7

E.—2

Omaio (examined 11th April, 1892). —The place had just been visited by a formidable and fatal epidemic, and there had been a change of masters ; nevertheless very fair percentages were gained. It may be mentioned that during the prevalence of the epidemic the master treated fifty cases, with a mortality of 4 per cent. A tohunga dealt with fifteen cases, and the mortality was 866 per cent. These facts seem to show that Maori treatment of disease is not to be depended upon. Te Kaha (examined 12th and 13th April, 1892). —The tone of thought in this district with respect to educational matters could hardly be surpassed anywhere. All the Maoris, as far as I can see, look upon the training of their children as what it really ought to be—one of the most important interests of their own lives. The effect of such a "public opinion" on the children of a community may easily be imagined. As a matter of fact nearly everything at Te Kaha comes up to one's ideal of what should be seen at a Native school. A few technical criticisms were needed at the inspection, but, on the whole, there was hardly room for complaint of any kind. BauJcokore (examined 14th April, 1892). —The children work with a fair amount of earnestness, whether directly under the master's eye or not. They were all very clean and tidy. Eesults were somewhat uneven, and presented here and there considerable contrasts even within the limits of the same subjects. The school did remarkably well at the preceding examination, and it is possible that its resources were somewhat exhausted by the effort made. The gross percentage obtained was very fairly satisfactory. East Coast. — District Superintendent, Mr. James Booth, 8.M., Gisborne. Wharekahika (examined 16th April, 1892). —Passes w T ere not numerous, and the percentages were only fair. The school appeared to have been considerably demoralised by the fever epidemic through which it had quite recently passed. This fever carried off four of the pupils, and seriously affected the attendance of most of the others. The master has since been removed to a less isolated position. Te Araroa, Kawakaioa (examined 18th April, 1892). —The fever epidemic was very severe here. The mistress, in the absence of professional assistance, dealt with more than fifty cases, none of which proved fatal. Deaths occurred, however, under the treatment of the tohungas. The percentages'gained at the previous examination had been so high as to make it almost impossible for the teachers to gain a great number of strong passes the very next year, but the examination work was highly satisfactory, and showed that both of the teachers are strong and earnest workers. Rangitukia (examined. 20th April, 1892). —Here also there had been numerous cases of fever, many of them of a virulent and some of a fatal character. At the time of the inspection the school appeared to be just recovering, the attendance was increasing, the whole of the building was in use, and the work done by the children, although not very great in amount, was of a decidedly encouraging character. Tikitiki (examined 21st April, 1892). —At my inspection of this school two years ago it was in a very weak state, and it was afterwards closed for some months. The present master therefore deserves great credit for making the school able, in the short time during which he had had charge of it, to present a very respectable appearance at both inspection and examination. Wai-o-matatini (examined 22nd April, 1892). —Some weakness was shown in the geography generally, and in the arithmetic of the seniors ; the writing was strong. There is still room for improvement in the pronunciation. On the whole the work shown was satisfactory, especially when it is remembered that fever had been prevalent during the greater part of the school year. Tuparoa (examined 25th April, 1892). —There was no inspection. Both master and mistress were laid up with typhoid fever. With some difficulty the school-children were got together, and the examination was held. In all forty-four pupils were examined. Two or three of the children who were hardly up to the mark were allowed to pass, because there was reason to believe that the fever from which they had just recovered was the cause of the slight deficiency; also, about four other passes were " good enough," but rather weak. With these exceptions the school did extremely well. Writing and geography were quite exceptionally strong. An examination of a school under such circumstances must be an almost unique experience. Akuaku (examined 26th April, 1892). —The master's school always stands inspection well, but examination results are sometimes more or less disappointing, although his zeal and industry are quite beyond suspicion. One cannot help thinking that there must be some radical defect lurking in his methods ; and careful observation and consideration lead to the conclusion that what is wanting is a thorough-going scepticism with regard to children's knowledge concerning anything that they have been taught until the soundness of this knowledge has been very thoroughly tested by careful questioning. Tokomaru (examined 27th April, 1892). —The discipline has improved. The elder children are respectful and generally well behaved ; the very young ones have yet to be broken in. The general organization and the methods are quite satisfactory. The results were somewhat lowered by the master's freely taking over " excepted " pupils and allowing them to be examined. Standards I. and IV. were good, Standard 11. fair, Standard 111. poor. In the last case the pupils were very young. Wairarapa and South Island. Papawai (examined Bth November, 1892). —If it were not for the objections raised by the Natives this might become a Board school, and probably it would not suffer by the change. In view of the facts that the previous examination was held in February, and that since that time there had been a change ol teachers, the results were as good as could reasonably be expected. Waikawa (examined 4th October, 1892). —There is reason to be well pleased with the work shown here, seeing that, in spite of the obstacles arising from long-continued absence of the pupils through unavoidable causes, the results were considerable and satisfactory. Since the examination the district has been visited by a fatal fever epidemic of the same nature as that which has devastated so many Maori settlements during the last three years.