7

E.—2

to their teacher's industry, zeal, and organizing power, and the literary work is on the whole -satisfactory as far as it goes ; but, on the other hand, at the examination there appeared to be good reason for saying that the higher the work was the less it could bear to be subjected to the examination tests specified in the Native Schools Code. This fact seems to warrant the inference that the teaching (though very good of its kind) had hardly gone.far enough or deep enough : weakness was most conspicuous in (a) English (except the spelling, which was very satisfactory) ; (b) arithmetic (except the purely formal book-work, which was good) ; and (c) the subjects known as elementary science. St. Joseph's, Providence, Napier : Roman Catholic Girls' School. —At the December examination two pupils failed (but not badly) to pass the final examination ; one passed Standard 111. ; two passed Standard 11. ; eight passed Standard I. None failed who were expected, in accordance with the regulations, to pass the standards. The examination v/ork was, as far as the Government pupils are concerned, quite satisfactory, but none of the other pupils did well enough'to deserve new classification. Protestant Native Girls' School, Hukarere, Napier. —The examination of this school also took place in December. Of six Government pupils who went up for the second-year or final examination, four passed and two failed ; four who were examined for the first year's work passed, and two failed. With reference to the ordinary standard work, two passed Standard IV.; two passed Standard 111., and one failed ; four passed Standard 11., and five failed ; and six passed Standard 1., and four failed. In the two senior classes the arithmetic and the needlework were very good ; the English had improved very considerably. The answering in the rest of the subjects was satisfactory. Five of the pupils not paid for by the Government passed either the first or the second year's examination. Altogether the school did remarkably well. Te Aute College, Hawke's Bay. —Fifty-seven pupils (ten Government pupils and fortyseven others) were examined. Of these, fourteen passed the second-year examination or higher, eight passed the first-year examination, six passed Standard IV., five Standard 111., eight Standard 11., and three Standard I.; six had not been long enough at school to be examined, and seven failed. The answering was very satisfactory all through. This school does a great deal of work not asked for in the code. The following brief outline will give a fair idea of the nature and extent of this extra work: In Class VI., which is taught by the headmaster, seven boys were examined in English, geography, Euclid (I. and 11., with easy deductions), algebra (to quadratics), mensuration, arithmetic, elementary physiology, and elementary sociology. The highest percentage gained by any boy on the whole work was 67-8, and the lowest 42-9. Consequently all the pupils passed. Class V., also taught by Mr. Thornton, took Euclid (I.), algebra (to simple equations), mensuration, arithmetic, geography, English, and elementary physics. Seven of the thirteen pupils examined gained over 50 per cent, of the ma.rks on papers set with the direct intention of very strictly limiting the number of marks obtainable for mere memory work. Physics and Euclid were particularly well done. Tiweka Anaru and John Damond were first and second in Class VI., and Eeweti Mokena was first in Class V. Te Makarini Scholarships Examinations. —These examinations are held yearly, and the scholarships are provided for from a fund established by &. D. Douglas McLean, Esq., in memory of and in accordance with the views and wishes of the late Sir Donald McLean. Eighteen candidates sent in their names, but only fourteen actually came up for examination. The trustees awarded senior scholarships to Geelong Paul, of St. Stephen's, Parnell, and Haka Tautuhi, of Te Aute. The work of these two candidates was of equal merit. A junior scholarship was awarded to James Joseph Kapa, of Kaikohe Native School. The following table shows the results of the higher work done at Native boarding-schools for 1886, 1887, and 1888 :—

Statistics. A statement of the expenditure incurred in connection with Native schools will be found in Tables Nos. 1 and 3of the Appendix. Of the total net Government expenditure on Native schools, £16,779 (shillings and pence are neglected), the sum of £13,737 was paid for salaries and allowances, inspection, general school-requisites, travelling, and other ordinary charges in connection with village schools; the remainder defrayed the cost of boarding-schools, £1,600, and of building, fencing, furniture, &c. Beckoned on the basis of the strict average for the year, 2,069-6, the cost per head of the children attending Native village-schools was £6 12s. 9d. Table No. 2 gives the ages of the children on the books of the Native schools at the end of the December quarter: 92-83 per cent, of the children are between the ages five and fifteen. Table No. 4 gives statistics of the year's attendance ; there has been a falling-off to the extent of 68-16, or a little more than one-thirtieth of the

St. Stephen's (Boys). St. Joseph's (Girls). Hukarere (Girls). Te Aute (Boys). first year — Passes due Passed Failed Second year— Passes due ... Passed Failed Pupils who were twice examined, but failed to pass beyond Standard IV. 22 7 15 13 1 12 ■I 3 1 5 3 2 15 11 4 14 12 2 17 12 5 7 5 2 9 0 0 0