E.—2

10

Whangarae, Croiselles (examined 26th November, 1901). —Like the Okoha School, Whangarae is only indirectly under the Department. The children show heartiness both in work and in play, and are evidently fond of their school and their teachers. They are all clean and tidy. In the teaching there is perhaps hardly enough testing work or preparation for avoidance of errors that can be foreseen ; but the children have been in all ways improved by the school, and the examination results were decidedly good. Waikawa (examined 19th November, 1901). —Although much hard and conscientious work had been done the results were not very good. In some cases the attendance had been very irregular, and this would largely account for shortcomings. It is desirable here, as elsewhere, that every child should have at least one English lesson every day. The principal weakness at Waikawa is to be found in a tendency of the teachers to readily take appearance of knowledge for reality, instead of seeking for convincing proofs of the existence of reality. Wairau (examined 18th November, 1901). —The attendance is very irregular, and the lax interest indicated by this fact is incompatible with a satisfactory school tone. The people probably value the school after their own fashion, but they will make no sacrifice for it. In view of the irregularity of the attendance results were very good, and showed that much hard work had been done. Kaiapoi (examined Bth November, 1901). —This school is very presentable, and is doing good work in spite of the indolence and indifference of many of the people. There have been serious drawbacks during the year; of these prolonged epidemic sickness has, perhaps, given most trouble. Through this mainly school has been open on only 184 days. In view of this difficulty, too, the results, although not strikingly strong, are very satisfactory. Arithmetic was the weakest subject. Rapaki (examined 7th November, 1901). —This school had done much excellent work, in spite of the fact that there had been very frequent sickness in the village. The examination work of the seniors was good, except in geography; that of the juniors was but scanty. On the whole the results might be called good, the drawbacks of the year being considered. The teacher's garden was tidy and attractive. Little River (examined 6th November, 1901). —The results were not very good. The school had had three different teachers in the course of the year. The present teachers are getting the school into creditable form, and there is reason to hope that 1902 will be a successful year for the school. The new master has mechanical ability ; a tellurian of his making is very good. Arowhenua (examined sth November, 1901). —The school is very presentable, and does credit, to the Department. The examination results were generally satisfactory, work in arithmetic affording almost the only exceptions. At inspection the geography work was particularly good, in spite of some want of summary and recapitulation work. The kindergarten and manual work generally are of great utility. Waikouaiti (examined 2nd November, 1901). —Work is honestly and heartily done; there is a vigorous and pleasing school-life. The order is excellent ; the head boy or girl of each class acts as sergeant, with admirable effect. Work is honestly and heartily done. The results are, on the whole, decidedly good, but there is some weakness in arithmetic. An excellent beginning has been made with kindergarten work, and with cane weaving. With increased numbers, the school is still a Maori school, and a very presentable one. The Neck, Stewart Island (examined 23rd October, 1901). —This school has become much smaller than it used to be. The decrease is very largely owing to the state of the tracks, which are in bad weather almost impassable. Very good work is being done however, and the school, small as it is, has real value ; the results are very good in most subjects, and are nowhere unsatisfactory. Marks gained at the Native Village Schools. The results of inspection, given in Table No. 7, place six schools in the front line with gross percentage over 90, viz. : Pamoana, Wanganui River, under Mr. C. W. Grace; Te Araroa, East Coast, under Mrs. Beattie; Te Kao, Parengarenga, under Rev. H. W. Burgoyne; Waimana, Tuhoe Country, under Mr. C. H. Brown; Wharekahika, East Coast, under Mr. C. W. Ablett; Tokaanu, Lake Taupo, under Mr. A. G. Hamilton. The schools at the following places gained more than 80 per cent., and less than 90 : Rangitukia, Wai-o-weka, Ranana, Whangarae, Tikitiki, Kenana, Karioi, Te Kaha, Whakarara, Papawai, Pukepoto, Tokomaru, Te Kopua, Tuparoa, Waiotapu. The schools at the places whose names follow gained more than 70 per cent., and less than 80 : Omarumutu, Waiomatatini, Waikouaiti, Whangaruru, The Neck, Taumarere, Hiruharaina, Arowhenua, Maraeroa, Poroporo, Pamapuria, Raukokore, Torere, Mangamaunu, Ruatoki, Omaio, Otamauru, Tapuaeharuru, Te Pupuke, Raorao, Te Kuiti, Te Kotukutuku, Kawhia, Karetu. Thirty-three schools made more than 50, but less than 70 per cent. Of the schools both inspected and examined, only six made less than 50 per cent. By comparison of number of percentages gained in 1901 with those gained in 1900, we obtain the following figures : For 1900—over 90, four ; over 80, nineteen ; over 70, thirty-five; under 50, ten. For 1901—over 90, six ; over 80, twenty-one; over 70, forty-five; under 50, six. It will be seen, then, that there is a satisfactory increase in the number of really good schools. In percentage figures there is a certain element of chance when these refer to schools ; but a school that makes 70 per cent, is generally a good school. Boarding-schools, etc. Under this heading a brief account is given of the facts connected with the inspection and examination 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