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under the advice of Dr. Armitage, to send him to Auckland to see if anything can be done for his eyes. These, Sir, are all the schools I had to inspect this half-year. The school at Whareroa, near Tauranga, has been closed in accordance with your directions, on account of the paucity of attendance; and the master, Mr. Quinlan, has been sent up to open a school at Port Galatea, where the Natives have long been desirous of having one. The school buildings at Whareroa, I am making arrangements, as you will be aware from my special report, to have removed to a reserve near the District School, Tauranga, to form a Native boarding school in connection with that establishment. I have caused all the schools under my inspection to be supplied with the necessary books and other requisites, having a due regard to economy. lam also, in accordance with my instructions, supplying them with the materials for cricket and other English games; and during my late inspection, wherever I thought it judicious, I distributed prizes to the pupils. The teachers all agree that these indulgences encourage attendance, and make the school popular with the Natives. In conclusion, Sir, I wish here (although I have already done so in a separate report) to call the attention of Government to the fact that nearly all the schoolhouscs require painting and some small repairs, and to state my opinion that to avert decay early attention to this is necessary. I shall endeavour, if my duties as Commissioner of Tauranga Lauds will permit me, to make my next inspection at the proper time during the month of June. I have, &c, Herbert W. Brabant, Inspector Native Schools, Bay of Plenty and Lake Districts. The Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington.

No. 7. Mr. R. J. O'Sullivan to the Under Secretary, Native Department. Sir, — Board of Education, Auckland, 9th July, 1877. I have the honor to enclose my reports on the following Native schools, and schools at which certain Native children are taught:—Alexandra, Parawai, Tauranga (European), St. Stephen's, Orakei, Taumarere, Oromahoe, Waiomio, Ti (Waitangi), Peria, Ahipara, Pukepoto, Kaitaia, Awanui, Te Ngaere. The Under Secretary, Native Department, I have, &c, Wellington. Richard J. O'Stjllivajj. Alexandra School: 27th July, 1876.—This is a school under the Auckland Board of Education, at which three Native children —two boys and one girl—attend. The school is taught by an efficient master, and these children make very fair progress. The master, who is acquainted with Maori, is rather too apt to give explanations to the Native people in the Maori language, or from a Maori point of view. I have instructed him to avoid doing so as much as possible. Parawai School: Bth September, 1876. —When I visited this school (European), there were eight Native children, four boys and four girls, present. The school is conducted in a satisfactory manner, and these children make quite as good progress as the children of European parents of the same standing in the school. In addition to the usual subjects, all learn drawing, and some of them seem to have a considerable taste for it. This is one of the schools to which a building grant was made by the Native Department on condition that a certain number of Maori children should be admitted as pupils. Tauranga School: 2nd October, 1876. —This is the District School under the Auckland Education Board. It is an excellent school, and it is to be regretted that a larger number of the Native children do not attend. Pourteen Native and half-caste pupils attended from time to time during the year 1876. The average attendance was something over five. The progress of those who attended at all regularly was equal to that of the other children of the same standing. On the day of my visit there was but one Native boy present. He had made very satisfactory progress. It is very desirable, I think, that some plan should be devised to enable some of the advanced pupils from the Native schools in the district to attend this school, in order to benefit by its superior teaching, and by mingling with Europeans. Arrangements might, I understand, be made to board them here at small cost. The late Sir Donald McLean had, I believe, some such plan in view when he made a liberal grant towards the erection of the school buildings. St. Stephen's (Auckland) School: 13th March, 1877.—0n roll: Boys, 28. Present, 28. Maps, &c, sufficient. This is a school at which the Native pupils are boarded. It is attended, to the evident advantage of the Natives, by some European children as day scholars. I consider that the school is conducted in a satisfactory manner. The pupils make fair progress in all the branches taught. The master readily avails himself of every suggestion for improving the efficiency of the school. The domestic arrangements are as good as can bo reasonably expected. Two pupils sleep in each room, aud each room has the advantage of having a chimney with an open fireplace. The schoolroom has been improved since last year. Orakei School (Auckland): 15th March, 1877. Present: Boys, 7; girls, 3=lo. Maps, &c: World, Australia, Africa, Europe; Diagram of Geographical Terms, a few reading cards, black-board, ballframe, table; fourteen desks, each 7 feet 6 inches long. No map of New Zealand. No roll-book. This school has not been very long opened. I was informed that the attendance for some time had been from 18 to 20, but that the numbers had fallen off since Christmas. The children present, with