17

G.—2

and hats, in addition to ordinary European clothing. The parents evidently make a point of clothirrg them well, and to get the money to do this they have to work hard. The men are mostly employed in some seafaring occupation—oystering, whaling, or sealing; and, as a rule, they are sober, and attentive to the wants of their families. One difficulty Mr. Traill has to contend against is the irregularity in the attendance of the elder boys. There are a great number of cutters sailing out of Patterson's Inlet, and one or two boys are required in each whenever they go to sea. This interferes very much with tho progress of the school, and must be taken into account when judging the results of the year's teaching. I cannot help thinking, however, that it is a very good thing that so rrrany boys are learning an honest calling, and being trained in habits of promot obedience. I hope Mr. Traill will be encouraged by the Government to teach navigation in his school. Many of the islanders might, with such assistance, rise to positions of command in the mercantile marine. Even without such aid one half-caste has so far mastered the art as to fill the position of first mate of a brig. A seafaring life is perhaps the one best suited for persons of Maori extraction, and affords the best scope for their peculiar abilities. The difference between the number on the books and the number presenTajTmsp'oction was owing to several causes. Some of the boys were away in cutters, other children were helping their parents to prepare for their annual visit to the mutton-bird islands, and some were kept away on account of the dirty state of the roads. The residents at the Neck are about to apply to the Government for a grant towards improving the road between their two villages aud the school, and I hope their application will be favourably received. Although this community numbers over a hundred souls, they have cost the country nothing for the maintenance of order and good government amongst them, and any application coming from such a quarter for money for the public benefit deserves attention. The school buildings need to be painted at once outside, as the weatherboarding is splitting for want of paint. Waikouaiti: Master, Mr. Maloney.—lnspected 18th November, 1878. Eegisters carefully kept. Highest number on books, 46. Present at inspection, 40. Eeading: Ist Class: Number in class, 5. Book, 4th Eoyal Eeader. One good, four fair. Pronuirciation good. Meaning of text understood. Spelling good. Dictation good. Writing on the slates very neat. —2nd Class: .Number in class, 10. Book, 4th Eoyal Eeader. Five good, five fair. Text understood. Spelling good. Dictation from lesson good. Writing on slates fair.—3rd Class : Number in class, 6. Book, 3rd Eoyal Eeader. Two fair, four imperfect. —4th Class: Number in class, 6. Book, 2nd Eoyal Eeader. Two fair, four imperfect.—sth Class: Number in class, 6. Book, " Step by Step." Two fair, four imperfect. —6th Class :7. Learning alphabet. Since my last examination, the children have greatly improved in their pronunciation of English, and in reading generally. Arithmetic: Ist Class: Compound proportion; three very good, two imperfect.—2nd Class: Compound addition, multiplication; two good, three fair. —3rd Class: Simple multiplication and division; four imperfect. —4th Class: Simple addition; five imperfect. Only a few have made any progress in arithmetic. The number of those who could work sums on their slates was smaller than it ought to have been, considering the attendance at the school. The reason assigned by Mr. Maloney for this was, that, having many children to teach, he found it difficult, without assistance, to give each child the amount of attention necessary to insure rapid progress. Great efforts had been made by him during the past year to improve the children's English, and with success, and he will be able now to devote more time and attention to arithmetic. Geography: Number in class, 15. The whole of this class possessed a good knowledge of New 7 Zealand geography, readily pointing out on the map any places named. Five were fairly acquainted with the map of the World and the meaning of geographical terms. I hope next year to find a larger number showing some acquaintance with the subject. Writing : Copybooks tolerably clean. Writing neat. Ten good. Music: Not taught. No manual provided. Drill: Confined to marching in single file. Owing to foolish objections raised by some members of the Native School Committee, the master gave up teaching the ordinary exercises. Sewing : Mrs. Maloney exhibited several specimens of sewing, some of which were very creditable. She was very desirous that the Government should provide a sewing-machine for the use of the school. She assured me that it was much needed, to enable the girls to make their own dresses. As the School Committee supported Mrs. Maloney's request, I thirrk it is desirable, if possible, that it should be complied with. Airy attempt to promote habits of industry deserves to be encouraged. The children, with two exceptions, were clean and well clad. Their behaviour was excellent, and the discipline of the school has much improved. The schoolroom was clean, and the furniture and school apparatus in good order. Since my last visit the schoolground has been enclosed with a substantial post-and-rail fence, and some improvements made in the master's rooms. Both the master and the School Committee desire the admission of Europearr children to the school; but, for very obvious reasons, only a small number ought to be admitted—perhaps about 16 per cent. The members of the Committee, and most of the Maori residents at Waikouaiti, were present during my examination, which was made more interesting for all by the fact that I had prizes, provided by the Government, to award at its close to the successful scholars. After I had addressed the parents and scholars, Messrs. Pratt, Mera Kihereka, and Tare Teihaka made sensible speeches appropriate to the occasion. All spoke in high terms of Mr. and Mrs. Maloney, whose efforts for the welfare of the children were not confined within the four walls of the schoolroom. lam glad to learn that since my inspection an addition has been made to the master's salary. I was most hospitably entertained by Mr. Thomas Pratt (Haireroa), the chairman of the School Committee, who exercises a most beneficial influence with the Maoris. He is industrious, and a good man of business. He has succeeded iir inducing the Maoris not to let their reserves, but to work them ; and the appearance of the place is that of an ordinary English village —a few whares here and there are the only indication of the presence of Maoris. By Authority: Geokge Didsbuev, Government Printer, Wellington.—lß79. Price 9d.]