E.—2.

Otamauru (examined 18th August, 1894).—1n spite of the drawbacks attendant on the giving of instruction in a Maori building, good progress was being made by the children, and the examination results were good. The point that needs most attention is the speaking of English, as distinguished from the understanding of it. The children work honestly, and their behaviour is Pompom (examined 20th August, 1894).— The examination brought to light excellent results. The pupils really know what they appear to know and the teachers are not dominated by a lurking feeling that they are being wronged when their pupils are taken somewhat out of the groove in which they iaye been taught. For instance, First Standard children know the English plurals so thoroughly that it is hardly possible to puzzle them in the subject with any reasonable questions. Wai-o-weka (examined sth April, 1894).—1n taking account of the present condition of this school one has to remember that the master had been there only six months, and that work had been suspended three months before he took charge. The behaviour of the boys was very uncouth, and at the best the results were only tolerable. A year's work by the present master will certainly bring about a radical change. Omarumutu (examined 6th April, 1894).— The children here need abundant practice m the exercises used for making pronunciation perfect, and in viva voce arithmetic. The passes were tolerably numerous, but, on the whole, weak. There had plainly been some falling-off in the thoroughness of the work done, and there was in no part of it any large amount of the kind of improvement found to be going on at most of the schools visited on the same journey The general appearance of the place was very creditable to the teachers. Torere (examined 7th April, 1894).— The examination work was, on the whole, very fair, but weakness was shown in English and the allied subjects, in these the school has, somehow never been strong. The opinion of an outsider has its own peculiar value. The Board Inspector's entry in the log-book runs thus ■ " I was much pleased with the clean and tidy appearance of the schoolbuilding and premises, and with the good order and tone prevailing in the school." Omaio (examined 9th April, 1894).— The results of both inspection and examination were very pleasing. The school is very strong indeed in English and geography, and strong in other subjects, except arithmetic. There were fourteen young children in this excellent school they had all been carefully taught, and were able to produce palpable evidence of their attainments. There were no dummies among these children. , Tβ Kaha (examined 10th April, 1894).—The top of the school was very good indeed , the geography, the spelling, and portions of the English were highly satisfactory, while there was no reason for complaint with respect to the other subjects. Standards 11. and I. and the " preparatories " were not nearly so good. The Board's Inspector says, " I was much pleased with the very clean and orderly state of the school. . The discipline and tone are admirable." Baukokore (examined 11th April, 1894).—After five years' residence the teacher of this remote school was removed to a less isolated position. Honest work had been done by him during the whole of his stay At the concluding examination considerable weakness was shown in the Fourth Standard arithmetic, and comprehension of English was less satisfactory than the speaking and the reading. The rest of the work was very good. East Coast.—District Superintendent, Mr J Booth, S.M., Gisborne. Wharekahika (examined 13th April, 1894).— It appears to be the practice of those who marry from this settlement to go elsewhere*to live the children of these emigrants, however, are m many cases sent back here to keep up the attendance. A full period of twelve months had not expired since the previous examination, and the master had been laid up with serious illness, in spite of these drawbacks the school passed a good examination. Te Araroa (examined 14th April, 1894).— It had been thought necessary to reopen the publichouse here. Many of the Maoris considered this a misfortune, as one of them told me, the Maori finds it very hard to resist the allurements of strong drink. The experiment of keeping the publichouse open lasted only a few months, and was then abandoned. At the examination very considerable weakness was shown in the children s knowledge of mental arithmetic, and of the laws of health. In all other respects the work was very satisfactory. The English and the spelling were unusually good. -~,,,,-. Bangitukia (examined 16th April, 1894).—This forecast appeared m the log-book, it was nearly correct " The results of the approaching examination will not be very brilliant the children attended so very irregularly during the last three quarters of 1893 that we have been unable to get through as much work as usual." Passes were tolerably numerous, but very few of them were strono- a considerable proportion of them being only just gained. The causes of weakness were—(l) an epidemic of measles of unusual severity, (2) long-continued stormy weather, (3) considerable, but apparently inexplicable, apathy shown by the Maoris towards the close of 1893. Tikitiki (examined 17th April, 1894).— The Maoris speak of a probable large increase in the attendance. The general appearance of the school was highly satisfactory _ Taken absolutely, the results were good but when the numerous drawbacks are considered—the illness and death of the late teacher's wife, the change of teachers, the short time that has elapsed since the change was made &c. the work shown at examination was admirable. Wai-o-matatini (examined 18th April, 1894).—When the examination was held the parents appeared to be taking but little interest in the school, they seemed to wish to have a school, and that was all. It is understood that there has been a great revival of late. Although passes were not very numerous, the examination showed that the teacher had been taking advantage of his first moderately favourable opportunity of gaining experience as a teacher. Tuparoa (examined 19th April, 1894).— The Maoris connected with this important school deserve great credit for their steady perseverance in keeping up a regular attendance. At the

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