E.—2

5

Kaikohe (examined 14th March, 1892). —In the year 1892 Kaikohe School completed the first decade of its existence. From first to last the school has been successful. The examination results, however, were not so high this year as they have usually been. Mangakahia (examined 12th March, 1892). —The examination results were very low indeed, and it was manifest that a change of teachers was inevitable. The master, an honourable and hardworking man, was evidently overweighted by the peculiar difficulties of the district. Ohaeawai (examined 4th June, 1892). —Last year's work was rather poor; this year it is good. In pretty fair schools this kind of alternation is by no means uncommon. I think, however, that the character of the year's work depended on the strenuous efforts of the teacher to produce something particularly good. His success was manifest. Tβ Ahuahu (examined 4th June, 1892). —The interest of the Natives in their school has certainly revived ; the children, also, are working with great spirit, and are on excellent terms with their teachers. At the examination weakness was shown in some of the work of the juniors, but the top of the school was good, and satisfactory strength was shown in arithmetic and geography. Taumarcre (examined 3rd June, 1892). —-This is a very small school, but much hard and honest work has been done in it since the previous examination. It is a pleasing feature of the school that the youngest pupils are just as earnest about their work as the seniors are. Karetu (examined 2nd June, 1892). —This school goes on in its own quiet, unobtrusive fashion, doing useful and satisfactory work. The results are not very high this year, but they are respectable, and, barring accidents, a very good show will be made next year. Whangaruru (examined 30th March, 1892). —A promising beginning has been made here. As the school was less than three months old when the inspection took place, a formal examination was unnecessary. Many questions, however, were put to the pupils, and the answers given made it sufficiently clear that the teaching had been sound. Poroti (examined 10th March, 1892). —It is quite gratifying to note the way in which the master holds his own in what was formerly a very difficult school, situated as it is in the midst of a very large gumfield. It was truly refreshing to spend a day here, after visiting in succession three schools that had been only partially successful. About six weeks after the examination Mrs. Broughton, the mistress, died ; her death is a serious loss to the school and the district. Tangiteroria (examined 9th March, 1892). —I gather that the relations between the teachers and the pupils are good ; the elder Maoris, also, appear to be well affected towards the school. A certain amount of rather annoying listlessness is at times noticeable in the junior classes; but the school is, on the whole, a pretty fair one, and perhaps it would not be possible to do much more with it at present than actually is done. Taita (examined at Waimauku, Bth March, 1892). —The master of this school deserves credit for his persistent and plucky attempts to keep a school going in the district. His efforts, however, were unsuccessful; Taita, and then its successor at Waimauku, had to be closed. It is hoped that a title will by-and-by be secured at Opanaki, and that the Taita buildings will be removed to that site. It should be added that the results obtained at the examination held at Waimauku were inappreciable. Matakohe (examined 2nd March, 1892). —Here, too, the master had had very uphill work. The Maoris take some interest in their school, and do what they can to keep it going ; but the epidemics during the previous seasons had pressed very heavily upon them, and had prevented them from keeping up anything like a steady attendance : consequently the school made but a poor show at the examination. Otamatea (examined Ist March, 1892). —The work was "streaky"; indications of strength were mingled with those of extreme weakness. Most likely irregular attendance had much to do with the condition of the school; but, at any rate, this was not satisfactory. It has been encouraging to hear that the Maoris have lately hit upon a scheme by means of which they hope to constantly main-tain a good attendance at the school. Pouto (examined 3rd March, 1892). —It is found very difficult here to get a guardian to take care of the children while the parents are at work on the gumfields ; also, the children attending the school have to travel a long distance every Saturday to get their food-supply for the ensuing week. The consequence is that the attendance is small and irregular. The examination work was very uneven, the answering of the lower part of the school being very poor indeed. Thames and Waikato. — District Superintendent, Mr. G. T. Wilkinson, Otorohanga. Kirikiri (examined 28th May, 1892). —A visitor is impressed with the idea that both European and Maori parents think well of the teacher, and are anxious to keep their children under his care. The behaviour of the pupils is respectful, and the relations between them and their teachers are good. A high mark is deserved for school tone. The attendance is just about half Maori and half European, and the building is too small for the number of pupils. The Auckland Board, it is understood, are about to build a school in the neighbourhood; this will, of course, relieve the pressure. Otorohanga (examined 25th May, 1892). —Attendance of parents at the Kihikihi Land Court, and fever cases among the children, had lowered the average. Slight weakness was shown in the arithmetic, but work in all the other subjects was sound and good. Although this school is very "white," Maori is the mother tongue of about five-sixths of the pupils, and is the language spoken in their homes. Tapapa (examined 23rd May, 1892). —The results were decidedly poor, although there were traces of the effects of careful and honest work done by the teacher. Unless the Natives take much more interest in the school, and send their children regularly, it should be closed after the next examination, if not before.