E.—l

XXII

Whangaroa; at Kaikohe, Bay of Islands; at Whakarapa, Hokianga, in place of the Lower Waihou school, which was found to be very inconveniently situated; and at Maungamuka, also in the Hokianga District, which may be considered as having taken the place of the school at Rakaupara saw-mills, Avhich has been taken over by the Education Board of Auckland as a public school. Subsidized schools were opened at Pakia, Hokianga; and at Papawai, Wairarapa West. The school at Wairoa, East Coast, was discontinued. There were thus 63 schools in operation at the close of the year. Besides these village schools, there were 8 boarding schools at which Maori children were educated. With one exception these were connected with religious denominations, and all of them received capitation grants from the Government on account of the children placed in them by the Minister of Education. The Native children in these boarding schools are statedly examined by the Organizing Inspector. During the year new buildings of a suitable description were completed in five different localities; another building has since been finished, and five others are in course of erection. Buildings are much needed in other places. Correspondence is in progress with a view to the obtaining of sites in some Native districts where schools are considered necessary. The number of children on the rolls of the village schools in December was 2,024, being only 14 more than at the end of the preceding year. The average attendance for the last quarter of the year was 1,574, showing an increase of 48 over that of the corresponding quarter of 1881. About 160 Maori children have been maintained, wholly or partly at the expense of the Government, in boarding schools during 1882 ; the numbers at the end of the year were 150. The principles which regulate the admission of children to these schools were stated in the report for 1880. The following table gives a summary of the race of the children who were attending the village schools at the close of- the year. The same particulars regarding each of the schools is contained in Table No. 5, appended to the Organizing Inspector's report:—

Table T.—Race of the Children attending the Maori Village Schools.

The preceding summary shows that, in comparison with the corresponding period in 1881, the proportion of Maori scholars and those between Maori and half-caste had fallen from 76*77 to 74"16 per cent.; that the proportion of halfcastes was about the same; and that the percentage of European scholars and those between European and half-caste had risen from 13- 13 to 1556. The cost of the education of Native children (excluding those that attended the public schools, as shown on page v) was, for the year 1882, as follows : — £ s. d. Village school salaries (1,648 in average attendance) ... ... 8,925 3 7 Boarding schools (160 children) ... ... ... ... 2,772 17 3 School requisites and contingencies ... ... ... ... 1,353 8 9 Buildings and furniture ... ... ... ... ... 4,742 19 2 Inspection (including travelling) ... ... ... ... 831 18 0 Office salaries and clerical assistance ... ... ... 168 6 8 Apprenticeship and higher education ... ... ... 155 6 8 £18,950 0 1 ■*£ ===== This statement of expenditure is exclusive of a sum of £182 10s. contributed by the Nelson and llokonui Native Reserves Eunds towards the expenses of certain of the schools.

Percentage. Boys. Girls. Total. 1882. 1881. Maori, and between Maori and half-caste Half-caste Between half-caste and European, and European 844 106 173 657 102 142 1,501 208 315 74-16 10-28 15'56 76-77 10-10 1313 Totals ... 1,123 901 2,024 100-00 100-00