E.-3

14

It is very seldom that a pupil in one of these schools ever reaches the Sixth Standard, although quite a number of Maori children attending other public schools succeed in obtaining a proficiency certificate. This would appear to indicate that the Maori child makes greatest progress when mixing with European pupils, and that it would be to the advantage of the Native children in this district at least if they attended at schools where the scholars are Europeans, and where they would be compelled to use English not only in the school, but also in the playground. It might be pointed out that the, schools mentioned above are not strictly Maori schools, the bulk of the children being of mixed blood, and I his might be adduced as an additional reason for their attending the ordinary public school. South Cantbrburt, The total number of Maori children attending the public schools in the South Canterbury District is eighteen, of whom ten are in class P. four in Standard 1. and one in each of the standards 11, 111, IV, and VI. So far as I have observed the Maori children work in school under the same conditions as Ihe other children, and take part in the games and sports in the playground on terms of perfect equality with their white companions. Otago. At the end of the year ninety-three Maori children (thirty-nine boys and fifty-four girls) were enrolled in twenty-two schools in this district. They receive the same tuition as the children of white parents, and in the, preparatory and junior divisions have little difficulty in keeping abreast of their fellow-pupils. In the senior classes, however, we note a tendency on their part to fall behind, especially in English and arithmetic This is no doubt due to the language difficulty. In drawing, handwork, writing, and needlework the pupils are doing very satisfactory work, and in those schools in which agriculture is taught the Maori pupils show keen interest in this subject. The pupils as a whole are well eared for, and mingle freely in games and exercises with the other children. In only one school have we heard that the pupils were troublesome to manage, and at our visits we have always found them well-behaved and polite. Seven certificates of proficiency and three certificates of competency (SO) were issued to Maori pupils during the year. Southland. There are now in this district no schools attended solely by children of the Native race. In Colao Bay, Riverton, Bluff, and Waikawa districts considerable numbers of Maori children are in attendance at the public schools. They compare very well with their fellow-pupils in respect of intelligence, but from want of application and, probably, unfavourable home environment do not make the same progress, particularly in the two highest standards, as children of European birth. They display most proficiency in manual work (including writing and drawing) ami in singing. In only one or two cases has any desire for higher education been shown. The mutton-bird industry, which entails an absence from school of about nine or ten weeks annually, is a serious bar to educational progress.