15

E.—2

undoubtedly somewhat weak ; the grammar, especially, has a decidedly mechanical character. The needlework and other extra subjects were, as usual, found to have received adequate attention. The girls' power of arranging and utilising their knowledge is evidently increasing. In the lower school the work is at about the usual level; perhaps there has been a slight falling-off in the matter of neatness, but there is no real ground for complaint. Of the senior girls, six passed the second year examination or higher, and fourteen passed for the first year. Four pupils passed Standard IV.; six passed Standard III.; two passed Standard 11, There was only one First Standard girl, and she was a beginner who would probably have been more in place in her village school. The Mission School, Putiki, near Wanganui (examined 4th and sth December, 1900). —So far as one can see, earnest work is done here, but there are serious defects. The teacher desires to do high work, and probably sacrifices the lower for the higher. Results show that improvement has been taking place in the upper classes. Until, however, it becomes the practice to make the bottom of the school very strong, the teacher will always be overburdened with work. It is probable that considerable pressure results from the anxiety of parents that their children shall be speedily got ready for Te Aute or Hukarere. This school has its own uses. It educates many children who would probably grow up entirely ignorant if it did not exist. The Convent School, Matata, Bay of Plenty (examined 2nd August, 1900). —The drawing here is very decidedly above the average ; some of it is excellent. The other extra subjects are also satisfactory. The general results are in the main good, but a few defects were noted. Pronunciation should receive yet a little more attention; the English is not strong ; correct and vigorous English is wanted. There is a very neat and attractive garden here, and the surroundings generally are pleasing. The schoolroom is clean, and all appliances are tidily arranged. The order is on the whole good, but there is a little copying. The Mission School, Waerenga-a-Hika, near Gisborne (examined 7th May, 1900). — Much gardening is done here, and some of it is profitable. Order is good generally, but class changes are not effected entirely without noise. The boys work well for the most part, but occasionally too much attention is paid to business of a private, non-scholastic character. A school rarely does equally well every year, and this is an "off-year" for Waerenga-a-Hika. The school, however, has been left on a sound basis, and in a position to do well at next examination. The Mission School, Otaki. —On account of Mahuta's visit to Otaki the school was practically closed at the time when the examination should have been held. At the examination which was held on the 17th and 18th December, 1900, to decide what boys should receive the Te Makarini scholarships of the year, the senior scholarship was won by Keepa Ehau, of St. Stephen's, who gained 775 per cent, of the total marks. Pao Mariu, of Tokaanu Native School, received the offer of the junior scholarship; and the open scholarship was awarded to Charles Wilcox Paul, of the Woodville Public School. These two candidates made 684 per cent, and 668 per cent, respectively. Looked at as a whole, the Te Makarini work of this year is the best we have yet had. This is the first occasion on which the work of both seniors and juniors has been very good. It is especially pleasant to be able to say that the English work is improving greatly. The weakest feature, on the whole, is to be found in the subjects included under the name "writing" ; the weakness was, in the main, due to the spelling, which, although nowhere very unsatisfactory, was in places far from strong. Examination centres were set up this year at Auckland, Tokaanu (South Taupo), Wairoa (Hawke's Bay), Tokomaru Bay (East Coast), Shannon (Manawatu Line), and Wai-o-weka (Bay of Plenty). Thirteen candidates in all presented themselves. The papers of two of these were temporarily mislaid, and this caused some delay in the final publication of complete results. As Pau Mariu, of Tokaanu, did not take up his scholarship, the vacancy was filled by Walton Davis, of St. Stephen's. The Trustees also awarded a scholarship to Henry Edwards, of Omarumutu, currency to commence in January, 1902. The lowest percentage gained by any junior candidate was more than 58 per cent. ; the next lowest gained 648 per cent. Only one senior candidate obtained less than 50 per cent. At Shannon, neither of the candidates presented himself for examination. Statistics. A statement of expenditure incurred in connection with Native schools may be found in Tables Nos. I. and 11. of the Appendix, Table No. 11. being a classified summary of Table No. 1., which gives full details. Table No. 111. states the ages of the children whose names were on the Native school registers at the end of the December quarter. Table No. IV. contains statistics of the attendance during the year 1900. In Table No. V. there is given as full information as the Department could obtain respecting the race of the children attending the Native schools. Table No. VI. specifies the results obtained at the standard examinations, held during the year. In Table No. VII. the examination results are combined with those of a valuation depending on estimates made from inspection. These results taken together form a basis for the computation of what is called the "gross percentage," and on this percentage the relative positions of the individual schools for the year 1900 are made to depend. Table No. VIII. gives the classification of pupils on the school rolls in December, 1900. Table No. IX. shows the average age of pupils at the time of their passing the standard examination in 1900. Table No. X. gives the number of pupils attending Native boarding-schools, of young people holding University Maori Scholarships or Nursing Hospital Scholarships, and of ex-pupils of Native schools serving apprenticeship at the close of the year. A few statistical facts and inferences follow; these are based on the tables above referred to. We learn from Tables I. and 11. that the total expenditure on Native schools for the year 1900 was £19,985 12s. Id. Deducting £83 15s. paid from Native reserves funds ; £1,776 17s. 7d. cost of boarding-schools, University Scholarships, Nursery Hospital Scholarships, and apprentices; £70 os. lOd. travelling-expenses of scholars sent to boarding-schools; £2,763 ss. lOd, cost