G.—2

Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE SCHOOLS (PAPERS RELATING TO).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Under Seceetaey, Native Department, to Officers in Native Disteicts. (Circular Telegram.) Wellington, Ist July, 1879. Be good enough to forward, as early as possible, a general report upon the Native schools in your district, accompanied by such details as you may he able to furnish immediately. Information is urgently required to prepare report for Parliament. T. W. Lewis, Under Secretary.

No. 2. Mr. G. Kelly, Mongonui, to the Seceetaey for Native Schools. Sic, — Eesident Magistrate's Office, Mongonui, 9th May, 1879. I have the honor to inform you that I have recently made a tour of inspection of the Native schools in this district, and beg to report as follows : — Awanui School. —Inspected 7th April. E. W. D. Matthews, teacher, and 36 scholars present; several reported absent, owing to bad state of weather. Senior class well advanced in writing, reading, spelling, and speaking English. Other classes rather backward : this is to be attributed to the fact that the majority of the children attending school commenced in January last, when the new schoolhouse -was opened; and many of the old scholars, being Europeans, have left to attend a European school lately established at Mangatete. The teacher seems to take great pains with his school; and I have no doubt that after next inspection I shall be able to report most favourably of this school. The schoolhouse lately erected is a fine and neatly-finished building, and would afford ample accommodation for 50 scholars. The desks, twenty in all, are of the American style. Should the attendance increase, about five more will be necessary. Maps are much required. I have instructed the teacher to apply for them. Peria School. —lnspected 29th April. J. F. Capper, teacher, and 26 scholars present; Bof oldest boys absent, pigeon-shooting. They had taken advantage of the absence of members of Committee, who had left to attend Waikato meeting. I found this school well advanced throughout, especially in the senior class, at dictation, writing, and arithmetic ; their knowledge of geography was also very fair. Discipline remarkably good. English pronunciation of elder scholars defective, but that of the younger very good, showing clearly how necessary it is for Native children to commence school early. The teacher is a painstaking man, and thoroughly qualified to fill such an office. It is quite evident that he has spared no trouble in bringing his school to its present state of proficiency. School-room accommodation is, I think, all that is necessary. I much regret to state that the Natives do not give the school the same amount of support as formerly, partly owing to jealousy on the part of the chiefs of neighbouring villages of the prosperity of the Peria Settlement. Another cause is that the Natives at this settlement, becoming more individualized in their habits, refuse to board children from other settlements without a remuneration of £2 10s. per annum each, which the parents plead they cannot pay. Kaitaia School. —lnspected 30th April. E. H. Dunn, teacher, and 16 scholars present, about 10 absent at a funeral. The children have made very great progress at this school in everything: their reading and pronunciation of the English language is very good. The schoolhouse is a fine building, large and airy. Desk accommodation is very inferior. The building requires painting very much. The teacher is an energetic young man, and displays a great amount of natural ability for teaching. lam sorry to see so much talent wasted on so poor a school. The Natives in this neighbourhood, though possessing the best lands in our district, are very poor, having no roads fit for the transit of their produce to a market, and are obliged to live much from home on the gum fields, taking their children with them. lam informed that provisions were so short at this place last winter that the committee found it necessary to raise a subscription for the purpose of providing the children with a meal a day to keep them at school. I— G. 2.