3

E.—2

strenuous efforts to meet the urgent needs of the people of the Ohuki district are likely to be unavailing. It is to be hoped that the leading chiefs of Ohuki will not, through petty jealousy, caused by the department's inability to establish a school in every small settlement, allow the present opportunity of getting their children educated to pass away unutilised. School-work was commenced at Opanaki, Northern Wairoa, in a building lent by the Maoris. The Department should, if possible, secure a site here, and remove the Taita buildings to Opanaki. After the school was opened, a severe epidemic of fever broke out, this has interfered very considerably with the success of the school. In December a school was opened at Te Houhi, on the Urewera side of the Eangitaiki. Here also a Maori building is being used temporarily No doubt some more permanent arrangement will be needed shortly It was stated in last year's report that Waiomio School had proved unsuccessful. It was closed at the end of the March quarter of 1893. Operations were stopped at Ahipara and Otamatea at the same time as at Waiomio —at Ahipara because the interest of the Maoris in the school had ceased, and the attendance had become altogether unsatisfactory; at Otamatea the decrease in the population had rendered the district unable to keep a school going. At the end of the June quarter Native-school work ceased at Tangiteroria and Matakohe, because the attendance had become almost entirely European. At the end of the September quarter the Department withdrew from Kirikiri, in order that the Auckland Board might take over the school. This school had done excellent work for both Maoris and Europeans, but, with the large relative increase of the European population, the time had evidently come when Kirikiri ought to be made an ordinary public school. New Schools and New Buildings asked foe ok in Peogeess, and Peoposals foe eeopening Schools that have been closed. It will be convenient to give available information in the form of a list making brief mention of all the applications that have been recently dealt with or are now receiving attention :— Te Pupuke, Whangaroa Harbour. —The school will be opened very shortly Parapara, Mangonui. —Building ready , will be opened soon. Arowhenua, Temuka, South Canterbury. —Title to the site will be secured very shortly The prospects are good. Banana, Te Ngae, Botorua. —No progress has been made. Whakarewarewa, Botorua. —As at Banana. Hiruharama. —This is a very promising case. It is hoped that the title will be secured shortly Buatoki, Urewera Country. —There is reason to hope that a school will be established here before long. All the hapus wish it, but there are difficulties about the title to the site. Taumarunui, Upper Wanganui. —A school will be erected here as soon as a title to the site can be secured. There is a very good opening. Pipiriki, Middle Wanganui. —As at Taumarunui. Mawhitiwhiti, Normanby. —There is great need of a Native school here, although there are public schools not far off. As a matter of fact, most of the young Maoris of the district are growing up illiterate. Te Whaiti, Urewera Country. —This district will be visited shortly Maungatangi, Pokeno, Auckland. —As Te Whaiti. Moawhango, Inland Patea. —At the end of the year the Maoris seemed very anxious to have a school, but no real advance towards tne establishment of one has as yet been made.

Schools m Full Woek, 1893-94. The basis on which the schools are grouped is supplied by their geographical position. Much information respecting the work done by individual schools, and their efficiency as educational institutions, has been tabulated and printed in the Appendix to this report. Table No. 6 gives the results obtained by examination. In Table No. 7 these are combined with the results of an evaluation based on inspection. Additional information respecting the character and circumstances of particular schools will be found in the following paragraphs : — The Far North. Ahipara (visited 22nd April, 1893). —The school was closed early in the year, because the Maoris persistently kept their children away to dig gum. : Pamapuria (examined 20th April, 1893). —There are at least thirty children that could attend regularly, but the nearness of the gumfields causes them to stay away from school very frequently. Kenana (examined 21st April, 1893). —The work of the higher standards is less satisfactory than that of the lower The Maoris promise an increased atendance, which, indeed, is greatly needed. Whangape (examined 4th September, 1893). —The school was evidently not succeeding very well. The high price of gum (with the resulting absence of pupils), floods, gales, and epidemics, had together caused the teacher to have very up-hill work indeed. Matihetihe (examined 24th April, 1893). —The Maoris deserve great credit for keeping up a regular attendance here. Although the school is worked only part-time, very substantial results are secured. Waitapu (examined 25th April, 1593). —Bad roads, high tides, and great distances between the settlements and the school make the attendance irregular; also, some of the parents show want of interest in the school.