7

E.—2

Te Araroa (examined 21st April, 1896). —Five lantern exhibitions had been given, with excellent results; the children had acquired a large amount of valuable information which could hardly have been gained in any other way. The examination results were, on the whole, very good. It would be difficult to overestimate the value of this school. Rangitukia (examined 23rd April, 1896). —Here, too, the pupils have received much benefit from the lantern lectures. A very good tone exists. The teaching is generally thoughtful and interesting, and the matter of the lessons is well impressed on the minds of the scholars. On the whole, the results are large in amount, and decidedly good. Tikitiki (examined 24th and 25th April, 1896). —An admirable school tone exists here also. The children are much attached to the school and the teachers, and they work very honestly. The school is very satisfactory in every way. The people, and especially the Chairman and the other members of the Committee, take an enthusiastic interest in it, and this interest is thoroughly justified by the creditable appearance of the school, and by the work that it does. A pleasing feature is the prompt and intelligent answering in good English. Through the retirement of Captain Mitchell the Department has lost one of its oldest and best teachers. His work and influence, and the work and influence of his family, have been of the greatest value. Wai-o-matatini (examined 27th April, 1896). —The teacher had had many difficulties to contend with, mainly such as are connected with an unsatisfactory school tone. The teaching, however, is painstaking and thoughtful, and the results turned out, in spite of the obstacles that had been encountered in securing them, are satisfactory on the whole. No doubt next year's work will reach the teacher's usual high standard. Tuparoa (examined 28th April, 1896). —The children work well, and appear to be attached to the school. Attendance is not so regular as it ought to be. The school presents a very smart appearance ; the children all seem to be awake, and show numerous traces of the effects of intelligent teaching. The results obtained at examination, however, were unequal—in some respects good, in others decidedly weak. Hiruharama (examined 29th April, 1896). —The results were good, and show that a very large amount of earnest work has been done in the nine months that have passed since the opening of the school. What has been accomplished is so solid that it will probably make future examinations very successful indeed. The pupils appear very bright and attentive. Tokomaru (examined 2nd May, 1896). —There was no general defect noticeable here. The school presents a very pleasing appearance, and is doing very good work indeed. It is satisfactory to find that the Chairman of the Committee gives the teachers loyal support. The children behave well, and their work is honest and hearty. Papawai (examined 16th December, 1896). —A gratifying increase in the number of Maori children attending the school had taken place as the outcome and sign of increased interest on the part of the Maori parents. Of course, the introduction of a considerable number of young and uninstructed children had lowered the average attainment for the time, but there was good reason to be satisfied with the work shown. The South Island and Stewart Island. Waikawa (examined 3rd November, 1896). —Through unusual protraction of the whaling season, and consequent extension of the children's holidays, there was nearly a quarter's break in the thread of the school work. This destroyed all chance of a really good examination ; but amid the too numerous signs of weakness many traces of honest, useful work were readily discoverable. Wairau (examined 31st October, 1896). —Here, also, there had been long continued absence. Floods and epidemic disease had brought the attendance very low. Still, capital work had been done by the children that had attended well. The number of these was, unfortunately, small. Mangamaiinu (examined 28th October, 1896). —There is little reason to hope for an increase in the size of this school —for some time to come, at all events. Very little weakness was found in any part of the work, and the English was very good indeed. A proposal to bridge the Hapuku had fallen through, unfortunately ; if this were done the prospects of the school would greatly improve. Kaiapoi (examined 23rd October, 1896). —A pleasing number of strong subject-passes was secured. There had been many school troubles during the year. One of the worst of these eventuated in the withdrawal of several girl pupils, through fear of makutu, or witchcraft, I was told. One is surprised to find this superstition still lingering at Kaiapoi. Rapaki (examined 6th October, 1896). —The school appears to be declining somewhat, so far as the number of pupils is concerned. The results of the school work are satisfactory on the whole; weakness appeared in some subjects, strength in others. The parents do what they can to promote the welfare of the school; relations between teachers and pupils are good. Wairewa, Little River (examined Bth October, 1896). —The tone is now very good. The children are very well behaved, and every one seems to take an interest in the welfare of the school. With regard to the work, it may be said that the bottom of the school greatly needs improvement; that the middle is very fair; and the top is very satisfactorily strong. The general condition of the school is decidedly commendable. Aroiohenua, Temuka (examined 21st October, 1896). —The garden and grounds are in very pleasing order. Flower-beds are so arranged that they serve to illustrate the geographical definitions. At the examination very strong English work was shown; some weakness appeared in geography, arithmetic, and reading, but taken altogether the results were very good. Karitane, Waikouaiti (examined 19th October, 1896). —Weakness appeared in geography generally, and in other subjects in part. Of the eleven passes three were strong. On the whole, the work was decidedly pleasing. Capital use had been made of the lantern here. The singing is improving, but more attention to light and shade is needed, especially to shade. Drawing should be better.