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gave me to understand that the 70-acre block was, in their judgment, the best for the purpose. With regard to a third block (which I have heard estimated at 200 acres, extending back to the forest), they said it was too far away for us then to visit it, and that it was not suitable. The 70-acre block appears to me to be oue which, if acquired by the Government, would be of great value for purposes of settlement. It is bounded (according to the description given to me on the ground) by the road to Sulphur Point, by a track diverging from that road, and extending to the lake, and by the shore. I have reason, however, to believe that on one side it does not extend to the shore. At Tauranga, I saw Mr. Mitchell, the surveyor, who told me that he had once furnished a plan of this land, and that part of Sulphur Point was excluded from it. He said that this plan would be found in the Native Office. A plan corresponding to his description appears attached to a paper signed by Niramona Pini and others, 26th December, 1876, which, with another paper on the same subject, dated 27th September, 1878, will be found along with a letter from H. Brabant, Esq., 2nd October, 1878, in file N and D, 78-4318. Mr. Brabant speaks of the 70-acre site as unfit for school purposes, but " undoubtedly a valuable endowment." The correspondence referred to shows that the Natives clearly understand what is meant by an endowment. Pirimi stated that, including the children at Mokoia, Te Ngae, AVhakarewarewa, and Horohoro, there are probably two hundred of school age, but I think that thirty Maori children and fifteen Europeans aro as many as are likely to attend. People of both races are willing to work together, and they propose to have a mixed committee to supervise the arrangements of the school. I promised to make strong representations of the importance of attending to tho want which seems to be so deeply felt, and to report what I had heard. I attach brief notes of the speeches made. Pirimi, referring to the lock-up, said that the people considered it was not required, and wished to see it occupied at once as a school. It is, however, very unsuitable, aud moreover it is now already occupied by an officer of Constabulary. Maihi te Rangikaheke, who was too ill to attend the meeting, called on me to state his views as to the kind of school that is wanted. He said that he had formerly proposed to the late Sir D. McLean to set aside the Island of Mokoia as an endowment for a school, aud that Sir D. McLean then proposed that Government should give £200 and the Natives £100 for a school building at Rotorua. This was, however, as he thought, totally insufficient to meet the wants of the people. What he wanted to see was a college for the whole Arawa Tribe, not excluding other Maoris, and admitting also the children of neighbouring settlers. Children were sometimes sent to school or college, and there made drudges of, receiving only so much teaching as would be given to European children who were to become labourers, and not enough to open any profitable or honourable career to them. Let them have a college, where their children could be properly taught and treated under their own eyes. On the 13th I went to see the Native school at Rotoiti. The attendance there for two or three months has been very low, owing to the sitting of the Land Court at Maketu, meetings at Tauranga, planting, and a tangi at Mokoia. On the occasion of my visit three pupils were present, which number was increased to five after the mid-day recess. It is impossible to give an opinion as to the general efficiency of a school in such circumstances. One boy was able to write very fair translations from Maori into English, and vice versa. His reading was slow and laborious, but accurate, as was that of the girl who was the next-best pupil. The spelling of the younger ones was very fair indeed. They are making some progress with arithmetic. But I suspect that irregularity of attendance will render the master's efforts unavailing to produce auy very valuable results. The building (timber, lined with raupo) is without a fireplace, and has many broken windows. The chimney iv the master's kitchen (if that be the proper designation : he has but two rooms) is very much out of repair. I do not know whether it is wise on the part of the master to conform himself so nearly as he does to Maori usage as to dress. A shirt and a blanket or shawl constitute his working attire. On the 14th I made a call at Te Awahou School. It was a wet day, the hour half-past nine, time for the opening of the school. Two children were ready for school. The master said he did not suppose any others would come that day, as it was wet, and most of the people were away planting. The average attendance is about a score, some of the pupils making very rare attendances, as might be expected from their ages, which vary from three or four up to thirty-four. Tho building is the property of the Natives. It is unlined, and must be very cold in winter. It is very ill furnished, and the people appear to use it as a lumber-room, having some old chests aud a quantity of raupo stored in it. Ou looking at the register I noticed that it was almost the rule to have one or two days' holiday out of every five. On the 21st instant I went with the Hawke's Bay Inspector of Schools to see the Nativo school at Tc Aute. Here are admirable buildings, perfect discipline, good teaching, and good manners. Real aud useful work is being done, not of a high class, but such as to secure to the thirty-seven boys iv attendance a good practical English education if they stay long enough to profit by it, as some evidently do. The Hawke's Bay Inspector (Mr. Hill) has been asked to examine the school, and has promised to do so. I did not know, until it was too late to arrange for a visit, that at Napier there are schools for Natives. Had I known I should have tried to see them. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Educatiou. Wm. Jas. Habens.

Notes of Speeches at Meeting at Ohinemutu, 12th November, 1878. Pirimi. —Many have come to speak to us about this before. Endowments have been solicited and granted. Tet we have no school, and we had given up all hope of one. But now we should like you to settle everything at once. lam glad to have an opportunity of saying what we think and wish. Mr. Brabant arranged to have school on telegraph reserve, and we agreed, because we wish to see the building, which is already there, and is not wanted as a gaol, converted into a school. Settle this now for both races iv Ohinemutu. We did wish for a Native Committee to supervise, both as to cost and as to conduct. AYe wish to have a voice, and not that the Government should act alone. We should