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year, for some time past, additions have been made to the number of houses in the village, which now assumes a thriving appearance. I was the guest, during my visit, of Mr. Taiaroa, who has a comfortable well-furnished house on the hill overlooking the harbour. Twenty-six years before, I was the guest of his father in the same neighbourhood, and can only say that the contrast between now and then is extraordinary. A visit through the South Island would convince any one that it is only the want of means that retards the complete civilization of the Maori. Night School.—Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, half-past 6to half-past 8. Number in school, 16. Reading, 4th and sth Royal Reader; dictation and writing. Arithmetic: Five doing practice and compound rules ; five, simple rules. The men of this class were all away shearing, but I examined their exercise-books, which showed fair work. Mr. Lucas takes great interest in his work, aud seems to possess the confidence and good-will of the Natives. In addition to his regular work he holds a Sunday-school, to which all who like are at liberty to attend. Besides the good gained by what they learn, the children are kept in better discipline than if they were allowed to run wild, as they too often are on Sundays, the parents being incapable of exercising any control over them. Purakaunui: Master, Mr. Henderson. Visited sth December, 1876. — Registers carefully kept. Present, 2 girls and 1 boy: total, 3. Reading: 6th Royal Reader. Two, well. Spelling and grammar, good.—4th Royal Reader: One, good. Dictation: Three, good. Arithmetic: Two doing compound addition, multiplication, and division fairly; one, simple division, fair. Writing: Two in copy-books, good. Geography : All three had accurate knowledge of the map of the world. I singled out this school in my last report for special commendation. I am grieved to say that the master has disappointed his friends, and been obliged to leave. The Maori pupils have fallen off, and only three half-castes remain, David Mamaru, some of whose drawings I forwarded last year for the inspection of the late Hon. Sir D. McLean, has left the neighbourhood, and we can no longer point to the Maoris of Purakaunui as a pattern to less diligent and less constant attendants. No one who will take the trouble to compare this report with my last can fail to see that one of our greatest difficulties in providing for the education of the Maori race is their volatile character and migratory habits. Waikouaiti School: Inspected December 6th, 1876. Master, Mr. M. Maloney. —Registers carefully kept. Highest number on the books : Boys, 26; girls, 21: total, 47. Present at inspection: Boys, 18 ; girls, 15 : total, 33. Ist Class.—Reading : Number in class, 8. Book, 6th Progressive Series. One good ; five fair ; two imperfect. Spelling in this class very good throughout. Dictation, good. The meaning of the lesson not quite understood ; want more practice translating from one language into the other. But considering that eight months ago this class was only commencing the alphabet, I think the progress of the whole class good. The book read was rather too difficult for them. 2nd Class. —Reading : 3rd Royal Reader. Number in class, 6. Four, fair; two, imperfect. Spelling in this class good. No words in the lesson misspelt. Meaning of lesson understood. 3rd Class.—Reading: 2nd Book Progressive Series. Number in class, 8. Of these, four read fairly; four, imperfectly. Spelling, four, fair; four, imperfect. 4th Class. —Reading : Number in class, 5. Book, Primer. Three fair ; two, imperfect. The sth class could say their letters, and easy words of one syllable. Arithmetic : Five doing compound division ; three, fairly; tw ro imperfect. Eleven doing multiplication and division ; four, fairly ; seven, imperfectly. Five doing addition fairly. Tables : Nearly all could say the multiplication table correctly. Weights and measures: Seven, well; six, imperfect. Geography : Number in class, 7. Five, fair knowledge; two, imperfect. No geography of New Zealand. No drill. I pointed out to the master the desirability of teaching drill, and he promised to introduce it at once. Writing: Sixteen writing in copy-books ; one, good; five, fair ; ten, imperfect. Recitations : Number in class, 9. Three, good ; rest imperfect. Singing : Not taught. Sewing: Taught by Mrs. Maloney every afternoon, between two and three. The work shown to me was very creditable. This school was opened on the 3rd April, 1876. The buildings consist of a schoolroom 32 x 22, light, well ventilated, and nicely finished ; attached to it is the master's house, consisting of five rooms, lined throughout. The building is weatherboarded, roofed with zinc, and painted. It was erected at the cost of the General Government, for the sum of £ Desks, maps, and reading books are greatly needed. The master complained of the action of the school committee, who were displeased with him for objecting to the schoolroom being used for dancing and other purposes. As the master occupies a portion of the building, he, with good reason, objected to the annoyance caused by the noise and vibration of the building while dancing was going on. Besides this, the trouble caused by the soiling of the room aud the disarrangement of his things, and the consequent disorder when the school assembled the following day, were, he thought, sufficient to justify his refusing to give the use of the schoolroom for such purposes. He complained further, that women of loose character were admitted to these gatherings, and that he and his wife had in consequence not only absented themselves, but set their faces against them.