E.—2

12

Vaeroa (examined 22nd June, 1903: Mr. Pope).—The attendance has been very regular; fortythree children out of fifty-five were present at examination. Much has been done to improve the grounds, which are now decidedly pretty. The order and discipline are very satisfactory, especially considering the crowded state of the school. The external tone is all that could be wished for. Extra subjects are well attended to, drill being first class. Methods of teaching are, on the whole, satisfactory, though definite aim is necessary before starting, whether in English or any other lesson. Here also an unusual and satisfactory interest is shown in handwork, and the juniors take great interest in their paper-work. The general ahua of the school gave much satisfaction. With some weakness in one or two subjects, the results are decidedly good. Papamoa (examined 23rd June, 1903: Mr. Pope).—Though there were forty-four names on the roll of the school, there were present at examination only twenty-eight. The attendance can be regarded, therefore, as very unsatisfactory. It is to be regretted that the Maoris have not here a teacher living in their midst, The time-table should not provide for a continuous amount of slatework—up to three half-hours for preparatory classes—but as much variety as possible should be introduced. Discipline is moderately good. Extra subjects were very fair, drawing being best There is much need for improvement in methods of teaching. Pronunciation was imperfect' reading monotonous in the extreme. The methods generally showed lack of careful planning-ouf careful preparation of work and direct aim in teaching are essential. The examination results would have been better had there been conformity to our methods. Te Matai (examined 26th June, 1903: Mr. Pope).-The attendance here is also very unsatisfactory thirty-one being present out of a roll of fifty-four. The suggested alterations in last year s time-table had not been acted upon. The order is not bad; the tone is very fair- and parents appear to be taking more interest than they did. Children were fairly clean and'tidy though taken unawares. Extra subjects are very weak. The children here are almost unique in being slow at singing. Teaching-methods are good; the blackboard should, however, be used in mental arithmetic. The reading lesson was decidedly well done. A revival of interest in the school has lately appeared, and, judging by the examination results, which ranged from fair to good, given a good attendance the teacher would produce very good results Matata (examined 27th June, 1903: Mr. Pope).-The attendance here is generally regular and satisfactory. Grouping should be practised whenever it is possible, and the time-table should be amended in this direction. The children are obedient and well-behaved, not at all inclined to be noisy, the parents all show good interest in the school. There has been under the present rule a wonderful improvement which is noticeable even amongst the parents. Good progress has been made with the extra subjects club drill being very satisfactory. Miss Kelly is a strong teacher and when she has fully gauged the character of the Maori child she will be very competent. Handwork is well treated here, plasticine-work, cane-work, and paper-work all being satisfactorily done. Ihe results were decidedly good J (eX T ined 3 i th IT*' 19 ° 3: Mr ' P °P e garden and grounds show little of a favourable nature to record. The present teacher had, however, not been long in occupation I wr"£ greater distinction between time allotted to spoken and to written English, and less arithmetic for preparatory classes. The school tone is very good ■cordial relations have been established; the children are now all clean, and some of them clfd iii simply gorgeous array. Extra subjects are still in a weak state. Methods of teaching showed tha Mr McFarlane has a good grasp of the principles on which the art of teaching EngfishTbased Some fair plasticine-work was shown, and some elementary paper-work had also been done On the whole, there was reason to be satisfied with the work done by the teacher since he took charge Poroporo (examined Ist July, 1903: Mr. Pope).-There were present thirty-seven children the attendance being regular. The grounds are in a very pleasing condition, 7 children'garden! having been established. The time-table should provide for at least; one conversational lesson hi English every day. Six and a half hours' arithmetic for Class SI is too much The school was we 1 m hand, and relations between people and teacher improved. tL children looked clean and well. Singing was good, though somewhat unusual; drawing weak; whildrill wavery good lhe examination results were disastrous. The work of the master was circumscribed tea considerable extent by his inability at present to cope with the difficulty of passing Maori children herjgilT 1 g Standardß ' The aSSiStant teach6S and A and shf has the love of Eastern Bay of Plenty. Waioweka (examined 10th July, 1903: Mr. Pope).—Fifty-five child™,! ti,„ w i -i.i sented themselves at inspection, all of them tidy, clLn, aVd LfrTy tlfd .S XCTanizaS" of the school is such as deserves the highest praise. Discipline is also very good indeed and he parents speak in the highest terms of the teachers. Extra subjects are not „,»£ 1 ma f d, and the is the best, and there has been considerable improvement a ho.in dr 11 The♦£ g 8 clear and to the point, and there is much " driving horn''work Handle g - "T* tion, and the results are very creditable Plasticine CL J°T' handwork re , ceives d ™ attentions taken up. The school/origin ally built forthirW S'rln h- P ? 6 ™ k a ™ the occupaan addition is, therefore, urgently required ThSuit st Tsp'ite ofTs aC ~ date fi %"^ ; good indeed, very much of the work being really excellent P overcrowding, were very Omarumutu (examined 9th July, 1903- Mr Pnnp\ — Th a „++, j . , factory, and sixty-four children were TIT *" 'T "* SatiS " A. H. Cotton, had only recently been promoted to the ohTv^Av • i , ! P resent mast er, Mr. Hokianga. The garden and t£S piS 6 * " in the arrangement of the work as shown in the time ViMp tL I■u1■u lm P rovement s are necessary