E.—2

4

Oparure, near Te Kuiti. —Seems to be a very promising case. A site has been accepted and plans are to be prepared. Te Kuiti School will then become a Board school. Tokikuku, Waingaro, Waikato. —Survey of the site has not yet been completed. Taheke, Hokianga. —There is no need for action here. Wai-wharangi or Mokaiteure, near Atiamuri. —This case was before the Department some two years ago. The information now shows that there is need for a school, but at a widely different site from that before pointed out. Steps are being taken to establish a school. Waiomio, Kawakawa. —There were no children in the place at the time of the Inspector's visit. There is no need for action here. Tautoro, near Kaikohe. —A school would probably succeed here. The proper steps are being taken to acquire the site. Okoroire. —An application was made by the Auckland Education Board to the Department to take over the school. This the Department did not consider it advisable to do. Pukerimu, near Taumarunui. —The establishment of a school at the former place would affect the Hauaroa School, which most of the children attend. Ruatahuna. —The necessary steps are being taken to establish a school here —the heart of Tuhoe country. The first investigation pointed to a very promising case. Waipapakauri. —The proposal to erect the Paparore buildings in a more central position meets this case. Te Mahia, Hawke's Bay. —The result of a visit paid here was very discouraging. There were practically no children in the place. Manukau, near Herekino. —The difficulty to be overcome here is the proximity to the Herekino School, which some of the children already attend. Waimahana, Whangaroa. —The denominational aspect has been the obstacle in this case. Upoko-o-te-whanau, near Punakitere. —Not a very promising case at first sight owing to proximity to other schools : inquiries are to be made. Other applications which have to be investigated are Te Reinga, near Tiniroto ; Opewa and Waiharakeke, on Kawhia Harbour ; Tauwhare, near Hamilton ; and Makaka, near Aotea. Maori Village Schools at work during the Year 1904 or some Portion of it, and Examined or Inspected or both. The basis on which the schools are grouped in this report is afforded by their geographical position. Much information respecting the work done by individual schools, including estimates, of their general efficiency as educational institutions, has been tabulated and printed in the Appendix to this report (see Tables Nos. 6 and 7). I have this year reported on these schools in general terms instead of following the older method of giving the reports on individual schools, which are largely confidential in character. Group I. — The Far North (Parengarenga, Mangonui, and Whangaroa). There are thirteen schools here : Hapua, Te Kao, Paparore, Ahipara, Pukepoto, Pamapuria, Peria, Parapara, Rangiawhia, Kenana, Te Pupuke, Touwai, and Whakarara. Of these I regret to state that Whakarara was, through the inability of the' Department to find a suitable teacher, closed for the year, and Te Pupuke was closed owing to exodus of the children to the gumfields. Changes of teachers at Pamapuria and Peria have been followed by marked increase in the number of pupils, and in the other schools of the group the attendance has been very satisfactory indeed, though Touwai was undoubtedly severely handicapped by the delay in the appointment of a new teacher. One factor in the improvement in the attendance has been the low price of kauri-gum and the consequent return of many who had gone to the fields ; but the appreciation of the school and its master by parents and children is a much more potent factor. Instances are not wanting in this district where Maori children walk to school a distance of from ten to fifteen miles along a gumfield track. The order and discipline were all that could be desired and the general tone of these schools is satisfactory, the relations between the teachers and parents being of a cordial nature. The examination results of these schools showed that in this district increased proficiency had been attained, though there is still to be found weakness in the teaching of the preparatory classes. Of the extra subjects drill was the least satisfactory ; with one or two exceptions all these schools have taken up some branch of handwork, and there was a creditable display of modelling-work, carton-work, and paper-work. Group ll. — Hokianga District (Mr. T. L. Millar, Local Visitor). Mr. T. L. Millar, Rawene, acts as local visitor to the schools in this district, and has during the year shown a kindly interest in their work, and, as before, lent valuable assistance whenever the Department has applied to him. The schools are : Whangape, Matihetihe, Whakarapa, Lower Waihou, Motukaraka, Mangamuka, Maraeroa, Whirinaki, Waimamaku, Omanaia, Waima, and Otaua. Of these schools, Matihetihe, a very small school conducted in a Maori building and situated on the west coast, was open only one quarter. It was therefore not examined or inspected this year. As regards numbers, Whangape has increased considerably ; indeed there is not nearly sufficient accommodation for the children, and an increase of accommodation is also necessary at Whirinaki. The attendance at these schools, with, some few exceptions, is not so satisfactory as it should be ; indeed in four cases it is altogether unsatisfactory. Proximity to gumfields, to timber-mills, and to flax-mills has a bad effect. In only one school can the order and discipline be regarded as falling much below the mark.