xiv

E.—l

English was producing better results than they had obtained by their old rule of using the native Polynesian tongue, applied to the Department for assistance in the selection of a suitable master, with the result that the post was offered to Mr. Hamilton, who has accepted it, and who left for Tonga a few days ago. ' The four boarding-schools for Natives—the Catholic school at Napier, and the Church of England schools at Auckland, Napier, and Te Aute—had 180 pupils in attendance at the end of the year. Of the pupils sent to boardingschools by the Government, 49 are children that have passed the highest Native-school standard, and have been admitted as Government scholars. There are 27 of these scholars at St. Stephen's, Parnell, 8 at Te Aute, Hawke's Bay, 8 at Hukerere, Napier, and 6 at St. Joseph's, Napier; and at these schools there are 131 other pupils (the numbers being 30, 57, 31, and 13 respectively), of whom 101 are not paid for by Government. The expenditure on Native schools for the year 1890 was as follows : On salaries and allowances for removal and other purposes, £11,528 15s. lOd.; books and school requisites, £372 lis. lOd. ; prizes, .£3lB 12s. Bd. ; repairs and minor works, £405 7s. 5d.; inspection, including travelling, £624 ss. sd. ; board of Maori girls in teachers' families, £42; subsidies towards purchase of musical instruments, £23 10s. ; grants to boarding-schools and travelling expenses of scholars, £1,525 16s. 10d.; buildings, fencing", and furniture, £2,595 15s. 5d.; sundries, £54 17s. 6d. The total is £17,491 12s. lid., but, as £115 7s. 4d. was contributed from income of Native reserves, the net cost was £17,376 ss. 7d. Most of the correspondence between the department and the teachers passes through the hands of the District Superintendents—Mr. Bishop, Mr. Booth, Mr. Bush, and Mr. Wilkinson —to whom the department is deeply indebted for much valuable advice, which they are especially qualified to give, and for their constant interest in the welfare of the Maori schools. Deaf-mute Institution. The number of pupils at the School for Deaf-mutes, at Sumner, at the end of 1890 was 42, the same as at the beginning of the year. The proposed removal of the school to a new site at Eiccarton stands indefinitely postponed. The expenditure for the year was £3,633 os. 3d.;. new site, £606 95.; salaries, £1,151 Bs. 9d.; board of pupils, £1,331 ss. 7d. ; rent, £345; travelling, £111 ss. 6d.; sundries, £87 lis. sd. Contributions amounting to £386 16s. Bd. were received from parents. The Blind. Nine blind pupils are maintained at the expense of the Government at a school for the blind in Melbourne, and two at a school in Sydney. A society lately formed is about to open a school for the blind in Auckland, and arrangements have been made for sending six Government pupils to this institution, of which the proposed operations are described by its Secretary in the following terms: — " The house we have taken is situated in Manukau Road, Parnell, the Parnell and Newmarket 'buses passing the door, and close to the Domain, within easy distance of the sea, about 200 yards beyond the Cathedral Church (St. Mary's), and within easy distance of other places of worship and schools. The building consists of reception room, dining- and school-room, kitchen, scullery, lavatory, bathroom, storeroom, linen room, music room, and 9 bedrooms; washhouse detached, coalhouse, &c.; to which it is intended to add a gymnasium. " The staff at first will consist of matron, servant, Mr. Tighe, and one seeing teacher. We have every facility and the necessary books, frames, &c, for teaching both Braille and Moon systems of reading and writing. Mr. Tighe is a first-class teacher of different handicrafts, and the female scholars will be taught sewing, knitting, cooking, and other useful matters by the matron. The visiting staff will report to the Committee monthly, and as we find out new wants we shall supply them, as we are determined to make the institution second to none in the colonies. We possess an excellent library in the Moon type, complete brush-making machinery, models for basketwork, &c, but at present are confining our attention principally to getting the school into proper working order ; as soon as that is all ready we shall extend our operations to teaching the men rades; indeed, a good deal has already been done in that direction, but not so thoroughly as will e the case when we get the school properly working."