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not sufficiently in earnest, and the present Committee is opposed to removal. A fair number of children passed the standards, but none made strong passes. Ohaeaivai (examined 10th August, 1896). —In a quiet way this school is getting satisfactory results; the work done at examination was of a distinctly creditable kind. There are to be found here, however, faults and omissions that tend to impair the school's effectiveness. Te Ahuahu (examined 11th August, 1896). —Except in one or two respects the results obtained here were good. The discipline is very fair in the main, although it is still found necessary to resort to corporal punishment. The flower garden is neat and the grounds are in fair order. Karetu (examined 12th August, 1896). —The garden is not very well cared for, but indoors the school premises could hardly be better as regards tidiness and cleanliness. Discipline is very good. Here the girls are to the boys as Bisto 3, a most unusual thing in Native schools. Results are generally satisfactory. Taumarere (examined 13th August, 1896). —This is no longer a very small school. It continues to do work that is really creditable, and that more than justifies the existence of a Native school in a place in which the Department would not found a new school. The singing here deserves special mention. Whangaruru (examined sth March, 1896). —The Committee in a judicious way puts the necessary pressure on negligent parents, and up to the present time has been able to do so without appeal to the Court. The results in the two lower standards were in the main satisfactory. In Standard 111. much weakness was shown. Whangarei and Northern Wairoa District. Poroti (examined 7th March, 1896). —There is a heartiness about the work and bearing of the children that is very pleasing. They are also bright and intelligent, and there is nothing slovenly in their appearance ; in former times this could hardly have been said of the Poroti children. The examination showed good results of much hard work by teachers and scholars. Taiharuru (examined 3rd March, 1896). —The drawbacks that attend work in a school-room 12 ft. by 19 ft. being taken into account, the work at this experimental school was quite satisfactory. It seems highly probable that a useful school for, say, twenty-five children could be maintained here for many years if a suitable building were provided. Opanaki (examined 31st March, 1896). —The school appeared to have made a fairly good start under its new teacher. The examination results were decidedly satisfactory. Of course, a very considerable part of the credit for this is due to the former teacher, who had been removed to Hokianga at his own request some six months before the examination took place. Waikato and West Coast of North Island. Kawhia (examined 18th July, 1896). —There was no Native school at Kawhia from the time when the estrangement between the two races began, in connection with the great Waikato war, until June, 1895; then a new school was opened under favourable auspices. At the inspection the school presented a very pleasing appearance, and the results of the year's work were found to be quite satisfactory. Much more than sufficient justification for the experiment of reopening, and for now erecting permanent buildings, has been shown. Kopua (examined 20th July, 1896). —There is good reason to believe that, in spite of considerable physical difficulties, this lately reopened school will now do well. A swing-bridge over the Waipa is needed. It is the practice for several pupils to cross in a canoe, with great risk at times. Results were decidedly good, reading being the only weak subject. Waotu (examined 15th July, 1896). —The prospects here are encouraging. This school has not the tidy appearance nor have the children the alert attitude now common in Native schools. The pupils, however, are very happy in school, and respect and like their teacher. Good work is being done; if the discipline were better, still better work could be shown. Mawhitiivhiti (examined 18th August, 1896). —The smallness of the attendance is disappointing, but there are signs of an inclination on the part of influential Natives, that have hitherto been holding aloof, to begin to get a share of the benefits derivable from a good school. The examination results were excellent; weakness could not be found in any subject. Kaingaroa Plains and Urewera Country. Galatea (examined Ist June, 1896). —There are many difficulties connected with this school. The climate is rather rigorous and the soil is generally poor. The Native feasting customs increase these difficulties by frequently causing artificial scarcity. The result for the school too often is irregular attendance of ill fed and ill clad children. There is a proposal to temporarily remove the school to a place about a mile and a half from the present schoolhouse. This experiment would be worth making, but not unless there could be adequate provision for feeding and clothing the children. There appeared to be good reason for believing that hard and honest school work had been done in the course of the year. Te Houhi (examined 2nd June, 1896). —The educational soil here had been, so to speak, quite unbroken, and was encrusted with the unhealthy growths of centuries. This being considered, the work shown at the inspection was highly creditable. With but little technical knowledge of Native school methods, the teachers had brought their school into an interesting and satisfactory form. Ruatoki (opened 4th June, 1896). —The school was visited on the opening day. The opportunity of giving the pupils their first lessons in the various subjects was made use of by the inspector. The Natives, and Kereru, the chief, were exceedingly enthusiastic about their new institution. As to the discipline on this the first school day the less said the better. Although there were some eighty assistant masters and mistresses working most zealously, it is to be feared that the order was far from good !