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satisfactory in every respect, and the viva voce answering of the girls leaves little or nothing to be desired. But now the time has come when the girls may again with advantage pay great attention to written work, and their teachers have been recommended to train them to work written examination papers, without allowing their admirable oral work to deteriorate. It is hoped that the pupils will now be made able to combine the precision and thought of the one method with the life and quickness of the other. The Protestant Native Girls' School, Hukarere, Napier. —Two visits were paid to this school in the course of the year 1895—one on the 7th February for inspection, and the other on the 10th December for examination. Fifty-six girls were examined in all. Of these, two were pupils that had finished the ordinary school course and had remained at the school for another year. The progress shown by them was quite satisfactory. Of the remaining twenty-three senior girls, two passed the second-year examination, fifteen passed the first-year examination (nine very well), two were not yet due, and four failed. Of the thirty-one juniors, three passed Standard IV., six passed Standard 111., two passed Standard 11., eleven passed Standard 1., and the five " preparatories " all answered satisfactorily. Thus four of the juniors failed. The following extracts from the reports may be of interest : " The discipline of this school is mild and firm; no traces of severity are perceptible. The school tone is good; relations between pupils and teachers are very satisfactory—there is a fair amount of friendliness without undue familiarity." " The teaching generally is clear, definite, and interesting. Lessons in viva voce arithmetic ; on the construction of a paradigm of an English verb, with correction of faulty uses of words in that paradigm; and on the seasons, were precise and effective as far as they went, although the teacher showed some diffidence in giving them." "The school was visited rather early in the year, but inspection at such a time is not without its uses; it probably tends to make pupils feel that school is always a working-place, and that smartness in beginning work is an important point in the school programme." " The extra subjects are all satisfactorily taught, and the needlework is excellent throughout." " Miss A. A. Carter had charge of the school for the greater part of the year during the absence on leave of the head-teacher. The school work was carried on by Miss Carter with enthusiasm and success." Otaki Mission School (G.E.) (examined Bth October, 1896). —Only fifteen were present. These children worked with considerable heartiness as well as intelligence, but there were no signs of increased interest among the parents. Owing to great irregularity in the attendance the percentages gained were low, but the mistress had plainly succeeded well with the pupils that she had had a fair chance of dealing with. The weak points in the school are the order and the attendance ; there are many strong ones. Waerenga-a-hika Native Boys' School (G.E.) (examined Ist April, 1895). —Thirty-five boys were present. Hard times at Poverty Bay had, I was told, compelled the trustees to limit their operations : there are to be in future thirty-five pupils instead of forty. Gratifying improvement had been made since the previous examination, and a satisfactory number of passes was secured. The discipline was stronger than it had been, but there was still room for improvement. In a school of this class absolute silence during work should be aimed at; there should at all events be no irrelevant noise. The Convent School, Matata (examined 6th June, 1895). —Twenty-seven children were present at examination. Of the twelve children that passed, two reached Standard 111., five Standard 11., and five Standard I. The discipline is good. The extra subjects are well taught. The children are clean and well-dressed, and their manners are good. The "preparatories" are well attended to. To inspect and examine this school is a very pleasant day's work. The schoolroom has been lined, and so the appearance of it has been greatly improved and the comfort increased. The Te Makarini Scholarship Examination for Boys. —This examination was held on the 16th and 17th of December, 1895, at Lower Moutere (Nelson), Woodend (near Kaiapoi), Omaio (Bay of Plenty), Wai-o-matatini (East Coast), and Kaikohe (Bay of Islands). Nine candidates were examined for junior scholarships; there was no senior scholarship examination. Terei Ngatai, of Eangitukia, and Ernest Sherburd, of Kaiapoi, were the successful candidates, and their work was very fair. The remaining candidates sent in papers that were, on the whole, only middling. The trustees had a right to expect more and better work. Statistics. A statement of the expenditure incurred in connection with Native schools may be found in Tables I. and 11. of the Appendix, Table No. 11. being a classified summary of Table No. 1., which gives full details. Table No. 111. states the ages of the children whose names were on the Nativeschool registers at the end of the December quarter. Table No. IV. contains statistics of the attendance during the year 1895. In Table No. V. there is as full information as can be obtained respecting the race of children attending Native schools. Table No. VI. specifies the results obtained at the standard examinations for the year. In Table No. VII. the examination results are combined with those of an evaluation depending on estimates made at inspection. The two kinds of results taken together form a basis for the computation of what is called " the gross percentage," and on this percentage the position of each individual school for 1895 is made to depend. Table No. Vlir. gives the classification of pupils on the school-rolls in December, 1895. Table No. IX. shows the average age of pupils when passing the standard examinations in 1895. Table No. X gives the numbers of pupils attending Native boarding-schools, and of Native-school boys serving their apprenticeship at the close of the year. The total expenditure on Native schools for the year 1895 was £17,837 3s. 7d. Deducting £80 11s. 5d., paid from Native reserves funds; £1,708 15s. 5d., cost of boarding-schools, highschool fees, and apprentices; £81 4s. Bd., travelling-expenses of scholars sent to boarding-schools; 2—E. 2.