11

E.—3

Secondary Education. The institutions—schools and colleges—which have been established by various denominational bodies afford a secondary training for Maori girls and boys; and free places for Maori pupils possessing the necessary qualifications are provided by the Government at the following : Te Waipaunamu Girls' School, North Canterbury; Turakina Maori Girls' School, Wanganui; Te Aute College, Hawke's Bay; Hukarere Girls' School, Napier; St. Joseph's Convent School, Napier; Queen Victoria Girls' School, Auckland; and St. Stephen's Boys' School, Auckland. The following schools are also inspected and examined: Hikurangi Boys' College, Clareville; Otaki College; and Waerenga-a-hika Boys' College, Gisborne. The number of pupils on the rolls of all the foregoing schools at the end of the year 1916 was —Boys, 218; girls, 239 : total, 457. Of these pupils, 101 were free-place holders —forty-three boys and fifty-eight girls. A free place was also held by one boy at the Auckland Grammar School. Prominence is given to industrial training in one form or other in all the schools : cookery, sewing and dressmaking, health and hygiene, nursing and first aid for girls, and woodwork and agriculture for the boys. The reports upon the annual examinations of the various schools show that much good work was done during the year. Several pupils who entered for the Public Service Entrance Examination were successful in passing the examination. The controlling authorities are fortunate in having teachers in charge of the institutions who throw their heart and soul into their work, and who take the keenest interest in the welfare of their pupils. Scholarships. Under the regulations relating to Native schools provision is made for granting a certain number of free places each of the value of £20 and tenable for two years to Maori boys and girls who possess the necessary qualifications. These free places are tenable at the schools referred to in the previous section. At the end of 1916 there were 102 free places current, ninety-two being held by pupils from Native village schools and ten by pupils from public schools. Senior free places for boys take the form of industrial scholarships, and are available for boys desirous of learning a trade. These scholarships have not of late been eagerly sought after, as the boys find that they can secure higher wages in other ways. Nursing scholarships are offered to Maori girls who are anxious to take up nursing, and who comply with the necessary conditions. One girl completed her day-pupiiship at Napier Hospital, and will now become a probationer on the staff; another girl has been recommended for a day-pupilship in the same hospital. Arrangements have also been completed for two girls to commence their training as nurses in the Auckland Hospital. In this connection the Health Department affords much useful assistance. Te Makurini and Butler Scholarships. —The examinations for these scholarships, which are conducted by the Department, were held in December. Three Makarini Scholarships tenable at Te Aute College were offered by the trustees for competition—one senior and two junior scholarships. Of the junior scholarships, one was reserved for competition among boys from the village schools, the other being open for competition amongst boys from any school. Seven candidates, three from Te Aute College, three from St. Stephen's School, and one from Hikurangi College, presented themselves for the senior examination, and the work of the candidates was distinctly creditable. William Saddler, of St. Stephen's School, gained the highest marks in the examination, and was awarded the scholarship. For the junior scholarships there were six candidates, five from the village schools and one from one of the secondary schools. In connection with these scholarships it would appear that the teachers of Native schools show a great lack of interest since there are so few candidates. The standard of work required, particularly in the junior examination, is not a high one, and if teachers only took sufficient interest in the matter there should be no dearth of candidates. Two at least of the candidates who competed did so at the suggestion of the Inspector. As only one candidate qualified in accordance with these regulations, one junior scholarship was awarded. The winner of the scholarship was Julian Waretini, of Whakarewarewa Native School. For the Buller Scholarship there were five candidates, two from Te Aute College and three from St. Stephen's School, the successful candidate being Te Uri Jury, of Te Aute College. The work of the candidates, with the exception of that of one candidate, was very good indeed. Native Schools and the War. The interest shown by the pupils of the village schools, and also by their parents, in the Great War remains unabated, and the contributions made towards the various patriotic funds show that in patriotic endeavour the schools have not in any way lagged behind the public schools. The appeal made to the children of New Zealand on behalf of the Belgian Children Fund met with an excellent response from the children of the Native schools, several schools of between forty and fifty pupils contributing upwards of £20 each. In connection with the Wounded Soldiers Fund many schools continue to make weekly contributions; in one school a Queen Carnival Competition was run by the children, the results of which meant an addition to the fund of upwards of £200. Gifts and comforts in considerable quantities have been contributed regularly by several schools since the beginning of the war. In inculcating feelings of loyalty and patriotism among the young Maoris, and even among the adults, the Native schools are undoubtedly doing very important work, and if any test is required as to the ultimate results