E.—2

6

done good work. Within the school itself the main fault is the low and indistinct tone in which the pupils speak. Answers should be given clearly and distinctly. It is a main function of a Maori school to teach the children to speak English. The results are, considering the bad attendance and the short time elapsed since the previous examination, satisfactory. The singing is still very good. Mangamuka (inspected 29th May; examined Bth August, 1900). —The pupils here appear to take a pronounced interest in their work, and to be on satisfactory terms with their teachers. Unfortunately, however, the general, or external, tone of the school had been interfered with by a great disagreement between the master and the Chairman of the Committee—a thing always injurious to the best interests of a school. The drawing was good, and generally the results were satisfactory. The First Standard, however, was found to be not very strong; pronunciation seemed to need more attention. The weather at the former visit was stormy enough to render necessary the paying of a second visit for examination purposes. Utakura (examined 30th May, 1900). —The children attend well, and show attachment to their school and their teachers. A little more independence in working is desirable. The school is a very presentable and useful one ; it is in a quiet way doing a great deal of good in the district. The teacher's health has not been so satisfactory as it was formerly, but he is able to work constantly and earnestly. The results are in the main satisfactory. The singing is generally clear and good. " Modulator " work is well done. Omanaia (examined 23rd May, 1900). —The interest of the people had increased somewhat, but the tone had not yet become strikingly good. The children work honestly, but, as it seemed, with no great amount of enthusiasm. They looked clean and were well-behaved. Mrs. Cockroft, after many years of faithful and effective work, bad retired ; her place was being taken by the young lady who was formerly assistant. The work was not strong generally, but it was decidedly creditable. The relieving teachers had done their work honestly. Waima (examined 22nd May, 1900). —The teacher of this school, at any rate, is not satisfied with doing only just what the letter of the Code demands, but, having caught the spirit of the Department's requirements, he seeks to really educate his pupils. It is a pleasure to note that absence of reference to useful and interesting geographical facts in the requirements for, say, Standard 11. does not prevent the teacher from dealing with them in that standard if he considers it advantageous to do so. The renewed interest of the people in the school is very pleasing, and the results are, on the whole, quite satisfactory ; they are, too, the results of only ten months' work. Otaua (examined 21st May, 1900). —The Fourth Standard boys had attended very irregularly, and it would have been unreasonable to expect any good work from them. These boys being left out of account, the results were in the main satisfactory. There had been here, too, a very satisfactory revival of interest in the school on the part of the people. The Chairman in particular had been earnest and assiduous. The attendance has improved very considerably, and generally the school is more successful than it has been for many years past. Whirinaki (examined 24th May, 1900). —Although the literary work of this school is not strong, Whirinaki is still one of our most pleasing schools. The keen interest taken in scientific instruction is of great value, and the school ranks high as a really efficient educative and civilising agency. Still, one cannot help wishing that the ordinary scholastic work called for no apology. Some considerable allowance must, of course, be made for literary shortcomings, seeing that the school year had been a short one, and that the school had passed through a very serious crisis. Still, the results, that might in the circumstances be called not unsatisfactory, were less satisfactory than an inspection of the methods would have led one to expect. Waimamaku (examined 3rd July, 1900). —There has been a great clearing up of the grounds and the garden, and there is reason to hope that they will soon reassume the pleasing appearance that they had some years ago. They are now creditable. Master and parents are on very good terms, and the school tone is improving ; the children are all well-mannered. Of course, " harvest time" has hardly come as yet for the new teacher, but he has done well in the way of adapting himself to his school-work, and of learning how good results may be secured. The Department has reason to expect very good work from him next year. The drill is a pleasing feature. Bay of Islands and Whangarei District. Kaikohe (examined Saturday, 19th May, 1900). —The teaching is conscientious and earnest, and the master does not in any way spare himself. He sometimes fails, however, to consider sufficiently whether the means he adopts are those best suited to attain the ends he desires. The great want of the school is correct and confident spoken English, and this want accounts for some real and much apparent weakness in other subjects. There has probably been some improvement in the tone of the school since the previous inspection, but obedience and manners are still on a rather poor footing. It is worth while to note that a good and useful combination of Swedish and pole drill is very well carried out. Ohaeawai (examined 18th May, 1900). —Although the master works vigorously, the order and the tone of this school could be very considerably improved. The pupils lose much time in "preparing " reading-lessons ; this is work that is best done by teachers and pupils jointly. Before reading begins the teacher should safeguard his pupils against error by means of adequate explanation. Most of the mistakes made seem to depend in the main on the teacher's belief that his pupils are of necessity working when work has been given them to do. It may be added that the time-table here makes insufficient provision for English—the most important of all the Maori school subjects. Te Ahuahu (examined 17th May, 1900). —Owing to the severe illness of the master the school was in the hands of his assistant; all circumstances being considered, the results achieved were