E.—2.

Kaiapoi. —Very considerable improvement was noted here both in the methods used and in the results obtained. The relations between the Natives and the teacher were found to have improved also. In the matter of what is called school-tone a great advance has been made; the children are now evidently interested in all their school work, which is done honestly and with enthusiasm. If punishments could be more completely dispensed with the tone would be very satisfactory. Bapdki.—Rere, too, the children work honestly and steadily, and the relations between them and their teachers are good. Nothing was heard about disagreements between the master and the elder Maoris. The examination results would have been better if the requirements of the Nativeschool standards had been kept in view somewhat more clearly. Onuku.— It should be borne in mind that this is one of the few Native schools that could at once be handed over to a Board without harm to the pupils ; at the same time there does not appear to be any special reason at present for taking action in the direction indicated. The Natives are bitterly opposed to the transfer, and the work done in the school is, on the whole,_ satisfactory. Waikouaiti. —As usual the school made an excellent appearance at examination. The attendance has fallen off considerably through deaths and removals, and I think the time has come when the teachers should be removed to a more extended sphere of action. As both teachers appear to be in ill-health through their assiduous labours, which have now been continued without a break for fifteen years, it is desirable that they should get a rest of some considerable duration. Port Molyneux.—'No doubt this school has very considerable value as an educational institution, and no expression of any desire on the part of the people of the district that it should be made a Board school has reached me. It should be borne in mind, however, that this is one of the most favourable cases for a transfer. It is worth while to remark that the work of the juniors here is not nearly so good as that of the seniors. , Colac Bay. —As usual very substantial results were shown here at examination time. Ihe school is undoubtedly becoming rather white, but still it is more Maori than European, and as it is doing such good work it would be a pity to disturb existing arrangements. The attendance fell off somewhat at the close of the year, but it is again very good. The Neck, Stewart Island.— -The attendance during the school year had been somewhat more irregular than usual. The special causes were recurring colds and other forms of sickness; the wreck of the "Emily," and the consequent delayed termination of the annual mutton-bird expedition; and the drowning of two Stewart Island lads and the subsequent tangi. As has often been pointed out before, the children of this school might quite well be taught in public-school fashion ; but it would be a pity to make any considerable changes in a school that is doing really excellent work. Only three schools have this year obtained a gross percentage of more than 80. These are—l, Kaikohe, 83-1; 2, Waikawa, 80-7 ; 3, Omaio, 80.3. A very close approach to this percentage has been made by five other schools—viz., Akuaku, Te Kao, Te Waotu, Pamapuna, and Taumarere. Boarding-schools. Under this heading brief mention is made of the work done at each of the four boarding-schools during the year 1890. Some particulars are added respecting the Te Makarini scholarships, which are provided for by means of a fund established by B. D. Douglas McLean, Esq., in accordance with the views and wishes of the late Sir Donald McLean, and in memory of him. St. Joseph's Providence, Napier (Boman Catholic Girls' School).— Twenty-seven girls came up for examination on the 27th of November last; of these, nineteen were Government scholars. Of the whole number, six passed Standard 1., three passed Standard 11., two passed Standard 111., and one Standard IV.; also two of the senior pupils passed the examination for the first year, and none failed; two passed the examination for the second year, and so completed their Native-school course; and two failed, but satisfied the requirements for the first year. At the inspection it was noted that the state of the garden and grounds was such as to make it difficult to believe that Maori girls, after living here for two years, where everything is so _ orderly and pleasing to the eye, could afterwards live in a Maori kaainga without striving to improve the state of affairs existing there. On the whole the school was found to be satisfactory, very considerable improvements having been made in the purely intellectual work, as is shown by the results of the examination. The Protestant Native Girls' School, Hukarere, Napier.—Thirty-seven girls came up lor examination on the 28th of November last; eleven of these were Government scholars, who had been trained in the village schools. Of the whole number, none passed Standard 1., eight passed Standard 11., five passed Standard 111., and two Standard IV.; also six of the senior pupils passed the examination for the first year and two failed; one passed the examination for the second year, thus completing her Native-school course; and one failed. The examination showed that the work was not quite up to the usual mark, although good progress was shown in many subjects—for instance, in the English, the arithmetic, and the singing of the seniors. The Fourth Standard work was the weakest shown ; it was not nearly so good as usual. It was noticed that some of the scholars who, for one reason or another, had stayed here on the foundation a year longer than usual, were very good indeed; this seems to show that it would be very advantageous for village-school pupils to remain three years instead of two. _ Native Boys' Boarding-school, St. Stephen's, Pamell, Auckland.— -At the examination held at St Stephen's on the 23rd June, 1890, six of the senior pupils satisfied the requirements for the first year examination and three failed ; five pupils passed Standard IV., three passed Standard HI two passed Standard 11., and eight passed Standard I, Tho examination percentage was 96-08—a capital result. This percentage deals only with the part of the school that is working in standards, but on the whole the examination results were very good indeed. At nearly every 2—E. 2.

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