by Government; and, for the present, school will be conducted in the building partly paid for by Government, but used as a church. A committee has been appointed by the Natives with a view to building a schoolhouse at Mapere, on the block of land, twenty odd acres, lately given as a school endowment, and on which the teacher's house is built. Over fifty children were enrolled at the opening, and I have heard since from Mr. George Masters that they are getting on nicely. Parenqarenga. —Though I am often applied to by these people to reopen the school there, I quite agree with the Government, after past experience, that material guarantees should be taken before incurring so large an expenditure, and I think much difficulty would be experienced in procuring a qualified teacher to go to so out-of-the-way a place. The Rev. Mr. Stuart, who has paid several visits to the district, has taken great interest in these schools, and has very kindly—l understand principally at his own expense —placed two Pukepoto and two Peria boys at St. Stephen's School, Auckland, for the purpose of educating them, not necessarily for the Church, but that they may be enabled to compete for a livelihood with English boys. Unfortunately one of these boys, Henry Williams, of Peria, developed a serious lung weakness, which I—G. 4.