E.—l

XXIII

The report of the Organizing Inspector and full statistics of Maori schools, are printed in a separate parliamentary paper (E.-2). The valuable services of the gentlemen who have acted as District Superintendents have again to be acknowledged. Since the end of the year a fully-equipped school has been opened at Kirikiri, in the Thames District, and a side school at Oruawharo, near Port Albert, Kaipara. The schools at Poroti and Pakowhai, and the girls' boarding school at Taumarere, Bay of Islands, have been discontinued, for reasons explained by the Organizing Inspector in his report. The Mokau Natives and those of some other localities have opened correspondence with the Department with reference to the establishment of schools. Deaf-and-Dtjmb Institution. The institution at Sumner for the education and training of deaf-mutes has now been in successful operation for upwards of three years. A year ago the number of pupils was 24; it has now increased to 81. Fifteen of these are boys, and 16 are girls. The following are the provincial districts from, which the pupils have been sent: Auckland, 7 ; Hawke's Bay, 1; Wellington, 2; Otago, 10; and Canterbury, 10. The thirty-first pupil is a deaf-mute girl who has been sent from Adelaide, South Australia, to study under Mr. Van Asch. For a portion of the past year the Director had the aid of two assistants. He reports that there is every reason to expect an accession to the number of pupils in the course of the present year, and he represents the necessity of making provision for the employment of a third assistant, the peculiar difficulty and laboriousness of the work being such as to render it almost impossible for one teacher to do justice to more than ten pupils. The method of instruction is that which is known as " the articulation method," by which deaf-mutes are trained to the use of the organs of speech, and learn both to speak, in the ordinary sense of the word, and to understand (from, the motion of the lips) the speech of others. The use of finger-signs or other means employed as substitutes for speech is strictly excluded. The course of instruction includes reading and writing in the first instance, followed by English composition, arithmetic, geography, history, drawing, elementary science, &c. The girls are also instructed in seAving, knitting, and other useful domestic accomplishments. The pupils, who are all resident boarders under the watchful supervision of Mr. and Mrs. Van Asch and the assistants, occupy three separate dwellings situated at convenient distances from one another. There is also a detached schoolhouse. This arrangement is in several respects better adapted to the purposes of such an institution than if one large building only were made use of, affording, as it does, excellent facilities for satisfactory separation according to sex and age. Besides the gardens attached to the residences, there are an ample playground and abundant facilities for recreation purposes. The locality is salubrious, as has been testified by the general good health of the children. The institution is subject to regular medical inspection, and it is visited from time to time by the Minister of Education and officers of the department. The ability and zeal of the Director are deserving of high commendation; and he has been well seconded in his efforts to promote the welfare of the pupils by Mrs. Van Asch and the assistants. The results of Mr. Van Asch's labours invariably call forth expressions of surprise and gratification from those who visit the institution. Table No. 7 of the Appendix contains a statement of the expenditure on the institution for the financial year ending 31st March, 1883. The following is an abstract of the statement:— £ s. d. Director and two assistants ... ... ... ... ... 733 18 8 Eents and repairs ... ... ... ... ... ... 268 5 0 Travelling expenses, medical attendance, furniture and schoolroom requisites, advertising, &c. ... ... ... ... 240 13 10 Maintenance-of pupils ... ... ... £1,016 10 0 Less payments by parents ... ... 322 5 10 694 4 2 £1,937 1 8