7

E.—2

East Coast. — District Superintendent, Mr. James Booth, R.M. Waiomatatini. —The new buildings had just been completed, and there had been a long break through the sitting of the Land Court; the school therefore was not examined. Akuaku. — A thorough change in the staff and the general arrangements here seems to have produced a very salutary effect: the attendance is much larger and much more regular than it has ever been before. Uawa, Tologa Bay. —So far, the experiment of reopening this school has been successful; the Natives have kept their promise to keep up a good attendance. Hawke's Bay Boarding-schools. St. Joseph's Providence, Napier. —Of the sixteen girls examined eight passed. Mr. Kirk reports that at the examination the girls were all exceptionally neat and well dressed, and nearly all looked healthy. lie remarks that "Drawing and plain and fancy needlework are here brought almost to perfection. Tt is satisfactory to find that those who excel in these do well in the other branches of school work." Hukarere, Napier. —Although this school has suffered somewhat from frequent changes of teachers —two in succession having had to give up the work after having been engaged in it for a comparatively short period—it is in excellent order. The schoolroom has been greatly improved, and the school is now thoroughly equipped for doing all the work required of it by the Education Department. At the December inspection twelve girls passed the first of the two examinations prescribed for scholars from village schools; those who pass again this year will be entitled to certificates as having completed their Native-school education. A recent visit gave me the impression that a large proportion of the girls are likely to be successful. Altogether, this is one of the most satisfactory of our institutions. Te Aute College. —The "highest" part of the work of this school has been abandoned—most judiciously, I think. There is now no matriculation class. What was done last year showed that boys could be successfully prepared for matriculation here, but it also showed that the doing of such work would necessarily make the rest of the school weaker than it should be. Boys ai'e still doing good work here in higher English, algebra, Euclid, elementary physiology, and elementary physics: it is not advisable to ask for, or to expect, more. Indeed, seeing the difficulties that have to be encountered and overcome before Maori boys can be brought to the condition in which they can do effective work in such subjects, the condition and efficiency of Te Aute, shown by its ability to cope with these difficulties, are very satisfactory. It would be a pitv to spoil the condition or mar the efficiency of the school by asking for results in the higher class that could be obtained only by rendering the proper training of boys for the higher classes almost an impossibility. A pleasing feature of the work of this school is described in the following extract from Mr. Kirk's last report: " During the last six months careful instruction in the use of carpenters' tools has been given, with very good results. I saw several decidedly creditable specimens of work. Some of these were to be taken home by the boys in the approaching holidays, and they should do much to demonstrate, in one of the vei-y best ways, and where demonstration is most needed, the advantages of European training. Numbers of small articles in use in the institution have been made by the scholars." The report on the general instruction given at this school is highly favourable on the whole, and the points calling for unfavourable criticism are neither numerous nor important. I found that the answers given to the questions set to the boys of the highest class were very good throughout. In the second class some weakness was shown in geography and in mensuration, but this was owing to the non-agreement of the actual school course with that laid down in the regulations. The work presented was quite satisfactory. Te Makarini Scholarship examinations were held as usual in the middle of December. The senior scholarship was gained by W. Prentice, who declined to take it up. It was then awarded to A. Tamihere, who, though he obtained only 76'3 per cent, of the marks, while A. Downes gained 82'5 per cent, and W. Prentice 85 per cent., deserved high commendation. W. Napier, who was not qualified because he had not previously held a Te Makarini Scholarship, also gained 85 per cent, of the total number of marks. The two ordinary scholarships were awarded to Hiroa Tiopira and Pahoe Morete, both of Te Aute. Perhaps I may be permitted to suggest that tho Trustees of the Te Makarini Scholarships Fund might with advantage substitute some kind of technical scholarship for the senior scholarship now given as a final reward for scholastic success. Such a scholarship would make tho transition from the school to evcry-day practical life much easier than it is at present, and probably far less dangerous. The Wairarapa and South Island Districts. Te Oreore. —The school accommodation here is altogether insufficient, and about all that ■can be said in favour of the school is that the Maori children are much better off than they would be with no school at all. Papawai. —A new and convenient building has been put up here, and there is great reason to hope that the educational needs of both the Maoris and the Europeans belonging to the district will now be fully met.