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the principle of grouping should be made use of as far as possible with the other classes. The tone, both external and internal, is admirable, and deserves the highest credit. The children are also quite clean. In teaching it is important that errors made by children should be quite stamped out at once. The evening classes, to which the master sacrifices his time for recreation, are manifestly having an excellent effect on the school tone of the district. The examination results are satisfactory, and they have been gained in the face of much difficulty, arising from a period of apathy on the part of the parents and a period of sickness. Te Awangararanui (examined 15th July, 1903: Mr. Pope).—The attendance at this school has been both irregular and small. The time-table should be remodelled in such a way as to give more prominence to the work of the lower classes. The order and tone are satisfactory. Rigorous climate prevents expansion of settlement. The extra subjects require much more attention, drawing being very poor indeed. There is also room for improvement in the methods of teaching. The lesson on English by the assistant was on proper lines. The results are very small, and the Department should expect much more at the ensuing examination. Tuhoe or Urewera District. Te Houhi (examined 15th July, 1903: Mr. Pope).—Attendance is very fairly regular; timetable satisfactory. The tone is good, and the children behave well. The extra subjects are fair; singing is, however, taken too slowly. The teacher is beginning to find that viva voce arithmetic is more useful than the ancient form. Some amount of leniency had to be shown to the seniors in certain subjects. This is an exceedingly isolated school, where the children never hear English. The results are pleasing when compared with those of last year. They would be better were the teachers to make a point of ascertaining at intervals the individual progress of their pupils. Te Whaiti (examined 16th July, 1903: Mr. Pope).—There are not very many children here, twenty-six being present at examination. Considerable trouble had been taken with the grounds' The parents and master get on well together. Children are obedient, and evidently fond of the school. The children are not allowed to be anything but clean; if necessary, the teachers clean them, and in many other ways show great attention to the welfare of their pupils. Extra subjects are fair, singing being the best. The teachers have not yet had much experience in our kind of work, but there is no doubt that the methods required by the Department will be soon picked up The teachers have high ideals, and are trying with very great earnestness to reform the whole conditions of living not only of the children, but also of the people. The results were small and show the need of proper setting-out beforehand of the day's work, and of assurance before the school closes that the children have learned what was set out. Te Teko (examined 13th July, 1903: Mr. Pope).—The attendance was spoiled here by the prevalent epidemic. It had previously been very regular. Much hard work had been done in the grounds. Time-table was in every way deserving of the highest mark. Order was perfect and relations between teacher and pupils were very cordial. The cleanliness of the children has also been remarkably improved. Extras were exceedingly good; drill being admirable, comprising extension motions, wand drill, and dumb-bell drill. Here the teaching of Class P is a very important feature, the methods being first class. In fact, the teaching throughout is of the very best character, and fully deserved the highest possible mark. In the face of a severe epidemic which afterwards proved fatal to several children, very good results were obtained The children at Te Teko have not hitherto had the advantage of continuous up-to-date teaching, but under Mr and Mrs. Cummins they are getting such teaching now. Ruatoki (examined 2nd July, 1903 : Mr. Pope), -The interest reported last year as being taken by the luhoe Maoris in their school is still maintained. Eighty children were present, there being ninety-nine on the roll. The usual regularity of attendance has been broken by much epidemic sickness of late. More provision for English and geography in the case of some classes would be an improvement m a thoughtfully constructed time-table. The tone is all that one can desire and the children nearly all appear clean and decently dressed. Extra subjects are very satisfactory, drawing being specially good. The methods of teaching are entirely satisfactory Handwork has been taken up in earnest here. Much good work has been done in plasticine, basketmaking, and other occupations The results show that good work has been performed in spite of very considerable difficulty in the shape of epidemic sickness of a dangerous character Waimana (examined 6th July, 1903: Mr. rope).--The attendance here has been very good Sixty-two children were present. Their behaviour was very satisfactory, and their attachment to their teachers was very apparent, The time-table deserves the highest mark for the purposeful care evident m its construction. There has been improvement in the extra subjects, though in drawing mechanical aids are not entirely dispensed with. The drill is very decidedly good The silent work is done with satisfactory neatness and exactness; this in itself is a sign of good management Blackboard illustration is useful for those children who are weak in mental aritCetif The methods in use at Waimana are good and up to date. Good work is being done in leather, but the attempted woodwork class has been discontinued, a fact which is much to be regretted The results were very good, though not quite even. Geography and English need a little more systematizing There is, however, every reason to be proud of this secluded school. g ' Western Bay of Plenty, Te Kotukutuku (examined 24th June, 1903: Mr. Popej.-The attendance here has been so exceedingly irregular that after the examination, at which only fifteen were present, it was decided to give the schoo a rest for at least six months. The results were very meagre, as one might expect from the wretched attendance The master had suffered bereavement in the death of his wife and his activities were for a time profoundly affected by the loss he had suffered. At the end of the year t was decided to reopen this school. Mr. J. W. Williams was transferred from Pitt island Chathams, and there has been a gratifying renewal of life and activity in the school.