8.—2

7

Tokomaru (examined 30th March, 1895). —This is now the last of the East Coast schools for a traveller going south. The work seen on this coast has been very encouraging. At most of the schools there has been a considerable improvement in the attendance, which is gratifying, and, better still, in the methods and work of the teachers. Tokomaru certainly stands among the first of our schools. Wairarapa and South Island Schools. Papawai (examined 29th November, 1895).' —There is a considerable amount of apathy among the Maoris with regard to their school. The order here is good, but it appears to be secured with some difficulty. Here and there in the lower part of the school there is some weakness, but in the upper excellent work was forthcoming. General results are very creditable. Waikaiva (examined 14th November, 1895). —There were no candidates for Standard IV., but the character of the work shown was above the average. There has been considerable improvement in the attendance. The discipline is of a paternal character, and mild at that. Wairau (examined loth November, 1895). —Whatever fault there is in the discipline lies on the side of kindness; of course, tolerance should not be carried too far. Unless circumstances prove very unfavourable, there will be great success here next year. At all events, it will be deserved. Mangamaunu (examined 20th November, 1895). —The results of the examination were satisfactory. This is a useful little school, doing good work amongst Maoris who really need assistance to enable them to hold their own in the presence of an advancing civilisation. The Maoris have made their principal settlement very pretty, and quite a striking feature of the landscape. Kaiapoi (examined 2nd November, 1895). —The school tone has improved somewhat, but the apathetic attitude of some of the Maoris still has a paralysing effect on the school. With some weak spots in it, the examination work was very distinctly better than that of the previous year. Bapaki (examined sth November, 1895). —The children work with spirit and intelligence, and appear to be on good terms with their teachers. The rule is firm but not severe. Extra subjects are all well taught. The examination work was good, but with one weak spot —dictation needs more attention. This is a capital little school. Wairewa, Little Biver (examined 4th November, 1895). —The " form " of this school is very good indeed. There is an excellent understanding between teachers and taught. A large number of passes was secured; and some of the Maori children in the higher standards answered very well indeed, but the children in the lower classes were unusually weak. Great improvement in the last-named respect seems to be indispensable. Aroivhenua (examined 22nd October, 1895). —The order here is satisfactory, the more so because it appears to depend on the children themselves, no visible effort on the part of the master being necessary. There is hardly any whispering, and no trifling. There was great reason to be satisfied with the character and the amount of work done here during the time that had elapsed since the opening of the school. Waikouaiti (examined 24th October, 1895). —The general appearance of the children was unusually good. There has been a great revival of interest in the school on the part of the parents. The examination results were decidedly pleasing; the new master shows much aptitude for the work and plenty of the " good will." Golac (examined 26th October, 1895). —The children here show an excellent spirit; the school tone is very good indeed. The examination results were substantial, but several weak places manifested themselves in the course of the examination. A reference to the schedules will show that the number of passes was unusually large. The Neck, Stewart Island (examined 30th October, 1895). —Slight delay at the island may cause the loss of a week, hence it is desirable that no time should be wasted here ; in fact, only half a day was spent at the Neck on this occasion. It was found that there had been very considerable improvement all along the line, and the number of passes gained was satisfactory. There had been less improvement in writing and in spelling than in other subjects. Although rather small, this is a very useful and interesting school. The following schools have this year obtained a gross percentage of over 80 : Kaikohe, under Mr. A. G. Hamilton, made 92-8 per cent.; Tikitiki, East Coast, 89-4; Otaua, Hokianga, 89 4 2; Aku Aku, East Coast, 878 ; Omaio, Bay of Plenty, 859 ; Eangitukia, East Coast, 85-4; Waima, Hokianga, 84-6; Tokomaru, East Coast, 84-5; Colac Bay, Southland, 832; Eapaki, Canterbury, 827 ; Kaiapoi, Canterbury, 81-5; Waimamaku, Hokianga, 80-3. The schools at the following places also gained 70 per cent, or more: Waitapu, Papawai, Opanaki, Te Araroa, Paeroa, Omanaia, Karetu, Pouto, Maketu, The Neck, Eawhia, Otamauru, Te Matai, Matata, Ohaeawai, Waikawa, and Te Kaha. Thus twenty-nine schools made more than 70 per cent. Only six of the schools actually examined made less than 50 per cent. BOAKDING-SCHOOLS, ETC. Under this heading a brief account is given of the work done at each of the four Native board-ing-schools during the year 1895, and also an abstract of the reports on the Convent Native School at Matata, and the Church of England Mission Schools at Waerenga-a-hika and Otaki. Some particulars are added with regard to the annual examination for the Te Makarini Scholarships, which are provided for from a fund established by Mr. E. D. Douglas McLean, in accordance with the views and wishes of the late Sir Donald McLean, and in remembrance of him. These scholarships, it may be said, have exercised an important and highly beneficial, although for the most part indirect, influence on a large number of the Native schools of New Zealand. The Native College, Te Ante, Haw Ice's Bay. —The inspection of this institution took place on the Bth February, 1895, and the examination on the 12th and 13th of December. There are one or two sanitary difficulties here, and there have been more, but constant attention and progressive