E.—2

Sess. 11.—1897. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: NATIVE SCHOOLS. [In continuation of E.-2, 1896.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency.

No. 1. EXTEACT FROM TWENTIETH ANNUAL EEPOET OP THE MINISTER OE EDUCATION. Native Schools. The interest taken by the Maori people in the school education of their children is constantly growing. In 1896 the number of village schools rose from 69 to 74 ; the number of children on the roll in December, from 2,675 to 2 862 • the mean of the weekly returns of pupils on the roll, from 2,656 to 2,874;' and the strict average attendance for the year, from 2,084 to 2,220. On the average the daily attendance was equal to 77J per cent, of the roll-number for the time being. About 9 per cent, of the children are half-castes, about 14 per cent are European (or inclining to European), and nearly 77 per cent, are Maori (or inclining to Maori). In the four boarding-schools for Maoris there were, in December, 70 Government scholars and 144 others. At the same time 14 boys holding industrial scholarships were apprenticed to employers as follows:—farmers, 5; blacksmiths, 3; saddlers, 3; carpenters, 2; printer, 1. One girl was at a high school with a scholarship, and two young men held scholarships of .£4O a year to enable them to study at the University College, Auckland, and Canterbury College Chnstchurch. The number of Maori children at the ordinary public schools has been stated in connection with Table B. The schools at Puketi and Makora, in Whangape Harbour, which have never been flourishing, were closed at the end of the year; the master had resigned, and the people made no sign of desiring the appointment of a successor. The school at Hicks Bay (Wharekahika), which was closed in 1895, was reopened during the year; it has a steady attendance of about 21. Six new schools were opened, two of them (Hapua and Rakaumanga) in temporary buildings, one (Banana) in a schoolhouse removed from Botoiti, and three (Buatoki, Te Whaiti, and Pipiriki) in new buildings: the aggregate average attendance at these six schools is 240. The demand for new schools is on the increase. Pamapuria has been reopened in this present year after being closed for about three years. A new school at Kokako, near Waikaremoana, was opened in February, 1897. Schools have been opened in temporary buildings at Manaia (Coromandel) and at Utakura (Hokianga). Contracts have been let for schools at Opureora (Tauranga Harbour) and at Te Kuiti (in the King-country). Tenders have been invited for new schools at Karioi (near Buapehu) and at Corinth (Koriniti, Wanganui Biver); and the Public Works Department has in hand the work of removing

I—E. 2.