8.—2.

examination, very considerable weakness was shown in the arithmetic, and the English was not good. These remarks refer to Standards 111. and IV only The rest of the work for these standards, as well as the whole of the work of the lower part of the school, was very good indeed. Akiiaku (examined 21st April, 1894). —The elder Maoris are exceedingly apathetic, and there is a shocking want of punctuality The children when in school are more attentive and work better than the before-mentioned circumstances would lead one to expect. The results were as good as could reasonably be hoped for, but were by no means a suiiicient recompense to the Government for the trouble and cost of keeping the school open. Tohomaru (examined 23rd April, 1894). —Except for a short time under a former teacher, this school has never been so prosperous as it is at present. There are now, also, elements of permanence that were wanting then. At the examination some catastrophes occurred—a notable one in Standard 11., where weakness in an important part of the arithmetic brought failure to all the pupils except two; but the work was generally very satisfactory indeed. The children work with pleasing enthusiasm. Wairarapa, the South Island, and Stewart Island. Papawai (examined 14th December, 1894). —If a proper amount of interest could be aroused, there ought to be a very good Maori attendance here, as it is, the education of their children seems to be for some of the Papawai Maoris a very small matter. The master has had hard work in many ways during the year, and, in spite of his hard and honest work, only two or three of his fairly numerous passes were strong. The geography the grammar, and the science were very good. Waikaiva (examined 30th November, 1894). —The people of the district had been suffering for about twenty months from a succession of disasters, mainly caused by fatal epidemic disease. Keeping this fact in view one could say that the examination results were satisfactory, and could treat as premature any proposal to close the school on account of the smallness of the attendancei Wairau (examined 29th November, 1894). —The results were poor bad harvests and epidemic disease, with consequent hard work for the children, who had had to assist in lessening their parents' liabilities, had made the attendance very irregular The school was closed at the end of the year, to be reopened in June under a new teacher, and, it is hoped, in more favourable circumstances. Mangamaunu (inspected 3rd December, 1894). —A considerable advance has been made by the Mangamaunu Natives since the end of 1889, when their school had to be closed , there appears to be good reason to hope that it will now succeed. Of course, everything depends, in the first place, on the ability of the Maoris to keep up a fair attendance. Kaiapoi (examined 15th November, 1894). —At the examination strength was shown in writing, spelling, " health," and physical geography. The work in calisthenics and musical drill was of high merit, and it would be hard in the case of children of Maori descent to overrate the importance of such exercises. The Maoris here seem rather apathetic about their children's education. Bapaki (examined 13th November, 1894). —That powerful civilising influences are being brought to bear on Eapaki is shown by the improved appearance of the village and the children belonging to it. The school work would be stronger if the standards were adhered to more closely, but, as it is, a great deal is done to educate the children of the district. The schoolroom is inconveniently small. Wairewa, Little Biver (examined 14th November, 1894). —On the whole, there is good reason to be pleased with the work done. Weakness was discovered here and there, but it was nowhere obtrusive. The school is a good one. More room is needed at Wairewa. Waikouaiti (examined 17th November, 1894). —The organization of this school is very peculiar, and, at the same time, thoroughly effective. The system adopted may be briefly described thus The lessons appear to be given by monitors , but it is the master that is all the time teaching the classes, through the monitors, what will fit the members of these classes to become monitors in turn. It thus comes about, I take it, that no pupil will have quite done with what he has to learn until he is able to teach it. Arithmetic was the only subject in which complete success was not achieved. Colac Bay (examined 20th November, 1894). —The number of Native children attending is not large, but the school is so thoroughly satisfactory that no alteration ought to be made in its management or general arrangements without very careful consideration on the one hand and urgent necessity on the other. Weakness was shown in Standard 11. geography and a part of one other subject, but the work generally was very strong and good. The Neck, Stewart Island (examined 21st November, 1894). —There is reason to hope that the good record of this school will be continued under the new master, who will certainly spare no pains to secure success. The examination results this year were only moderate , it seems as if the previous master had, for the time being, about worked out the school's possibilities. More brilliant work may certainly be expected next year, especially in arithmetic, for which Maoris have a particular aptitude. The following schools have this year obtained a gross percentage of over 80 Kaikohe, under Mr A. G. Hamilton, made 95-7 per cent., Waima, under Mr. J B. Lee, 90-5, Karetu, Bay of Islands, 88-7 , Colac Bay, Southland, 866 , Taumarere, Bay of Islands, 84-9, Omaio, Bay of Plenty, 83-6, Waikouaiti, Otago, 81-8, Poroporo, Bay of Plenty, 81-4. The schools at the following places also made 70 per cent, or more: Otaua, Otorohanga, Tokomaru, Te Matai, Te Araroa, Te Ahuahu, Tikitiki, Motukaraka, Maungatapu, Omanaia, Eaukokore, Eangiahua, Galatea, Eangitukia, Eapaki, Waitapu, Kaiapoi, Paeroa, Papawai, Te Kaha, and Whirinaki. Thus, twentynihe schools made more than 70 per cent. Only eight of the schools actually examined made less than 50 per cent. . ~

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