H.—lL.

7

Arithmetic: Compound proportion and vulgar fractions: three worked fairly, but all require to be more exact, trifling errors occurring in most of the sums. Practice: one good, three fair, one imperfect. Compound multiplication: one fair, four imperfect. Simple multiplication: three, imperfect. Addition: two fair, one imperfect. The lower classes would be improved by more practice in mental arithmetic. Tables, and weights and measures : Nine knew multiplication table well, six imperfectly ; seven knew weights and measures fairly well. "Writing: Ist Class : One good, two fair, three imperfect.—2nd Class : five, imperfect.—3rd Class: One fair, three imperfect. All the writing, especially the small-hand copies of the first class, too cramped. Exercise-books: Three containing exercises in navigation were fairly written, the figures good, and books clean. Original essays : Ten tried to write on a subject I fixed ; six acquitted themselves very creditably. Geography : Five showed a tolerable acquaintance with the geography of New Zealand. Sewing: Mrs. Traill gives instruction in sewing : the specimens of work shown were very good. Music: Mrs. Traill also instructs the children in singing. The schoolroom was very clean, and the books and maps, &c, in good order and neatly arranged. Both the schoolroom and master's house require painting outside. The discipline of the school is good. The children were very quiet and well-behaved during the examination, and were all clean and well clad. The master complained that the elder boys were continually being taken away to work in the cutters. One boy in the Ist Class had only attended school seventy, and another only fortj'-eight days during the past year. As soon as the children, whether boys or girls, are old enough to be of use, they are taken away, just when the teaching is beginning to tell. Since November, 1879, Mr. Traill has been paid a regular salarj^, instead of the capitation allowance formerly granted to him. The new arrangement is both fairer and more agreeable. The half-caste men in the south, unlike the Maoris, are most anxious to provide for the comfort, as well as for the bare necessities of their families. They seem to possess a higher sense of their responsibilities towards them; and this impels them to seek regular work, in order to obtain the necessary means for providing what they want. Most of the men at the Neck are working in cutters owned by themselves, or at the saw-mills, of which there are two in the island. It is unfortunate that they still adhere to the Maori custom of annually visiting the mutton-bird islands, as it thoroughly disorganises their domestic arrangements, and is attended with many evil consequences. Living together for many weeks in a " huggermugger" style, gorging themselves on oily mutton-bird flesh, is neither conducive to health of body or mind. It is always a serious hindrance to the work of the school, as it not only breaks off the work for many weeks entirely, but also unsettles the children for a long time before and after the expedition. Perhaps the people find the strain put upon their natural inclinations by the real efforts they make to live as civilized persons too great to endure for twelve months together, and require this period of wild license to reconcile them to face once more the labours and restraints imposed by our civilization. The children took tea with their parents and friends in the schoolroom after the examination, each household having contributed some part of the good cheer provided. A meeting was afterwards held, over which Mr. Peora, the Chairman of the School Committee, presided. All the speakers testified to the valuable services rendered to their community by Mr. and Mrs. Traill, and most of them referred with satisfaction to the formation by the Government of the road between the two villages and the school. It was a work that was very much wanted, and will prove of great service to all the residents in the place. Riverton : Master, Mr. .J. Ireland. —Inspected Bth March, 1880. Highest number on roll: Boys, 16; girls, 11: total, 27. There are also 3 men under instruction. The master's attention was called to rules 8 and 9, attached to the register, which had not been complied with. Reading : Sequel to Royal Reader No. 4. One good, two fair. Pronunciation fair. Meaning of text understood. Dictation: Writing good. Spelling very imperfect. Grammar: Three can distinguish the parts of speech.—Book, 4th Royal Reader. Two fair, three imperfect. Only three books for this class, one in tatters. The reading of this class has improved since last examination, but they still slur over the final consonants when pronouncing words. Dictation: "Writing fair. Spelling: three good, two fair.—Book, 3rd Royal Reader. Two fair. Meaning understood. Spelling fair.—Book, 2nd Royal Reader. Two fair.: Meaning understood. Spelling fair. —Book, Ist Royal Reader. Pour imperfect.—Learning the alphabet, 4. Arithmetic : Division and fractions, compound division and multiplication : three good, three fair. Simple multiplication ; three fair. Addition and substraction : two fair, three imperfect. "Writing : Ist Class : Pour fair, six imperfect. The books, with t'trw exceptions, blotled, and carelessly written.* —2nd Class : One good, three fair. The writing on slates was generally better than on paper. The copy-books have hitherto been supplied by the parents. Geography : Pive had a good knowledge of geographical terms, and of the geography of New Zealand. Singing : Not taught. Drill: Not regularly taught. Sewing : Miss Ireland gives instruction in sewing, and under her direction the elder girls have made their own clothes. The specimens of sewing shown were very neatly done. The schoolroom was tolerably clean. The discipline of the school is much improved : the children were far more orderly than during any previous examination. The schoolroom and the adjoining church were being repaired and painted while I was at Riverton, the result of a visit lately paid by the Hon. Mr. Rollestou to the school. The master is greatly in want of books, as many of those in use are falling to pieces. I advieed him to forward a requisition at once for what he wanted. Port Molyneux: Mistress, Miss Jones. —Visited 11th March, 1880. Miss Jones was unfortunately absent when I arrived at the Native village, but I was pleased to observe that all the children I met, at that early hour, had clean hands and faces, and well-brushed hair. I went to the schoolroom in company with the members of the Committee, and the children having been summoned, 9 answered to their names: these I examined.