3

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affected by this severity. There should be a very fair school here. The building will probably be ready before the end of the year. Koriniti {Corinth), Wanganui River. —This should be a large and, in other respects, important school. It will be fed by several considerable settlements, some of them quite comparable with Corinth itself. It, too, should be ready before the close of 1897. Onewhero (Kauhanga), near Tuahau, Waikato. —The application was not followed up, and nothing has come of it. Kokako, Lake Waikaremoana. —A school is about to be opened here. Opureora, Matakana Island, Tauranga Harbour. —This ought to be a good school. The Natives promise fifty pupils. It should be at work in a few months' time. Rao Rao, Aotea Harbour, North of Kawhia. —The Natives seem to have good reason for asking for a school; no doubt a very good attendance could be maintained. Negotiations are in the preliminary stage only. Te Kuiti, "King Country." —The school here will soon be ready to make a start. A site has been secured and building has been authorised. Te Kuiti should have a good school, if a rather difficult one. Te Ngaere, Whangaroa, North Auckland. —This is a case of reopening. Many years ago there was here a school that never did very much good ; another attempt is now to be made under more favourable auspices. A very important feature in the new arrangements is that the buildings are to be removed to another and much more convenient site. This change will enable the children from Matauri—a considerable seaside settlement —to make full use of the school. Pamapuria, Mangonui District. —After being closed for three years this school is about to be re-opened. Utakura, Hokianga. —Sufficient reason has been shown for establishing a school here in connection with that at Rangiahua, Upper Waihou. A site has been chosen, and when the title can be acquired a building will be erected; meanwhile school-work will be begun in a Maori building. Waiotapu, Thermal Springs District. —This is near a well-known resort of tourists ; it is about twenty miles from Rotorua. The site offered by the Natives is some distance from the hot springs—a very decided advantage. The case is a very favourable one. Whangarae, Croiselles Harbour, Nelson. — One or two Natives and some Europeans endeavoured to induce the Department to establish a small Native school here. Investigation showed that it was a case rather for the consideration of the Nelson Board. - Whenuakura, near Patea. —The negotiations for the establishment of a school at Whenuakura appear to have quite broken down—for the present, at all events. Applications have also been made quite recently in some form or other for schools at the following places : Manaia, Nuhaka, Peria (reopening), Te Haroto, Manukaewa (Waihi), Te Ngakau o Hine Kuku, and Maunu. Two very promising cases—viz., Manaia, near Coromandel, and Nuhaka, Hawke's Bay—have passed through the preliminary stages with great celerity. A beginning will be made at Manaia in a few days (31st March, 1897). Native Village Schools at work during 1896 or some portion of it, and examined oe inspected or both. The basis on which the schools are grouped in this report is afforded by their geographical position. Much information respecting the work done by individual schools, and their general efficiency as educational institutions, has been tabulated and printed in the appendix to this report (see Tables VI. and VII.). Additional information respecting the character and circumstances of particular schools will be found in the following paragraphs : — The Far North — Parengarenga, Mangonui, and Whangaroa. Hapua (inspected 19th March, 1896). —The opening had taken place less than two months previously. The Natives were still enthusiastic and anxious to do what they could for their experimental school. They had drawn the scattered children of their large district into one camp. As yet it is impossible to forecast the result. Te Kao (examined 18th March, 1896). — The school presented a pleasing appearance, and, generally, fully justified the reopening that had taken place eighteen months previously. English is the language used in the playground. It was with great regret that the Department heard of the death of Mrs. Wykes, who died of typhoid fever at the end of June. She always worked under the influence of the highest motives, and it will not be easy to fill the gap caused by her loss. Ahipara (examined 21st March, 1896). —The reopening at Ahipara has been fairly successful, but there is considerable room for improvement in the matter of regularity of attendance. The number of passes secured was as large as could be expected under the circumstances. Pukepoto (examined 23rd March, 1896). —The revival of this school has turned out very well. Should the school keep up its present form for another year the question of building a small residence should be considered. The daily long ride of ten miles to and from the school, besides the work in school, is in winter time too much to ask teachers to undertake. Parapara (examined 16th March, 1896). —Parapara is fortunate in having a very enthusiastic and hard-working Committee. The children are evidently fond of their school and their teacher, and the attitude of the parents towards the school greatly assists in keeping up the tone. The year's results were really good. Kenana (examined 13th March, 1896). —There were no strong passes, neither were there any really weak ones. The school is a small one, but it is doing good, solid work. The children exert themselves heartily and behave well. They seem really fond of school. Te Pupuke (examined 12th March, 1896). —There is a good garden here ; much hard work has been done by the teacher to improve the grounds. The teaching is done with earnestness and