E.—3

5

operation 11.7 gained 80 per cent, and over of the possible attendances, and. fifty-one of these gained 90 per cent, and over. The improvement in attendance referred to in last year's report as applying generally to the schools was maintained during the past year. In about a dozen schools, however, even when allowance is made for such conditions as bad weather, sickness, distances to be travelled, and the. bad tracks in many districts, the attendance cannot be regarded as entirely satisfactory. In very many of the schools the attendance is remarkably good, and, in spite of long distances to be travelled, practically nothing but illness will keep the children away from, school. Certificates of good attendance were awarded to 592 pupils of Native schools. (2.) Mission Schools. The following Maori mission schools were visited by the Inspectors of Native schools during the year : I'utiki, Wanganui; Tokaanu, Convent School, Lake Taupo ; Matata, Convent School, Bay of I'lenty ; Ranana and Jerusalem, Convent Schools, Wanganui River ; Whakarapa, Convent School, Hokianga; Maungapohatu, Urewera country ; Tanatana and Matahi, near Waimana, Bay of Plenty. The total, number of children on the rolls of these schools at the close of the year was 367, and the average percentage of regularity was 88. (3.) Boarding-schools (Secondary Native Schools). Eleven boarding-schools have been established by religious denominations for the education of Maori children —five for boys, five for girls, and one a mixed, school, with a boarding establis n ent for boys who require to live away from home in order to attend the school. The combine 1 roll number at the end of the year was 462, and the average percentage of regularity was 95. All the pupils, except in the case of one school, are in residence at the schools, and consequently the percentages of regularity of attendance are naturally high. With regard to Otaki College;, no improvement in the attendance is recorded. The particulars regarding the roll numbers and attendances of the three classes of schools are summarized in the following table :

Conditions of School Buildings and Grounds. On the whole the Department may be well satisfied with the attention that is given by the teachers and the pupils to the beautification and improvement of the school-grounds. In quite a large number of schools the surroundings are particularly attractive, their condition being evidence of the interest displayed by the teachers in this aspect of environment in the education of the pupils and their parents. Tho teachers are to be commended for their efforts, and it is worthy of mention that "amongst the schools referred to are schools under the charge of women teachers. There are still too many schools, however, where then; is little evidence of material improvement in the general appearance of the grounds, and where it may be truthfully said that the Native school with its surroundings is not the most attractive feature of the locality. This state, of affairs does not redound to the credit of those particular teachers, and must naturally detract from their worth as Nativeschool teachers. With regard to the cleanliness and general tidiness of the schools, the schools are very satisfactory indeed, the work of sweeping and washing the schoolrooms being undertaken by the elder pupils under the supervision of the teachers. It is a comparatively rare experience to find, the desks defaced or stained with ink, or the walls of the buildings scribbled upon. The teachers as a whole exercise a careful supervision of the buildings and property, which they rightly regard as placed under their charge and protection, and the residences are usually kept in good order. During the year general renovations in the way of painting and necessary repairs have been carried out in a considerable number of schools. Inspection of Schools, Organization, Methods of Teaching, etc. The work of inspection and examination during the year entailed visits to 124 village schools, nine mission schools, and eleven boarding-schools, while visits were also made to localities from which applications for the establishment of schools had been received. The reports made upon the village and mission schools during the year indicate on the whole a very satisfactory standard of efficiency. In a large proportion of the schools the efficiency is particularly good, while improvement has to be recorded in a number of schools that have not reached that standard. Prom the point of view of efficiency a general classification of the village schools may be taken as follows : Very good to excellent, 40 ; very satisfactory to good, 50 ; fair to satisfactory, 23 ; weak, 11. In the great majority of schools very little fault can be found with the order and tone. In sellools where well-ordered and interesting work is provided for the pupils there is little trouble with the order, as such interesting employment by its very nature leaves them with no idle moments.

Schools. Number. Roll Number at End of Year. Average Weekly Roll Number. Average Attendance. Percentage of Regularity. "ative village ative mission "ative secondary 124 9 11 6,186 367 462 6,268 372 455 5,586 328 433 89-0 88-0 95-1 Totals 144 7,015 7,095 6,347 89-4