G.—7

8

Tables, Weights and Measures : Both the above classes were well up in the multiplication table, but only four knew the weights and measures. Dictation: Ist Class : Number in class, 9. Passage from 4th Eoyal Eeader. Four good, five fair. Writing rather too cramped.—2nd Class : Number in class, 12. This class wrote from dictation a passnge from an easy reading-lesson. Three good, five fair, four imperfect. Writing, fair. Geography : Number in class, 15. This class named and pointed out readily all the counties in New Zealand, and the principal mountains, rivers, &c, as well as the principal countries of Europe and their capitals. "Writing: Ist Class : Number in class, 5. Two good, three fair. —2nd Class : Number in class, 11. Six good, five fair. —3rd Class : Number in class, 10. Five fair, five imperfect. Two exercise-books belonging to Ist class were shown, both carefully written and neatly kept. Drill : The whole school was very proficient in drill. The schoolroom was clean, airy, and well lighted. The walls, hung round with maps and diagrams, had a very cheerful appearance. The order and discipline of the school was good: in this respect I observed a very marked improvement since last year. The behaviour of the children when entering and leaving school, and while in class, reflects great credit on the master, who has secured this good order without weakening the cordial feeling evidently existing between himself and his pupils. Mr. Maloney is painstaking, and possesses other qualities necessary to insure success as teacher. The sewing ami fancy work done under Mrs. Maloney's supervision was very creditable. The girls make many of their own clothes, and are learning the use of the sewing machine, but, as they have to use one belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Maloney, I would recommend that one be purchased for the school. The attendance of the children throughout the year has been good, and I was glad to find that the School Committee have greatly assisted in securing this good attendance. During my examination, the School Committee and most of the adult Natives of Waikouaiti were present, and eviuced the greatest interest in the replies of the children. At the close of the examination, I addressed those present, pointing out some of the advantages of school training, the chief being the formation of habits of steady application to work, the want of which accounted for the slow progress of Maori civilization. I instanced the case of a lad named Mamaru, who threw up an appointment in their village, worth £70 a year, because he wearied of the constant application it demanded. I further urged them to help the master by seeing that the home lessons were learned. Mr. Thomas Pratt, a half-caste, and ihe Chairman of the School Committee, expressed his confidence in the schoolmaster. He said that last year they did not all pull together, but they had learned since to appreciate the master, who had brought their children on so well, He asked for an increase of salary for the master, and also that he might be allowed to select a pupil-teacher from amongst the scholars. This suggestion, I think, is very good, and shall be glad to see it acted upon. He also wanted to know whether English children were to be admitted wholesale into the school, and whether Maori parents were at liberty to withdraw their children whenever they thought proper, for the purpose of sending them to some English school in the neighbourhood. To the last questions I replied that, as the school was established at the request of the Maoris, for the sole benefit of their children, it rested with the master and tho School Committee to say whether European children should be admitted or not; and that it was manifestly wrong for any Maori to remove his child so long as the Government maintained an efficient school for their benefit. Mr. Pratt also asked for a grant for fencing, which, I am glad to learn, has been made. The success of the master has led to a great many European children being sent to the school, and they are rather a hindrance. A few English children are of great service in correcting the pronunciation, and assisting in other ways to improve the English spoken in schools, but it would be well if a rule were laid down that they should never exceed a fifth of the total number in attendance. Messrs. Merikihereka, Ettisdon, and Eekaka also spoke, all in favourable terms of the school. Kaiapoi School: Master, Mr. H. J. Reeves.—lnspected, 4th April, 1878. Registers carefully kept. Highest number on the book, 22. Number present at inspection, 20. Eeading: Ist Class: Number in class, 2. Book, 4th Eoyal Eeader. Both read well. Spelling, good. Meaning of text understood. Dictation : Both could write correctly sentences dictated from the reading-book. In arithmetic these two are in practice. They are considerably in advance of the other pupils, having been with Mr. Eeeves from the first, while the rest of the scholars only joined the school when it was reopened in August, 1877. 2nd Class: Number in class, 5. Book, Ist Eoyal Eeader. Two good, three fair. Pronunciation of this class, with one exception, indistinct. Spelling imperfect. 3rd Class : Number in class, 8. Book, Primer. Four fair, our imperfect. 4th Class : Number in class,s. Alphabet. Arithmetic: Simple multiplication, and division, two fair. Easy addition, two fair, one imperfect. The rest are only learning to make figures. Tables, Weights and Measures: Two thoroughly up; eighteen knew multiplication-table up to six times. Writing : Copybook, Two very good, one good, seven fair. The writing in this school is exceptionally good, the exercise-books of the two senior pupils being beautiful specimens of penmanship. Maps: The mapping, like the writing, is above the average. Geography: The whole school showed considerable proficiency in this subject. Eecitation : One, a piece of poetry containing thirty-three verses ; the other, twenty-one. Both pieces were recited with great spirit, and without a mistake. Drill: The whole school drilled daily. Singing: Mr. Eeeves has been very successful in teaching his children to sing. Instead of confining himself, as most teachers seem to do, to a few of the commonest hymn-tunes, he has taken pains to teach several of the best popular airs and Christie melodies. The school was reopened on 15th August, 1877, after being closed for more than a year. Most of the pupils are very young and very dull, and the master has had very up-hill -work with them : all