13

G.-7.

which they are located. It will bo seen that, with the exception of the Pakia Native school, at which the attendance has fallen off very considerably, the whole of the schools liave been well supported, and are progressing as favourably as could be expected. I may remark that the Hbjuanga Natives, like nil others in New Zaaland, ars very changeable, and, knowing that, I am agreeably surprised at the regular arid large attendance at the majority of these schools, and the continued interest taken in them by the parents of the children, as they are as warmly supported now as on the day of their first establishment in this district, upwards of sis years ago. As the older pupils leave either to take their places iv the tribes as breadwinners, or are removed, as has been the case in very many instances, to superior schools in Auckland and elsewhere, to train for the Church or Wesleyan Missions, younger children come forward and take their places, and so the attendance is kept up. Many of the elder girls also have been well married, and lam glad to say are showing the effect of their schooling, &c, in their own homes by their correct behaviour, the number of European comforts they have gathered around them, and the cleanly and tidy appearance of themselves and all connected with them. The greatest difficulty here is to get good teachers, persons who are not only able but who are really willing to teach, and to devote their whole energies to the work before them. At Whirinaki, Waima, Lower Waihou, and Waitapu this is particularly noticeable. The teachers at these schools are, I believe, doing their work conscientiously and energetically, and not only for the sake of the salary they receive, and the result is that their schools are well and regularly attended, and the progress made by the pupils is very marked. At Lower Waihou the school is taught by ladies only (the Misses Lundon), and at the time the appointment was first made I looked upon it with some misgivings, and more as an experiment than anything else. I am, however, glad to be able to say that, after eight months of steady work, I may safely report that it is a most successful one, and should feel very proud if I could state that all the other schools in my district were as well conducted and had so large and regular an attendance. With reference to school fees, I am sorry to say that, though the amount collected is considerable, it is still not nearly so largo a sum as it should be, the parents of the children constantly pleading poverty as an excuse for their remissness in this matter. This is, to a certain extent, true, as the expense, in a great measure, falls upon the old people, who are unable to leave their settlements to earn money like the younger and unmarried portion of the community. At Whirinaki the Natives, to avoid the payment of school fees, have offered a piece of land as an endowment for the school. This is, I think, a movement which should be encouraged, as, by so doing, at some future period these Native schools may become self-supporting, and cease to bo a burden to the State. During the December quarter the attendance at all the schools has been slightly lower than during the previous quarters. This I have noticed to be always the case, as this is the planting season, and the assistance of the children is required at the cultivations. I am glad to say that the crops throughout the district are very good indeed. I have, &c, Spencer toit Stuemee, The Under Secretary, Native Department. Resident Magistrate. Waimale Native School: Established IS7I. Mr. Moore, teacher. —On the occasion of my last visit 27 children were present —namely, 18 boys and 9 girls. I examined them in reading, spelling, composition, geography, and cyphering. The Ist and 2nd Classes I found had made considerable progress, and in translating Maori into English I found they had made a great advance. The copybooks were clean, and the writing was excellent. Schoolroom and pupils very neat and tidy. Accommodation, desks, &c, good and sufficient. Number of children on roll, 30. Mr. Moore, the teacher, has been in charge of this school since it was opened. Wtiirinaki Native School: Established 1873. Teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, assisted by Miss Mitchell.—l found 29 children in attendance—-namely, 19 boys, 10 girls. On roll, 31. I examined the children most carefully, and found that the elder pupils were thoroughly well grounded in reading, spelling, and geography. The writing was fair, and books well kept. In arithmetic they were very forward. The sewing and fancy work done by the girls were very nice indeed, and reflect groat credit on Mrs. and Miss Mitchell. Desk accommodation is not sufficient for the requirements of the pupils, and I hope that this want will bo remedied as speedily as possible. Since the appointment of Mr. Mitchell in 1870 there has been a marked improvement in the school, and I am glad to say the number of pupils attending is on the increase. At present there are Si on the roll. Palcia Native School: Established 1873. Teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Woods. —I found 14t pupils in attendance —namely, 6 boys and 8 girls—of which number only four were Native children, the remainder being Europeans. They appear to have been well taught, and as far advanced as the same number of children would be in any other country school. They were neat and tidy, and the school was moderately clean. A little more energy displayed by the teachers and Committee in the conduct of this school would, I believe, tend much to raise the attendance, which has fallen off from upwards of 50 pupils on the roll to 19 as at present. Sewing is taught at this school. Omia or JRalcau Para Native School: Established 1873. Teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison. —-As I was unavoidably engaged for the first fortnight in December, I deputed Mr. Bishop, Cleric of the Resident Magistrate's Court, to examine this school. Ho reported that he found 15 pupils in school — namely, 7 boys and 8 girls. He examined them in reading, spelling, arithmetic, the meaning of words, and composition. The most advanced pupils were absent. The reading and spelling excellent ; ciphering, to practice, excellent; geography, good; writing, clean and very fair. School building clean and tidy. The excuse given for smallness of attendance was the present scarcity of food. Sewing at this school is entirely given up ; no sewing produced. Total number on roll, 31. Thirtesn pupils have left this school during the past quarter. I have spoken to the Chairman, Hori Caraka Tawitl, on the subject, and he tells me that on the reopening of the school the attendance will bo as large as 3— Q. 7.