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No. 2. The Inspector of Maobi Schools to the Inspectob-Genebal of Schools. Sib, — Wellington, Ist February, 1901. In accordance with the terms of my standing instructions, I have the honour to lay before you my report on the general condition of the Native schools of New Zealand, and on the work done by them during the year 1900. At the end of 1899 there were eighty-eight schools in full working order; at the end of 1898 the number was eighty-four. In the course of 1900 five new village schools were opened, one of these (Tapuwae) as a half-time school; none were re-opened, and four were closed. During the year, or some portion of it, ninety-three schools were in operation, and at the end of the century there were eighty-nine schools open—viz., eighty-five village schools and four boarding-schools. These numbers do not include the denominational schools which the Department has been asked to inspect and examine—viz., those at Waerenga-a-Hika, Matata Convent, Putiki, and Otaki. Changes : New Schools opened, and Schools ec-opened ob closed. Touwai School, near Whangaroa, was opened in the March quarter of 1900. (See " Touwai " below). Okoha School, Pelorus Sound, was opened in the September quarter (see " Okoha" below). Tapuaeharuru School, at the head of the Rotoiti Lake, was opened in the same quarter. Through an unfortunate misconception the school is placed some distance from the site originally selected, which was thoroughly suitable in every respect. This school will do well unless its progress should be hindered by local jealousies, and by the desire of other settlements on the shores of the lake to have each a school for itself. Paparore experimental Native school: This is some five miles from Waipapakauri, near the Awanui, Mangonui. It was opened in the December quarter. The Department has reason to believe that a decidedly promising beginning has been made at this gumfields school. At Tapuwae a half-time school, in conjunction with Motukaraka, was opened in the December quarter. Soon after, at the beginning of this year, the schools at Te Haroto and Oromahoe were also opened. The following schools were closed in the course of the year 1900 : Whakarapa School, Lower Waihou, Hokianga. The difficult nature of the country affords some excuse for the tapering off of the attendance at Whakarapa, but the apathy of the parents was a considerable factor also. Had the school, with all its drawbacks, been on the East Coast or at Lake Taupo, it would have done admirable work. Whakarapa was closed at the beginning of the year. Kokako School, near Lake Waikaremoana, succumbed also, and had to be closed at the end of the March quarter. Its prospects were bright at first, but there were really many and great obstacles in the way of success; not the least formidable of these was the rigorous winter climate, with the accompanying difficulty of providing food for the children. It was found very difficult to grow potatoes or other usual Maori crops. Taiharuru School was on a beautiful spot on the coast, a few miles from Whangarei Heads; it had to be closed also. The Maoris of the district allowed their school to slip through their fingers for want of pupils. It was closed in the June quarter. Were it not chat the settlement is near the sea, with its fish and pipis, and that the land is of fair quality, it would be possible to believe that the task the Maoris had undertaken of keeping up a school attendance had perhaps proved too hard for them. Huria School, near Tauranga, again gave proof of its inability to support a school. It had a long life, but was perhaps the most unprofitable of all the Maori schools. It was closed at the end of the June quarter. This year's losses, then, have been unusually severe. Unfortunately, too, the ground for hoping for restoration is in two out of the four cases very small. Pboposals fob New Schools. There are still many proposals requiring further action, and some entirely new ones. A short comment may here be made on each of the cases still on the books : — Atiamuri, Waikato River. —The district has been visited. Preliminary arrangements were found to be not yet complete. Great Barrier Island. —Application is in its earliest stage. Horoera, East Cape. —The Maoris of this settlement undoubtedly suffer some hardship through having to get their children educated at distant schools. Kerepehi, Piako. —This has been found to be a very good case. Plans for buildings are being prepared. Kohanga, with Pakou, Lower Waikato. —lf arrangements for a suitable site can be made there ought to be a good school at Kohanga. The district is large, however, and the population is scattered ; such conditions are always sources of difficulty. Pukeroa, Manukau, near Herekino, North Auckland. —Application has been renewed ; it is receiving consideration. Moteo, Hawke's Bay. —Application is in its earliest stage. Motiti Island, Bay of Plenty. —There seems to be insufficient reason for proceeding at present. Oruanui, near Taupo. —The case seems to be a good one, but further information is being sought. Pakanae, Hokianga. —The application was considered. It seemed undesirable that another Maori school should be established in the neighbourhood. Pakipaki, Hawke's Bay. —Application was abortive. Papatupu, near Waitotara. —Application was abortive. Parakino, Whanganui River. —This is a settlement of considerable size, but it seems hardly desirable as yet to grant a school to every river-bank village that could support one. Of course, this principle holds good specially in the case of a village that has already had a break-down.