13

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visible : the little ones are alert, and thoroughly interested in their work, as well as proud of it; also the ordinary work has very evidently been improved by the kindergarten. Waikouaiti (examined 20th October, 1900). —The garden and grounds here are quite beautiful. The order is very good; when changes take place there is just a trifling " discharge of previous tension." The school was very satisfactory this year ; had it not been for a rather lamentable breakdown in the reading of Standard I. a very high place would have been secured; as it was, the school did very creditably. Ten years ago this school was on the verge of extinction ; four years ago it was in almost similar plight. It is now recovering very much of its former prosperity, and appears to afford an illustration of the old proverb, " It is never too late to mend." The Neck, Stewart Island (examined 24th October, 1900). —On the whole the work shown was decidedly good, and some of it was excellent. A great advance had been made since the previous examination ; there is no reason to doubt that following years will show corresponding improvement, seeing that the master puts heart into his work, and seems besides to have grasped the interesting problem that he has had to deal with at Stewart Island. The principal defect here now is an excess of mere copybook work—perhaps, on the whole, the least interesting and useful part of school-work, unless it is constantly supervised and the quantity of it is so limited that the pupils can never become tired or careless while doing it. Really this was about the only fault noticed.. Marks gained by the Schools. The results of inspection as recorded in Table No. 7, bring to the front four schools with a gross percentage of over 90 —viz., Pamoana, Wanganui River, under Mr. C. W. Grace ; Te Kao, Parengarenga, North Auckland, under the Rev. H. W. Burgoyne ; Tokaanu, Lake Taupo, S., under Mr. A. G. Hamilton ; and Wharekahika, Hicks Bay, East Coast, under Mr. H. C. Cummins. The schools at the following places gained over 80 per cent, and less than 90 : Arowhenua, Karioi, Omarumutu, Poroporo, Ranana, Rangitukia, Ruatoki, Te Araroa, Te Kaha, Tokomaru, Tuparoa, Waikouaiti, Waimana, Waioweka, Whangaruru. The schools at the following places gained more than 70 per cent., but less than 80 : Kaikohe, Karetu, Kawhia, Mangamaunu, Maraeroa, Omaio, Otamauru, Pipiriki, The Neck, Raukokore, Tikitiki, Waima, Wai-o-matatini, Whakarara, Whangarae, Whirinaki. Thus four schools gained over 90 per cent, in 1900 as against one in 1899. Nineteen schools gained over 80 per cent, in 1900 as against eleven in 1899. Thirty-five schools gained over 70 per cent, in 1900 as against thirty schools in 1899, thirtyseven in 1898, thirty in 1897, and twenty-six in 1896. Only ten schools made less than 50 per cent. Boarding-schools, etc. Under this heading a brief account is given of the work done at each of the four Native boarding-schools during the year 1900. There are also abstracts of the reports on the Convent Native School at Matata, and the Church of England Mission Schools at Waerenga-a-Hika, Otaki, and Putiki. Information is also given with regard to the annual examination for the Te Makarini scholarships, which are provided for from a fund established by Mr. R. D. Douglas McLean in accordance with the views and wishes of the late Sir Donald McLean, and in remembrance of him. These scholarships, it may be stated, have exercised an important and highly beneficial, although for the most part indirect, influence on the Native schools of New Zealand. They have also been instrumental m bringing to the Maori front many able young men who, without the aid of these scholarships, would very possibly have remained quite undistinguished. The Native College, Te Aute, Hawke's Bay. —The inspection took place on the 25th April, 1900. The following extracts from the inspection schedule will perhaps give a better general idea of the institution than could be obtained from a more formal statement: (a.) There is a useful outside dormitory ; an extra ventilator will be put into this before winter comes, seeing that in cold weather the windows cannot be conveniently opened. It was agreed, too, that the dischargepipe passing at the back of the dormitory should be continued to a considerable perennial stream some yards further on. Steps were to be taken to insure removal of insanitary dust and cobwebs from the rafters in one of the school-rooms, (b.) The gardens and grounds at Te Aute are always very pleasing. It was suggested that conditions are favourable here, and that very strong reasons exist, for giving senior boys instruction in at least the rudiments of a scientific knowledge of agriculture, (c.) Practically the only punishment in use here is confinement within bounds on Saturdays. The tone seems to be thoroughly good ; Maori parents generally consider it a great privilege to have their boys taught at Te Aute, and the relations between pupils and masters, particularly in the senior classes, are excellent, (d.) The extra subjects are taught with care ; the drill is particularly good—it is stated that the cadet company was, at a recent inspection, considered the best but one in the colony, (c.) With regard to methods, it may be remarked that a tendency to misplace effort was noticeable in the junior class-work; prevention of error should be the teacher's object; correction is only incidental, and the need for it is, at the best, unfortunate. Silent work is done with very satisfactory care, the result being remarkable for its neatness and trustworthy correctness. With the exception mentioned above, the definiteness of aim in teaching is a very marked feature ; the senior masters, at all events, always have an aim, go straight towards it, and generally succeed in reaching it. Another pleasing characteristic is solidarity of effort; masters and pupils co-operate admirably, and there are no stragglers. (/.) It may be said, in conclusion, that nearly everything in connection with Te Aute is entirely satisfactory. A few remarks on the examination which took place on the 27th and 28th November, 1900, are added. Class VI. : Twelve boys were put through a " preliminary canter " for the matriculation examination of 1883. The result was that seven were adjudged to have passed. At the real examination, in December, six passed. This was the best result yet achieved by Te Aute. Class V. : The Euclid was on the whole strong and good ; English was rather weak. In arith-