E.—3

8

while the Maori was very creditably done. The work of the senior candidates showed an advance on that of last year. With regard to the English subjects, the written essays in the composition were not of high merit. The results in biblical knowledge, &c, were in many cases disappointing, while the arithmetic was, on the whole, poorly done. The paper in the Maori language was somewhat difficult in character, but the results were fairly good. A tendency on the part of candidates to write " pidgin" Maori is occasionally to be noticed, and marks are lost in consequence. Neatness of work and arrangement and careful writing arc not achieved by all the candidates. The senior scholarship was awarded to Taare Korimete, of Te Aute College, who gained 608 marks, or 61 per cent of the total, and the junior to John Williams, of Papamoa Native School, Tauranga, who obtained 670 marks, or 67 per cent, of the total. It has been decided by the trustees that, for the future, the age-limit in the case of the candidates for the junior scholarship shall be fourteen years instead of fifteen, and that in the case of the senior scholarship the examination shall be based upon the requirements of Standard VI instead of Standard V, as hitherto provided by the regulations. Attendance. The number of pupils on the rolls of the Native village schools at the end of the year 1909 was 4,121 ; at the mission schools there were 231, and at the secondary schools there were 360 ; making in all a total of 4,712, as against 4,735 in the previous year. The average weekly roll number was 4,898, and the average attendance for the year was 4,213, the percentage of regularity being 86. When the circumstances under which Maori children attend school are taken into account the attendance is very good indeed. In Manaia Native school, near Coromandel, the average roll number of which is 36, eighteen first-class and five second-class certificates were gained, the average percentage of regularity reached by the school being 98-8. One hundred and twenty-nine children qualified for certificates of attendance of the first class and 150 for certificates of the second class. Conclusion. Looking back on the year's work, we feel that the Department has every reason to feel gratified with the continued efforts and devotion to duty of the teachers in its service. From our own experience and knowledge of the facts we can say that most of our schools are well able to hold their own in point of efficiency with the public schools similarly situated. More than this, the Native school affords in many places the only means of placing before the Maori people a pattern of European civilization — t he teacher being I he only friend to whom the people can look for advice —and, though it is only rarely that this aspect of Native-school work receives any recognition,the influence thus exercised has always played a very important part in uplifting the Maori race, and is still continuing to do so. William W. Bird, M.A., John Porteous, M.A., Inspectors of Native Schools.