E.—3

6

Building operations in connection with the establishment of a school at Manutahi, East Coast district, were put in hand, and were nearing completion at the end of the year. Arrangements were also made for the erection of school buildings at Kaitaha (Whakawhitira), in the East Coast district, where school had been conducted for over a year in buildings provided by the Maoris. The difficulties in connection with the acquisition of a site at Tihiomanono, East Coast, have been overcome, and it has been decided to proceed with the erection of the buildings. At Waiohau, Galatea country, where a school had been established in temporary buildings, a site of 6 acres has been acquired, and tenders will, be called for the erection of a residence and school building. On account of increased attendances at Ohaeawai and at Kirioke, both in the Bay of Islands district, open-air class-rooms are to be provided. Additional accommodation is also to.be provided at Rangitukia, East Coast, and new schools to replace those now in existence are to lie erected at Pukepoto, Mangonui district, and at Matata, Bay of Plenty district. Application for the establishment of schools at Kareponia, near Awanui North ; Awaroa, Bay of Islands ; and Waima Landing, Hokianga, were received by the Department, and preliminary inquiries were made by the Inspectors who visited the districts. As far as Kareponia and Waima Landing are concerned, the applications were not entertained, as it was considered that the educational facilities provided by schools in the neighbourhood should be taken advantage of. In the case of Awarua, however, it is considered that a good case for the establishment of a school exists, and the Department is now awaiting the survey of the site offered before proceeding further. An application for the reopening of the Rakaurnanga Native School, Huntly, which, owing to. the apathy of the people generally, had been closed for some years, was received during the year. After a careful investigation of the existing conditions it was decided to reopen the school, and it is anticipated that after renovations have been carried out the school will be reopened early during the current year. Attenbance, etc. 1. Native Village Schools. At the close of the year the number of pupils on the rolls of the Native, village schools was Maoris, 4,550 ; Europeans, 648 : total, 5,1.98 an increase of 134 pupils on the roll number of the previous year. The average weekly roll number was 5,266, the average attendance 4,551, and the average percentage ol regularity was 86-4, the percentage in the preceding year being 86-2. Fortyone schools were successful in reaching 90 per cent, and upwards of the possible attendance, Manaia School once again adding to its laurels in the matter of regular attendance, and occupying the premier position with the excellent record of 99-6 per cent. It is satisfactory to note that among the fortyone schools referred to, several schools appear whose attendance has much improved. information regarding the attendances of each school is supplied in Table H2, from which it will be observed that 80 per cent, or over of the possible attendances was attained by ninety-seven schools. In a number of the remaining twenty-two schools the attendance is not satisfactory ; still, it has to be borne in mind that in quite a number of them the children have long distances to travel, and have creeks and rivers to cross which in bad. weather often become impassable. In many parts the Maori people are dairying, and teachers of Native schools are experiencing irregularity of attendance and unpunctuality on the part of many pupils who are called upon to assist in the dairying operations. Good-attendance certificates were, awarded to 505 pupils of tire village schools. 2. Mission Schools. In addition to the Native village schools five mission schools were also visited—viz., Putiki Mission School, Tokaanu Convent School, Matata Convent School, and the two convent schools at Hiruharama and Ranana on the Wanganui River. The roll number of these schools at the end of the year was 167, a,nd the average percentage of regularity was 87-4. 3. Secondary Native Schools. Ten schools which have been established in the educational interests of the Maoris by various denominational bodies in the Dominion were also visited. The combined roll of the schools at the close of the year was 433, and the average percentage of regularity was 90-7. The following summary gives the particulars relating to roll number and attendance of the three classes of schools in tabulated form :—

Schools. Native village Native mission .. Native secondary Totals Roll Number Average Number. at the End of Weekly Roll Year. Number. 119 5,198 5.266 5 167 168 10 433 445 1.34 5,798 5.879 Average Attendance. : Percentage of I Regularity. 4,551 147 404 86-4 87-4 90-7 86-8 - 5,102