5

E.—2

Waima (examined 9th May, 1895). —All known circumstances having been considered, the results of the work were found highly satisfactory ; even in the few cases in which children ultimately failed the indications of strength in portions of the work were numerous and gratifying. The master has been removed to a larger school. Otaua (examined Bth May, 1895). —A very pleasing change had come over this school since the previous inspection. A large additional piece of ground had been taken in, and the garden was very pretty and generally satisfactory. At the examination very great strength was shown in English, and some of the other subjects were very good also. On the whole, the results were highly gratifying. Kaikohe (examined 7th May, 1895). —The order here is good; there is hardly any whispering, and no trifling; class changes are quietly and rapidly effected. Parents take pride in the school, and the children, especially the seniors, work with much spirit. The results were unusually high. Mangakahia (examined 18th February, 1895). —Advance in material conditions is manifest here. Large new paddocks are being fenced in, cows are regularly milked, and there are promising new plantations. But the condition of the school is unsatisfactory, and it is to be feared that there will be little improvement until the school is removed some three miles up the valley to Parahaki, where there would be a considerable population within easy reach of the school at all times. Ohaeawai (examined 6th May, 1895). —Better reason for being satisfied with the examination work was found than had been forthcoming for several years previously; many creditable passes were secured. It is to be regretted that the Maori parents here do not take more interest in the education of their children. Te Ahuahu (examined 4th May, 1895). —The older Maoris do not appear to take great interest in the school, but it may be hoped that this want of enthusiasm will disappear as the teachers and the parents become better acquainted. The examination results would have seemed better if the proportion of "preparatories" had been smaller. Karetu (examined Ist May, 1895). —The discipline is very good; when left entirely to themselves the children continue to be quite orderly. The examination results were not quite up to the usual mark, which is a very high one. The weakest points were to be found in the reading and the spelling. Taumarere (examined 30th April, 1895). —A severe influenza epidemic in the course of the year interfered injuriously with the work of the school. The examination results were low. It is fair to add that the interval between the 1894 and 1895 examinations was unusually short. The attendance had increased considerably. Whangaruru (examined 2nd May, 1895). —This interesting school is doing useful work; the previous year's high-water mark of attainment was reached and surpassed, and this in spite of the unavoidable increase of difficulty caused by the inclusion of higher work in the curriculum as the school grows older. Poroti (examined 15th February, 1895). —The school tone has fallen off a little ; Land Court preoccupations appeared to be the cause. The children, however, work well, although not always quite independently. Advance had taken place in most of the work since the previous year's examination. The principal defect observed was some lack of neatness in work done with pen or pencil; but even in this improvement was noticeable. Opanaki (examined Bth March, 1895). —The "preparatory" classes form a very pleasing feature of this school; they were unusually well advanced. Generally, too, the work of the teachers was capital—a little old-fashioned, perhaps, in some respects, but sound and solid throughout. It is to be regretted that there has been so much unavoidable delay in providing suitable buildings for this important school. Pouto (examined 22nd May, 1895.) —The attendance had become too small to warrant the keeping open of the school; but the last examination was, so far as quality of work is concerned, highly successful. There could hardly have been better passes than those made by two FourthStandard girls. Major Clarke, the late master, has left the service, and has gone to South Africa. It is almost unnecessary to say that he was highly respected by the Department. Mr. T. L. Millar, Postmaster at Eawene, is Local Visitor to the Hokianga schools. The Waikato. Te Waotu (examined 27th May, 1895). —The inspection day was exceedingly wet and boisterous, and many expedients had to be resorted to for drying the drenched children and keeping them dry ; hence the inspection was not worth much. The examination, however, was duly held, and a satisfactory amount of progress was indicated by the results. The future prospects of this school appear to be excellent. There are more than thirty young children in the district. Thermal Springs District and Bay of Plenty. — District Superintendent, Lieut.-Colonel Roberts, N.Z.G., S.M., Tauranga. Galatea (examined Ist June, 1895). —Much weakness was shown in the English work of the Maori children ; but in other respects a great advance had been made since the previous examination. The worst point in the school is the small amount of progress made by the very little ones. A fair number of satisfactory passes was secured. Te Hotthi (examined 31st May, 1895). —Honest work had been done, but much of it had been misdirected. No satisfactory progress in English can be made by Maori children without abundant drill in recognising and producing correctly the elementary sounds of the language. This they may best do by listening to simple statements, by being made to understand and take an interest in them, and by reproducing them. The teachers here work under great difficulties; the building is yery unsuitable.