G.—i

12

Enclosure in No. 9. Mr. H. W. Nickless to Mr. R. W. Woon, P.M. Sir,— Native School, Parikino, 29th May, 1877. The past year has been one of great anxiety to me with regard to this school. It has been my desire and aim to be able to show some good results for twelve months' work, but this I cannot do. The school is in a worse condition in every respect than at the same time last year; the numbers on the roll are less, and as a consequence the average attendance is far below what it ought to be. From the appended returns it will be seen how utterly impossible it is for the children to make any improvement, and how utterly useless for me to attempt any systematic teaching, for 1 seldom get the same children two consecutive weeks together. I have made inquiries, and ascertain that there are a sufficient number of children in the school district not only to fill this school, but enough to have separate ones for boys and girls. I have used all means and arguments to induce the children to attend, but, from want of active co-operation on the part of the parents and leading men iv the district, my efforts have hitherto proved abortive. I think, Sir, that in districts such as this, where the Government have (at the request of the Natives themselves) expended large sums of money in establishing and maintaining these schools, a system of compulsory attendance could and should be enforced. I am informed, that, at a large meeting to be held shortly at Putiki by Major Keepa and Mete Kingi, matters connected with this school are to be brought forward, which may tend to improve the attendance. If such leading men as these were to take a more active interest in these schools, it would set an example to the rest of the people, which they would naturally follow. Regretting very much that I cannot present a more favourable report, I have, &c, Henry W. Nickless, To R. W. Woon, Esq., R.M. Teacher.

NATIVE SCHOOL, PARIKINO. —EXAMINATION RETURNS, 1877. Attendance.

j ' N.B.—The above return is from Ist July, 1876, to 25th May, 1877. Date of opening the school, October 19, 1874. Number of children admitted ... ... ... ... ... 39 Number at present on roll ... ... ... ... ... 10 Number who ought to be present ... ... ... ... ... 16 \ Deceased ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Too old to attend ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 Left the district ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2

EXAMINATION SCHEDULE.

No. Name. 1st Qr. 2nd Qr. 3rd Qr. 4th Qr. Total. Remarks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A lick Korako Tuka Matairangi Nepia Tauri Teruru Ngarau Ngairo Rangipo ... Pokiha Hoani Tauri Ruma Korako 22 30 30 28 30 25 37| 41 25 34* 42 15 35* 4i 23 22 21* 20 28 x 27* 14* 1 7 18* 13 18* 15* 21 19* 32 3 52* 97* 89J 60 102^ 107* 64 55* 59J 76 Too old to do any good. Sick for some time past. 29* m Days school open 65 55 60 38 218

No. Name. Reading. Writing. Arithmetic. Translation. 1 2 I 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Alick Korako Tuka Matairangi... Pokiha ... Nepia Tauri Teruru ... Ngarau... Ngairo ... Rangipo Hoani Tauri Ruma Korako I cannot say : he Phillip's II. Book ,, ,, ... Royal Primer loses far more than Easy dictation ... ,, Transcription he learns. to com. addition Multiplication Short division... Multiplication Easywritten. ?! Oral easy. ,, ,, ,, Oral easy. ,, Subtraction ... Multiplication >j „ Oral easy. ,,