E.—2

6

Matihetihe (examined 17th April, 1899). —This little school continues to do good work, and it will become more and more useful as the Teacher gets a better grasp of her work. There is great reason to hope that she will acquire directness of aim and good methods, and become very capable. She is earnest and careful. Whangape (inspected 18th April, 1899). —At the inspection great interest was shown in this newly reopened school. The Inspector was teaching during the greater part of the day, the object being to give a demonstration to a new teacher of the methods that long experience has shown to be productive of the best results. The Master does good work in the garden, which will probably soon again present the pleasing appearance it had some fifteen years ago. Whirinaki (examined 4th August, 1899). —Considering the broken-down condition this school was in three years ago, we must hold that its present form is highly creditable to all concerned in producing the alteration. Still, the school is only fairly on the road to be what the Master has it in him to make it. There are real difficulties; the school was not, in all cases, prudently handled by its former masters, and perhaps some of the Maoris expect more indirect privileges from it than they ought to have. The matter of supply of medicine (of which Maoris are curiously fond) appears to be the present bone of contention. The Master is endeavouring to adhere closely to the rules of the Justice Department on this subject. A firm, but good humoured, persistence will undoubtedly be beneficial. Omanaia (examined 2nd August, 1899). —The conduct of the children in school is remarkably good; the work goes on with the utmost smoothness. The Maoris, too, are again beginning to take interest in the school, after their long alienation from it. The people, who during the disturbances were hostile, are sending their children back to school. Six of these are regular attendants. The results are not quite up to those secured last year, but still they are very good. There was also a slight falling-off in method. Motukaraka (examined 3rd August, 1899). —The order is on the whole pretty good, and the tone has improved very considerably. The children seem to be happier than they were formerly, and to work with better spirit. Motukaraka people supply railway-sleepers. The Master thinks the attendance will be better when the puriri timber is all used up. On the other hand, it is to be feared that the end of the puriri supply will render it difficult for the people to obtain a living. The work at examination had its good points, but weakness appeared in the lower part of the school. Waima (examined Ist August, 1899). —The experience of the year 1898 makes the results obtained at the present examination seem particularly pleasing; weakness appeared in places— notably in geography and arithmetic —but nowhere was there serious ground for complaint, and much of the work was very good indeed. Many years have passed since the school was as good as it is now. The Maoris have really settled down after war's alarms, and seem to be sober and sedate. There is, on the whole, good reason to be quite hopeful about the future. Mangamiika (examined 7th August, 1899). —The Maoris of this district now take encouraging interest in their children's education. The zeal and industry of the pupils are quite remarkable. The difficulty in keeping one's clothes clean in this district is very great in winter time ; yet the children presented a very good appearance. At the examination a little weakness in English appeared here and there; also, the arithmetic was not very strong ; but the higher geography, the writing, and the reading were all highly commendable. Generally the work was very satisfactory indeed. Otaua (examined 31st July, 1899). —The children look better and healthier than they usually do here. Their clothing is warmer and of better quality. Forward movement of this kind always marks steps in advance in other respects. This place is "getting into line"; the Natives are becoming civilised ; less than twenty years ago the hapus of the district were actually at war ; in one engagement four Maoris were killed. The roads here are very bad, and first-class attendance is out of the question. The examination yielded fairly good results. Waimamafai (examined 15th April, 1899). —The children work honestly and well, but the attendance is not good ; also, there is some needless talking. There were, in connection with the reading, some symptoms of a return to old and imperfect methods of teaching. In normal circumstances the results could not rightly be regarded as higher than fair; but, in view of the discouraging surroundings of a declining school, and of the fact that only nine months have elapsed since the last examination, it is quite legitimate to say that good work has been done. Bay of Islands. Kaikohe (examined 29th July, 1899). —The order has improved considerably, but is not yet up to the mark. What noise there is now is a rather unusual compound of working aloud and sotto voce remarks on things in general. The parents, except the members of Committee, show insufficient interest in the school, but the tone is improving, although not very rapidly. Fair work was shown at examination, but there were specially weak spots in it. Geography, and the reading of the juniors, were very poor. Irregular attendance impairs the Kaikohe results generally. Atmospheric conditions are, it seems, unfavourable, and the number of days sufficiently wet to prevent the carrying on of school-work is unusually large. Ohaeawai (examined 28th July, 1899). —Although the season is far advanced the garden looks well; beautiful shrubs form a striking feature. Dual desks have been introduced, and, as a result, apparently, the order has improved greatly. The tone needs brightening up; it was noticeable that during silent work the children rested too often. Drill has improved. The results were hardly up to the standard reached the previous year. Mental arithmetic and senior reading were very good indeed, but, unfortunately, geography and junior reading were poor. Te Ahuahu (examined 27th July, 1899). —The misunderstanding with members of the Committee had not been got over, and the work was suffering in consequence. The lower part of the