3

E. -2

The Department has not any secondary Native schools of its own, but for the higher education of Maori girls and boys avails itself of those institutions that have been founded by various religious bodies—viz., Queen Victoria School for Girls, Auckland; Hukarere Girls' School and St. Joseph's Convent School, Napier; Turakina Girls' School, near Wanganui; St. Stephen's Boys' School, Parnell, Auckland ; and Te Aute Boys' College, Hawke's Bay. New Schools, etc., 1905. A new school was opened at Mangaorongo, King-country, in July. The preliminary investigations were made in 1902. During the interval many of the people left the district, taking their children with them, and the number of school-children available was further reduced by marriage and by death, so that only a very few children attended the opening. As there seemed very little prospect of an increase in attendance, the teacher, who had deserved promotion, was transferred, and the school closed temporarily. A much more successful beginning was made in the case of the two Taupo schools, Oruanui and Waitahunui. The former was opened in January and the latter in July, and the attendance at both and the interest shown by the people have been in each case most gratifying. The new school at Waimarama was completed in July, but much difficulty was experienced in getting a suitable teacher, and the school was not opened till early in 1906. A new school is in course of erection at Oparure (King Country), and new buildings are to be built on less expensive plans at Waipapakauri and Bangiawhia, where experimental schools have been for some years very successfully conducted. Proposals foe New Schools. In this connection I have again to state that through pressure of work and consequent lack of time I have been unable to investigate all the cases in which application has been made to the Department. There are several places that appear to be well worth a visit, and I regret that I have been unable to report upon them, especially as they have been outstanding for some time. The following are the applications referred to : Te Puke, Parakiwai, Whangamata* Whar,.kawa* Eohanga* Pakau* Port Albert, Hurunuiarangi, Ohui, Pukehou, Bahotu, Kawa (Barrier Island), Kakanui, Te Hurithi, Maraetai (Port Waikato), Utaptt, Takoit, Opewa, Waiharakeke, Tauwhare, Waimaha, Makaka, Te Maika (Kawhia), Glorit (Kaipara), Beweti, Arapaoa, Te Awaroa (Waikato), Waitoki (Thames), Mangamuka Valley, Hauturu (Waikato), Tuhara* or Whakaki (near Wairoa, Hawke's Bay). Included in the above are applications for schools in places where the minimum average number of children is probably less than twenty. In such cases the Department cannot undertake the erection of a school. With regard to cases that I was able to either investigate personally or to get reliable information about in some other way, I have to report as follows : — Hangatiki. —The Auckland Board of Education have opened a school here. Pupuke Valley, P'atunga, and Kaiugapipiwai are, I think, practically identical. The children can all attend Te Pupuke School, and, as the School Committee has been constituted with this end in view, the difficulty formerly in the way has been removed. Mohaka. —lt appears that the Maoris here wished for the establishment of a Native school, and not a Board school. As there are, according to latest report, eighty-two Maoris and only thirteen Europeans on the roll of the school, it certainly looks as if they were entitled to a Native school. In view of the establishment of the school by the Hawke's Bay Board, the Department cannot, of course, agree now to erect a Native school, and the application has therefore been declined. Poroutawhao. —This case has been met by conveyance of the children to the nearest Board school. Kaiwhata, near Flat Point. —A small school is being erected here. Tokikuku (Waingaro). —Tenders received for the erection of the buildings being too high, fresh tenders are to be called. Boiven Town, or Otawhiwhi. —A visit was made here. There is no site available, and the people were likely to remove within reach of a Board school. Mataora Bay, Waihi. —A visit was also made to this place, and a promising case for a small school appears to exist. The difficulty in the way is that the people are connected with those at Wharekawa (Whangamata), to which a visit has yet to be made. Atiamuri, or Waiivharangi, or Mokai. —A school is to be built here when the land has been legally acquired. All other details are complete. Tautoro, near Kaikohe. —The contract for buildings has been let, and they are now in course of erection. Parapara, Wanganui Biver. —A visit was made to this place. The people live scattered, and the number of children that could attend would not warrant the Department in proceeding. Buatahuna has been delayed through the objection by some of the hapus interested to the site chosen for the school. A new site has now to be selected. Waipapakauri —The buildings are now in course of erection, and the Paparore School will henceforth be situated here. Te Beinga. —The site offered was unsuitable. There are not many children. Another visit will be necessary. Waimahana (Taemaro) is a promising case, but I have not been able to visit the settlement. Ngatekawa. —The application for a school on the south side of Parengarenga Harbour was met with a ferry scheme, the children going to Hapua.

* Since visited in 1906.