E.—2

8

portion of the village school children should be sent; for, in the first place, it is only the children ■who show marked ability that are suitable subjects for the proposed transformation ; in the second place, the parents are in a large number of cases unwilling to part with their children ev'en for a short time ; and; in the third place, every scholar who successfully completes the boarding-school course becomes, on returning home, a kind of civilising centre, so to speak, for the diffusion of the new ideas—acting internally in the Native communities and not externally like the village school. It is quite true that in many instances boarding-school pupils disappoint the best expectations of their teachers, and seem to revert entirely to the Maori customs, losing all that they have gained during their stay at the school. Experience shows, however, that this relapse, in the case of both males and females, is generally of only a temporary character, and that in the end the gain is real and permanent. While undoubtedly really unsatisfactory cases do now and again occur, young Maori men and women, educated in the village and the boarding-schools, are to be found in most of the great centres of population, and in many of the Maori kaaingas, who are very creditable specimens of humanity, while in not a few cases young Maoris are to be found who might serve as patterns worthy of imitation by many Europeans who, from their birth, have been surrounded by all the advantages which civilisation affords. It may be added that the Department, as a rule, sends to boarding-schools only pupils that have passed the Fourth Standard, and limits their stay to two years. Thus, although the cost per year per head of the boarding-school pupils is considerable, the total cost per pupil of all those who attend Native schools is not very great. There are now four boarding-schools subsidised by the Government: three of these are in the Hawke's Bay District. Te Aute College, for boys, is about thirty miles from Napier. Hukarere Protestant Native Girls' School, and St. Joseph's Providence—a Catholic girls' school—are in Napier. St. Stephen's Boys' School is at Parnell, Auckland. I append a short description of each of these schools. The Native College, Te Aute, is connected with the Church of England. The headmaster is Mr. John Thornton, who has had wide experience as a teacher and as an inspector, especially in India, where he was for many years connected with Native schools in these two capacities. There are two assistants, one of whom is a Maori. This school has all the advantages that are to be derived from a considerable endowment, —commodious buildings, with spacious dormitories capable of accommodating sixty-three boys, extensive grounds, and an adequate staff; the domestic arrangements leave little or nothing to be desired; the school is well equipped with all suitable appliances, including a gymnasium ; each pupil has a gai'den of his own, which he is expected to keep in good order, and whose produce is entirely his own ; there is also a large and convenient workshop, where the boys receive instruction in the use of carpenters' tools, and are taught to make useful and ornamental furniture. With regard to the instruction given in the school, it would be difficult to speak too favourably. The high character of the education given here has been often referred to in former reports. It 'may suffice to state here that the curriculum extends from the rudiments (for foundation scholars only) up to the subjects required for the matriculation examination (which two Native scholars have passed). Adequate provision is made for the teaching of singing and drawing, and the results are very satisfactory. The general tone of the school is high, and a boy who has been under its influence for any considerable time can hardly fail to receive great benefit from it. Ten Government scholars, sent from the village schools on passing the Fourth Standard, and a number of pupils who have gained Te Makarini Scholarships attend the school; the rest are paid for out of the endowment. The Te Makarini Scholarships are provided for from a fund established in accordance with the wishes of the late Sir Donald McLean. Generally three are given in each year. This year, as only one candidate, John Jacob, of Te Aute, was found to be qualified, the Trustees directed that two complementary scholarships should be offered to village school pupils only. These were gained by F. Tupai Mairo, of Colac, and Japhet Winiata, of the same place. Seeing that the very low age limit, thirteen for junior, and fifteen for senior scholars was found disadvantageous, the Trustees have, on my suggestion, raised the limits to fifteen and sixteen respectively; much benefit may be expected to result from the alteration. Hulcarere Girls' School also does excellent work. It is not so favourably situated as Te Aute, seeing that the grounds are rather too small for the purpose. The buildings, however, are good and the staff is efficient; the domestic arrangements are quite satisfactory. The girls belonging to this school are taught to cook, to wash, to make and mend clothes, in short, to be thorough housewives. Nor are things calculated to refine the taste neglected; the drawing is singularly good, and the singing is excellent. There is hardly a girl in the upper division that cannot sing a simple melody at sight. Traces of weakness in some of the ordinary school subjects, and especially English, still remain, but year by year there is improvement. One difficulty after another is being fairly met and overcome, and, on_ the whole, this is an excellent school. At the last examination the passes were as follows: Standard 1., 8; Standard 11, 3; Standard 111., 2; Standard IV., 4. Higher work : first year, 8 ; second year, 4. Thirty-five pupils were examined. St. Joseph's Providence Girls' School is a very useful institution. The grounds are of sufficient size ; they extend over about four acres. Plenty of teaching power is available, and the domestic arrangements, as in the case of most establishments of this kind, leave nothing to be desired. The relations between the teachers and their pupils are of a pleasing character. There is a rather striking difference between this school and some of the others. St. Joseph's is stronger in English but weaker in most of the other subjects. This remark, however, applies only to last year's work ; the peculiarity had not been noticed previously. The singing and drawing are fair, but certainly not excellent; the needlework is remarkably good. It is very desirable that more village school pupils should be sent to this school, but it is difficult to get them. Those that have been sent have received great benefit from their residence with the Sisters. Passes at the examination were as follows : Standard 1., 2 ; Standard 11., 2 ; Standard 111., 1; Standard IV., 1. Higher work : First year, 5. Twenty-three pupils were examined. St. Stephen's, Parnell, is in connection with the Church of England. The resources of this school are not so large as those of Te Aute, and the school has to depend more on the Govern-