G.—4

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the exception of one, had very little knowledge of any kind. This the master accounted for by their irregular attendance. The schoolhonse is 32 x 22 feet, with 12 feet studs. It is unlined. The lower sashes of the windows are hung ; the upper sashes are fixtures. A house of three rooms is provided for the teacher. There are two teachers, a master and a mistress. . Taumarere (Kawakawa) School 12th June, 1877. —On roll: Girls, 12. Present, 12. Maps, &c. : Map of the world ; black-board and easel ; four desks, each G feet long, ranged along and facing the walls; one table ;no pictures or reading cards ;no map of New Zealand. The pupils read fairly, and have a tolerable knowledge of the meaning of what they read. Their knowledge of arithmetic is slight. They transcribe pretty well from their reading-books, and make some attempts at letter-writing. They write tolerably well. They know a little geography, and seem to take an interest in it. They appear very docile. I do not approve of the copy-books in use. I would recommend that Vere Foster's (to No. 5, excluding No. 8) be used instead. There is no time-table. I instructed the teacher to frame one. The school hours are from 10 to 12 and from 2to 4. The first class consists of pupils who are reading the Eoyal Header No. 3 ; the second of who are reading No. 2. The remaining two pupils—very young children—are new beginners. There is better ventilation and more space in the sleeping-rooms than when I last visited the school. The peculiar value of this school is that the pupils acquire civilized habits, and learn household work, and how to make clothes. They also learn music, for which they appear to have a taste. They seem healthy and contented. The schoolroom is the shell of a building of some 27 x 13 feet, with side-walls about 8 feet high. It is very uncomfortable, and the light is bad. The desks are too high, and are otherwise unsuitable, and their arrangement is wrong. I furnished the teacher with a copy of the instructions to teachers adopted by the Auckland Board of Education, and instructed her to carry them out as far as possible. Oromahoe School : 15th June, 1877.—0n roll: Boys, 17 ; girls, 6=23. Present, 17. Maps, &c. : Hemispheres, Europe, New Zealand, Oceania, England, Ireland ; tablet-lessons, picture-book of animals, two black-boards, one easel, one ball-frame ; eight desks, each 12 feet long. The most advanced class (8 pupils) are reading the Eoyal Eeader No. 3 ; the next class (8 pupils), Eoyal Eeader No. 2 ; and the next class (2 pupils), Koyal Eeader No. 1. The five remaining pupils are new beginners. The first class read fairly, and have a fair apprehension of the meaning of what they read, The second and third classes read and understand tolerably well. The pupils' knowledge of arithmetic is rather defective. They copy very correctly from books, and write fairly well from dictation. They have some little knowledge of geography. Letter-writing sliould be more practised. The time devoted to instruction should be at least four hours daily: three and a half hours only are now given to it. The average attendance is good. The school seems to be conducted in a fairly-satisfactory manner. The schoolhouse consists of three rooms, one 34 x 26 feet; each of the other two is 16 xl 3 feet. The side-walls are but 4J feet high, and the light, consequently, is very bad. Some of the glass and sashes of the windows have been broken' —by the pupils, as I was informed. The master complains that he can adopt no adequate means to deter them from such conduct. I pointed out to some of the school committee that it might not be difficult to make the pupils feel that they should protect rather than injure their school. If they persist in injuring it, stringent measures should be adopted, as this kind of thing is not to be endured. P.S.—I wish to add that I saw this school somewhat at a disadvantage, as some of the most advanced pupils had been recently removed. Waiomio School: Saturday, 16th June, 1877.—0n roll: Boys, 19 ; girls, 9=28. Present: Boys, 14; girls, 4=lB. Maps, &c. : World, New Zealand, sketch map of New Zealand, Din^ram of Geographical Terms, scientific charts, Eoyal Wall Cards, reading tablets, ball-frame, black-board and easel; twelve desks, graduated heights, each 8 feet long. Two of the pupils are reading the Eoyal Eeader No. 4, and ten the Eoyal Eeader No. 2 ; the remaining sixteen read from the wall-cards. There was only one boy of the most advanced class present; he did not seem a very favourable specimen. There were eight of the next class in attendance: some of these can read pretty well, and have some idea of the meaning of what they read. The younger ones present answered fairly well. The pupils' knowledge of arithmetic is defective; and of geography, slight. They write fairly. Some instruction in drill is given to them. The master complains that irregular attendance and frequent changes of pupils interfere with the efficiency of the school. He informed me that seven only of those who were in attendance when I visited the school last year were present to-day. I learned that several pupils were away gum-digging in order to raise funds towards the cost of a building in which children from a distance can live. It is to be hoped that when this building is erected the attendance at" the school will be improved. The schoolroom is 30 feet x2O feet, 12-feet studs ; porch. It is unlined ; the sashes are hung. The desks should be arranged so as to face one side-wall. I instructed the master to arrange them in this manner. A teacher's house is attached to the school. The school site of five acres has recently been fenced, but in an inferior manner. Ti (Waitangi) School: 18th June, 1877. —On roll: Boys, 13; girls, B=2l. Present, 20. Maps, &c.: Australasia, New Zealand, Europe (no map of world or British Isles) ; black-board and easel, ball-frame, Collins's Eeading Cards; two desks, each 11 feet 6 inches long. This school was opened on 21st March last. Six of the pupils are reading the Eoyal Eeader No. 2; all the rest read from the cards. They read fairly, and have a tolerable knowledge of the meaning of what they read. Many copy with correctness from their books or cards. They know as much of arithmetic as they could be reasonably expected to know in the time. They are beginning to acquire some knowledge.of geography. They write carefully. I was favourably impressed with the school. The building in which the school is carried on is one the use of which is given by a neighbouring settler. The schoolroom is 21 x 15 feet, 8 feet high ; it is much too small for convenience or health, especially as the upper sashes of the windows are fixtures : there is, however, an open fireplace in the room. There is an adjoining room 13 xl 5 feet, divided from the first by a slight partition only.