3

E.—2

New Schools, etc., 1906. The new school at Tautoro, near Kaikohe, Bay oi' Islands, was opened in June quarter, 1906, and has so far proved a great success, the accommodation being already so fully taxed that additions are contemplated. Oparure School, situated some four miles from Te Kuiti, King-country, was opened in March quarter, and has made a fair beginning, though not so many children have presented themselves as was hoped. Kaiwhata School, near Homewood, Wellington, a small school opened in September quarter, has so far done very well, though I doubt whether it will have a very long life. Waimarama School, Hawke's Bay, opened in March quarter, has been unfortunate in coming into existence when the people were divided by land troubles. Tiihara School, near Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, has so far been conducted in temporary buildings only, and has thus been to a large extent handicapped. Plans have been prepared and tenders invited for the erection of suitable buildings. ■ Proposals fob New Schools. The following is the position with regard to those cases which have been investigated : — W'harekawa. —A promising case has been made out here for the establishment of a small school. A site has been obtained, and plans are being prepared. Mutaora Bay. —Plans are also being prepared for a small school to be established here. MoJcai. —The Auckland Board of Education having opened a school here, the Department decided to take no further action. Euatahuna. —Nothing has been settled with regard to the site, over which the people are divided. It seems to me that while the new prophet holds sway in Urewera it is futile to attempt to open new schools there. Taemaro and Waimahana, near Mangonui, are two small settlements which at the time of my visit were practically denuded of people. Under the circumstances, I could not recommend action to be taken. Further inquiries have since been made, and the application has been declined. Waihapa, near Whangaroa Harbour, is a similar case; the people are migratory in their habits, being mostly engaged in gum-digging. The preliminary visit was not promising, but the facts ascertained by a more recent visit seem to show that this is a deserving case. Te Awaroa, Kawhia, appears to be identical with Opewa. The children promised in this case live at great distances apart, and it seems doubtful whether it would be possible to fix upon a central position to suit all of them. Kohanga, Waikato, was visited twice during the year with a view to getting the Maoris interested to agree to dispose of a site chosen outside of the Church Trust Estate. Though the site is in every way suitable for a school, is the most convenient for all the children of the several kaingas, and has access to a main road—a hitherto insuperable difficulty—the Maoris have not seen their way to agree. My conclusion is that they are more desirous of regaining a part of the estate than they are of having a school for their children. The people interested have since expressed a desire for another visit to discuss the site, and the Department has agreed. Motiti Island, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty. The tenders received being too high, fresh tenders are being invited for the erection of buildings on a modified plan. Motuti, Hokianga.—Further application has been made in this case, and a visit is to be paid. I doubt whether there are sufficient children to warrant the establishment of an independent school here. Waikare, Bay of Islands. —A new school is to be erected here, and the preliminary arrangements for it are already in hand. Beporua, East Coast, is not far from Tuparoa Native School. The children have been for a long time in the habit of attending Tuparoa School, and I cannot see any special reason for the erection of a separate school at Reporua. Tβ Tit, Mangonui, near Purerua, Bay of Islands.—The needs of the children here have been met by the establishment of a ferry by which they may attend Purerua Public School. Other cases which have not yet been investigated are Kawa (Great Barrier), Port Albert, Kakanui, Te Huruhi, Glorit (Kaipara), Waiharakeke, Taharoa, Te Maika (Kawhia), Aohanga (Wellington), Pukehou, Rahotu, Maraetai, Tauwhare, Waimaha, Makaka, Reweti, Arapaoa, Wcdtoki, Hauturu, Mangamulta Valley, Hauturu. At several of these places the information at the disposal of the Department leads one to the conclusion that there are not enough children to warrant the establishment of a school. They have therefore to wait while visits are paid to more promising cases. The applications for schools at Orauta, near Scoria Flat, and Qtawhiwhi (Bowentown) were renewed this year, but the cases do not seem to be favourable ones. The same remark applies in the case of Port Levy, Banks Peninsula, where I understand an aided school has been opened. The requirements of Matapihi would be met by ferrying the children across Tauranga Harbour to the public school at Tauranga, where several are already attending. This suggestion has been therefore referred to the Auckland Board of Education. Whareroa cannot be regarded as of any moment, as the settlement is practically deserted. Maori Village Schools at Work during the Year 1906 or some Portion op it, and examined ob inspected or both. Group I. — The Far North (Parengarenga, Mangonui, and Whangaroa). The following are the schools situated in this district: Hapua, Tekao, Paparore (Waipapakauri), Ahipara, Pukepoto, Paniapuria, Rangiawhia, Parapara, Peria, Eenana, Te Pupuke, Touwai, Whakarara.