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uncomfortable buildings the parents were to suffer the attendance to fall off, and the school to become weak when everything about the place is just as it should be. The examination results were very good; next year the work should be even better. The new buildings were opened on the 9th August, with great rejoicings. Waima (examined 19th July, 1898). —At about the date of the examination a turning-point was reached by the Waima people. It is pleasing to learn that they have taken the safe road, and, instead of spending their time in discussing visionary schemes which from their nature cannot be realised, are returning to their accustomed occupations, and sending their children to school in rational fashion. In the untoward circumstances the results of the school-work could not be large; they were fairly satisfactory. Omanaia (examined 20th July, 1898). —At the examination Omanaia gained a very high gross percentage—B7's per cent. Great efforts were made during the Hokianga troubles to close this school, but through the courage and perseverance of the teacher all these attempts failed. The examination results were very good indeed, more especially in view of the circumstances in which they were secured. Motukaraka (examined 26th July, 1898). —To a certain extent the fact that the parents' " poverty and not their will consents "is an excuse for the shortcomings of the school. Many of the pupils attend irregularly, and, of course, their interest in their work cannot be constantly maintained. If the teacher's present line of work can be persevered with it must produce good results. The preparatory class, with its many very young children, is at present the least satisfactory department of the school. Mangamuka (examined 25th July, 1898). —A pleasing feature of this school is the business-like way in which the Committee discharges its functions. The formal records of its meetings are well worth reading. The examination results were not so striking as those of the previous year, but they were substantial; the arithmetic was, on the whole, the weakest part of the work. The average of marks per pass was pleasing—it was over six. Waimamaku (examined 22nd July, 1898). —The results were, on the whole, very fair, but not equal to those of last year. The smallness of the attendance and the difficulty in securing regularity must be very trying to a master who does excellent work when suitable opportunity is afforded him. The district has never recovered from the tribal disruption that took place in it some years ago. Otaua (examined 18th July, 1898). —The attendance had been decidedly irregular, mainly through the troubles in connection with the so-called Hauhau movement at Waima and other places. No doubt the character of the results (which were poor) depended on the attendance; the master is able to do very satisfactory work when he has the opportunity. Bay of Islands and Whangarei. Ohaeawai (examined 14th July, 1898). —The most urgent need here is for improvement in the discipline. So long as children in class are allowed to speak to one another so long will attention to work be imperfect; and uuless there is close attention there can be but little intellectual achievement. Some weakness appeared in the English composition, in the writing of the juniors, and in geography, and there was but little fluency in the reading. In spite of all drawbacks, however, evidences of strength appeared in various parts of the school. The work of the " preparatories" was good. Kaikohe (examined 16th July, 1898). —The results of the examination were undoubtedly poor, but this resulted from a peculiar conjunction of circumstances rather than from fault on the part of the teachers. The circumstances were change of staff, great differences between the old and the new methods, much sickness among the children, irregular attendance, and, above all, the unsettled state of the minds of the Maoris in connection with the Hauhau agitation going on in the neighbourhood. There is now reason to hope that Kaikohe will soon have recovered its honourable position among the Native schools of New Zealand. Karetu (examined 13th July, 1898). —There is a very satisfactory school tone in the settlement, and in school the children work,with interest and attention, and are well affected towards their teacher. Only few of our schools manage to get excellent results every year ; 1898 was an off year for Karetu. The lower classes were decidedly weak, and the good work of the upper part of the school was, so to say, diluted with the failure in the lower. Whangaruru (examined 28th April, 1898). —The results were very pleasing; the only serious fault in the work of the seniors was that the arithmetic was done too slowly. This little school well deserves to be maintained ; the Chairman's report on the condition of the district gives reason to hope that better times are in store for Whangaruru. At the present time this school may be considered the most secluded in the North Auckland district. Taumarere (examined 10th July, 1898). —The rule here is kindly, and the children take intelligent interest in their work. So also do the Committee and the parents. The school had had bad luck —in losing some " certain passes " just before the examination. On the whole, the results of the examination were quite satisfactory. The teacher is a very diligent and conscientious worker. The school-room is very small for the number attending. Te Ahuahu (examined 15th July, 1898). —The results were not so high as they had been at the previous examination; there had been much illness among the children, and some disagreement with the Committee. Still, there were numerous traces of hard and honest work, and a very fair percentage was gained. At a subsequent visit it was reported that the troubles had to a large extent blown over. Poroti (examined 25th April, 1898). —The master's work is done with purpose and enthusiasm. The most pleasing results are to be found in connection with the mental arithmetic, the geography, the reading, and the spelling; great untidiness had made the copybook writing unsatisfactory.