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8.—2

can possibly be found through mere abstract methods. Here, then, we probably have the real foundation of our future work. Other " occupations " there will, of course, be—geography, singing, drawing, drill, &c, and kindergarten work for the little ones; but the main movement and the very nerve of the whole business will be found in the direction above indicated. The task of organising handwork has been given to Mr. W. W. Bird, M.A., who has taken it up with great enthusiasm and much success. The completion of it will give him opportunity for paying attention to the other branch of this work, as visiting teacher. He has, however, already rendered very considerable assistance to teachers in this capacity. Perhaps room ought to be found in this report for a few words with reference to a possible new feature of Native school work. In several quarters Maori school teachers are being asked to act as officers of Volunteer corps, and they show no reluctance. Captain Cossgrove, of Kaiapoi Maori School, has been as far as South Africa in. connection with such business. It cannot be denied that a master of a Maori school, being also captain of a company, might have a highly beneficial effect on the Maori Volunteers of his district; the establishment of such a relation might gain for the master the sympathy of parents and pupils to a degree hardly to be reached in any other way. It is even possible that some scheme could be devised to keep the chain unbroken from drill in the infant classes, through cadet companies formed from three or four schools in one neighbourhood, up to companies of well-drilled citizen soldiers, partly officered by the Maori school teachers of a particular district. A short code of rules could probably deal fully with this question. It would have to treat possible dangers —two of these are pretty obvious : (1) volunteering by teachers must never in any way interfere with school work; (2) the officers must in some way be protected from incurring expense through their own enthusiasm and esprit de corps. There is just one other matter that requires a word or two of comment : Those who have special professional interest in the younger Maoris are beginning to notice with much concern that the attention of these children is, in not a few cases, being drawn away from their school work, and that the regular habits to which that work is beginning to accustom them are being interfered with. The disturbing agency is a discovery recently made by the parents and friends of the children that there is money to be earned by exhibitions of hakas, of singing, and of poi dancing. This discovery not unnaturally leads to the practice of taking bands of children to give performances at distant places, or even to make tours with the same kind of object. Should this practice become widespread and inveterate it would unsettle the children greatly. Evidently it would tend to make young Maoris approach much nearer to the Gipsy type than is at all desirable. ; these children can readily be trained to do much better and higher work than that of serving as occasional ministers of pleasure and amusement to the Pakeha. I have, &c, James H. Pope.

3—E. 2.