5

E.—2

Te Moari, Kaeo. —A useful school, although the attendance of Native children is not verylarge. This is, perhaps, the most successful of our mixed schools. The examination results this year were rather low; the ground had been, so to speak, temporarily worked out during the previous year. Hokianga. — District Superintendent, Mr. Spencer von St'drmer, R.M. Upper Waihou. —The Natives suffered much through an attack of fanaticism that came upon them in March, 1885. A "prophetess" said that the end of the world was very near at hand and fixed a date for the catastrophe. The Natives believed what she said, and sacrificed. their property, thinking it would be of no use to them under the new order of things. They are now sadder if not wiser men. The delusion had an injurious effect on the sehoql while it lasted, but the evil has now quite passed away. Omanaia. —The school was placed at some disadvaiitage through the serious illness of the master and of many of the pupils. This school has done and is still doing capital work. Mangamuka. —The Committee are extremely anxious that a law should be passed giving them power to compel careless and refractory parents to send their children to school. This wish is very general amongst the more intelligent Natives. Whangape. —This school had suffered terribly through the epidemic fevers that had been raging, with greater or less violence, in the north of the North Auckland Peninsula for more than two years. There is reason to believe that the fever has now left the district. Pakia. —Much good work had been done here; very satisfactory results were obtained. Waitapu. —The fever epidemics reduced this settlement to a very low condition, and it seemed doubtful at one time whether it would be possible to keep it going. It now seems certain that, through the efforts of the Natives and of the master, the school will revive. There are many West Coast children who might come to this school if arrangements were made by the West Coast parents for boarding their children at Waitapu during the week. Such an arrangement formerly existed ; it is a pity that it cannot bo renewed. Whakarapa. —The teacher has had many and great difficulties to overcome. The district is very rough, and much hard work has been required to put the site into good order. The teacher deserves great credit for what he has done in this particular direction. There is much jealousy amongst the different sections of the Natives; this is a standing obstacle of a very formidable character. Steady, continous work in school affords the best means of getting over it. In time Natives learn to sink their differences, as far as the school is concerned, if they find that their children are getting a good education. But little has yet been done in the way of satisfying this kind of want. Whirinaki. —111 health has prevented Mr. Aimer, the master of this school, from remaining in the service. A new teacher has been appointed. Motukaraka. —After doing capital work here for several years the master has been removed to a southern school, owing to his wife's ill health. Waima. —The percentage is lower than usual. A change of masters is nearly always followed by a temporary falling-off, even when, as in this case, one thoroughly efficient master is followed by another. Bay of Islands. — District Superintendent, Mr. J. H. Greeniuay. Mangakahia. —A new teacher has been sent here. He appears to be getting on capitally. If well worked this should be one of the best schools in the colony, and I think it would be quite worth while to expend a considerable sum on the present teacher's quarters in order to make him thoroughly comfortaMe, so that he may have every inducement to make this out-of-the-way place his homo for many years to come. Kaikohe. —■ This is a very efficient school. It suffered greatly from the effects of a very. fatal fever epidemic'. The "prophetess" delusion also caused some temporary difficulty, but the bad times have passed by, and the school is again doing well. Ohaeaioai. —The attendance has increased. There is reason to hope that the improvement will be permanent. Paihia. —This small subsidised school does useful work in providing, at a reasonable cost, education for Maori and half-caste children, who would otherwise grow up illiterate. Taumarere. —This school is on almost exactly the same footing as the Paihia school, and is doing the s:une kind of work. Waikare. —The Natives have not been able to keep up the attendance required for a village school, and Waikare therefore receives a subsidy only. Whangarei, Kaipara, Waikato, Thames. — District Superintendents, Mr. James Clendon, R.M., and Mr. G. T. Wilkinson. Ngunguru. —Some signs of interest in their school have been shown by the Natives. Improvement in this direction is much needed. Matakohe. —Some cases of fever have occurred here. This has caused a temporary fallingoff in the attendance, which had been satisfactory ever since the reopening of the school. Pouto Point. —Exceptionally satisfactory results were obtained hero this year. 2—E. 2.