Page image

5

E.—2

Kirikiri. —-The examination and the inspection gave pleasing results; in every department traces of the effects of hard and honest work were discernible. A goodly number of passes was obtained; there would have been more had the attendance of the European pupils been more regular. Waikato. — District Superintendent, Mr. G. T. Wilkinson. Waitetuna. —-This school has been closed on account of the thoroughly unsatisfactory character of the attendance. It is probable that the teacher would have done good work under more favourable circumstances. Tα Kopua.— This is a very useful school; its success is all the more gratifying because it was the first school established by the Department in the King-country properly so called. Te Waotu. —lf this had been opened as an ordinary public school it would probably not have lasted six months. The teacher, however, has been well trained for the special work, and is thoroughly familiar with Maori customs and modes of thought; and the school is very successful. Tapapa. —This school may be classed with those at Te Kopua and Te Waotu as occupying entirely new ground, and also as being thoroughly successful. The passes were not so numerous as they were at the other two schools, but most of the work was excellent. Bay of Plenty. — District Superintendent, Mr. B. S. Bush, B.M. Te Awahou.—The inspection showed that considerable improvement had taken place, but the examination results were by far the best ever obtained at this school. Botoiti. —The work here was as usual very sound and solid. The master, Major Wood, died of heart-disease in less than a month after the examination. He was greatly beloved by the Natives, to whom he was always kind and considerate. His body lies buried at Atua-rere-atu, a hill overlooking the lake and also the place where for more than twenty years, with one or two brief intervals, he assisted with untiring ardour and no small success in carrying on the work of Maori education. Major Wood was an officer in the Imperial service and belonged to one of the Highland regiments. He was wounded in the Crimean War. Fort Galatea. —The condition of this school was more satisfactory than it had ever been before. The teachers were doing good work both inside and outside the school, and the Natives were cordially co-operating with them. Huria. —ln April a migration to the gumfields took place ; twenty-five children were removed at one stroke. These have now returned, but the year's work was spoiled. Nevertheless a general examination elicited proof that the master had made very good use of the opportunities that he had actually had of teaching the children. Paeroa. —The school made a very creditable appearance at examination. Manngatapu and Ngapeke.— These two schools have been worked by the same staff. The Natives of the district have what appears to be a well-grounded distrust of the sanitary conditions at the former place, and it is therefore nearly deserted. Steps are being taken to remove the whole establishment to Ngapeke. The results obtained at the two schools are tabulated jointly. Maketu. —As usual, the school work was good, and it was gratifying to find that the external relations of the school had very greatly improved. There is now reason to be hopeful of the future of this school. Matata. —Untoward circumstances and difficulties which the master found it impossible to overcome led to his resignation. Shortly after leaving the school he was accidentally killed. Mr. H. 0. Thurston was an energetic and able teacher, and the Native-school staff suffered a distinct loss through his leaving it. Te Matai. —This is the Maori school par excellence. Of sixty children present at examination only one was of mixed race, and that one was three-fourths Maori. This school is excellent all round; it would be difficult to find a more useful educational institution. Poroporo. —When this school was visited the work was being carried on under almost inconceivable disadvantages. The school-room is a low, badly-lighted, and loosely-built whare, with earthen floor, &c. The teachers and their large family were living in a two-roomed Maori-built house in the midst of the pa, and were evidently suffering from every form of discomfort and inconvenience. Nevertheless work, real work, was being done, and, there is reason to believe, a permanent foundation for a very good school was being laid. It is to be hoped that the unavoidable preliminary difficulties will have been thoroughly overcome before next winter, and that neither scholars nor teachers will have to continue to work under such very unfavourable circumstances in severe winter weather. Wai-o-weka. —This school has done much good work. Its civilising influence appears to have been very considerable, Omarumutu. —This is a very good school. The garden here is in a very creditable condition. There are seven healthy olive-trees (two very fine) in it. The cinchona, date, liquorice, wattle, and other plants introduced by the Department are flourishing. Torere. —In August last the school and the district suffered an irreparable loss through the death of Wi Kingi, the respected chief of Torere, who for many years loyally and steadfastly helped the Government to bring the advantages of education within the reach of the Maori people in the Bay of Plenty : it is to be hoped that his successor will prove to be able and willing to carry on his father's noble work. A side school at Hawai is now worked along with Torere school. Omaio. —The teacher of this school is a valuable acquisition to the staff; he has the true professional instinct, and he spares no pains to effect improvement in the details of his work. Te Kaha. —This is one of the best Native schools ; it is doing excellent all-round work. Baukokore. —This is the last of "the Bay of Plenty schools ; it was doing capital work when the inspection took place, but a change of masters has since become necessary.