E.—2.

Maketu. —Only sixteen children were present. These all answered well. The circumstances here are rather peculiar There are two separate tribes living together ; squabbles between them are frequent, and it seems to be impossible to get them to act in concert for any laudable object certainly they would not sink their differences in order to promote the welfare of the school. These Natives have numerous land claims also, which take up the greater part of their attention. Besides these difficulties, there is another not quite so patent, but very effective in hindering the school from being successful. This is a sort of chronic discontent occasioned by the cessation of the expenditure of which the Arawa used to get a very full share in former times. They are constantly wanting more from the Government than they are now likely to get. On the whole, one is justified in saying that it is to be wondered at that the Maketu School gets on as well as it does. If the master were in a favourable district he would get capital results. Taking it all through, the results that are now being obtained in the Tauranga District can hardly be considered as satisfactory, but they have been especially poor during this year because disease and Land Courts have been unusually prevalent. There is, however, reason to hope that as time goes on there will be improvement. The Natives of this Tauranga District are certainly not behind other Natives in shrewdness and general ability, and they have many fine traits of character peculiar to themselves. If they can once be got into the way of trying to give themselves a fair chance, by living, more temperately and by fitting themselves by means of education to compete with Europeans, they will do well enough. Their intelligence will probably cause them to see this before long, and then they will pay more attention to the education of their children. Bay of Plenty Hast. Mr E. S. Bush, E.M., is the District Superintendent. Eight schools are under his care. Fort Galatea. —At the time of my visit to this isolated district the Natives were busily engaged in getting rid of a considerable sum of money that they had received for a large block of land. This is a matter that brooks no delay No Maori, at least no Galatea Maori, is thoroughly happy until he can reach the very bottom of his pockets without difficulty Under the circumstances it was impossible to have either inspection or examination. I think this school should have another year's trial. The state of matters at Galatea is this The Natives have now parted with a large portion of their best land, they will, therefore, either remove farther inland, or make up their minds to settle on their inalienable reserves at Galatea if they adopt the former course the school will have to be closed, if the latter it may be kept open with advantage. Te Teko. —No work had been done here for some time, and the school had to be closed temporarily The master and the Natives failed to come to a good understanding at the outset. All efforts to compose matters failed, and the teacher, who had done capital work elsewhere, was removed to another school. A new master, one who has had considerable experience among the Natives, has reopened the school. Should he show tact and judgement in dealing with the Te Teko people there is little reason to anticipate failure. There ought to be a very good school here. Matata. —This fine school did not do nearly so well this year as it had done at the two previous examinations. The school had been closed for a considerable period, while the removal and repairs of the buildings were being effected, and the mistress had had, through severe illness, to be removed to Auckland, and to remain there for some months. No doubt the lost ground will be recovered next year. Whakatane. —Forty pupils were inspected and examined in classes. No standard, examination could be held. The school, like that at Matata, had been closed for some time for repairs and alterations. Soon after these were finished the master, Mr S. A. Parker (a very hard-working, conscientious, and efficient teacher), was taken ill and died. The new master had been only a short time at the school. The prospects here were decidedly encouraging, and they have greatly improved since. Torere. —Forty-three children were present at inspection. This is a very good school, and it seems to be improving. William King, the chief of the district, continues to take a great interest in the welfare of the school, and to do his best to promote it. The examination results were not very high. There had been a change of teachers this generally involves a temporary stoppage of the progress of the pupils. It had not lasted very long, however, in this case, seeing that a respectable percentage and a fair number of passes were obtained. Omaio. —This is at present rather a small school, but it is an admirable one. The master has not been very long at the work, but he is already an excellent teacher. Great progress had been made since the preceding examination. Twenty children were present at inspection, and the capital percentage, 83-9, was obtained. Te Kaha. —Seventeen children were inspected at Te Kaha. As at the previous year's examination, good work was shown. Three rather small boys made a very good attempt to pass Standard IV , some weakness in arithmetic just prevented them from getting through, had they succeeded, the school would have stood very high indeed. The circumstances of this school change buc_ little from year to year. The Natives are very industrious and well-to-do if it were not for tangis and hakas, which from time to time disorganize their industries and cripple their resources, they could hardly fail to become a wealthy community It seems to me that a little extra effort on the part of the Committee would materially increase the attendance at this school. The schools in this district do very well, all things considered. Two of them were in an unsatisfactory condition at examination time, but they have since recovered somewhat. Should the district continue to improve as it has done it will soon be nearly as good as Hokianga. East Coast. Mr. James Booth, E.M., is the District Superintendent. There are now only two schools here, but the number will probably be increased before very long.

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