E.—3

2

Tt is expected that the following works will be also completed during the current year : (a) School and residence at Maraenui, Bay of Plenty ; (6) school and residence at Otukou, National Park, where buildings provided by the Maoris have been in use for several years ; (c) school and residence, Parinui, Wanganui River ; (d) school and residence, Oruawharo, Kaipara Harbour ; (e) additional schoolroom and alteration to residence, Te Paroa-Totara, Bay of Plenty; (/) additional schoolroom, Manutahi, Ruatoria, East Coast; (g) additional schoolroom and alteration to residence, Tangoio, Hawke's Bay; (h) new residences, Mangamuka, Hokianga. Several of the works outlined above have been unavoidably delayed : nevertheless they are an indication of the expansion and extension of the educational requirements of the Maori people. Applications for the Establishment of Schools. Inquiries and investigations were instituted during the year in connection with the following applications for schools : Waikara, Kaihu; Oruawharo, Kaipara Harbour ; Te Kopua, Gisborne District; Te Kiekie, East Coast; Parinui, Wanganui River ; Oturu, Kaitoia ; Manukau, Herekino. It was decided to establish schools at Parinui, Manukau, and Oruawharo, and Oturu. A school was opened at Manukau in buildings provided by the Maoris. At Oturu satisfactory arrangements were not come to in regard to suitable accommodation for a teacher. In regard to Te Kiekie, it was ascertained that a very large number of the children concerned in the application can attend, without undue hardship, a public school in the district. The number of children at Waikara did not warrant any steps being taken to establish a school. In regard to Te Kojpua arrangements are to be made to convey the children to the nearest public school. An application was also received from Mangaoronga, Waikato, for the re-establishment of a Native school, but investigation of the conditions showed that such a step would not be warranted. Attendance, etc. (1) Native Village Schools. At the end of the year 1925 the number of pupils on the roll of village schools was 6,386 ; at the close of the year under review the number was 6,591, an increase of 205 pupils. The average weekly roll number was 6,617-3, and the percentage of regularity of attendance was 89-8. From Table H 2, in which information respecting the attendance of individual schools is supplied, it will be observed that of the 130 schools in active operation 122 gained from 80 to 98-3 per cent, of the possible attendance, and of this number 66 schools—more than half of the total number of schools— succeeded in gaining over 90 per cent, of the possible attendances. The regularity of attendances at Native village schools has for some years past shown a decided improvement, and when the conditions under which very many of the children attend school are borne in mind the regularity of attendance is very creditable. Weather conditions, bad tracks, and the long distances to be travelled militate against Very good attendances in many schools, and the result is that many schools in their returns show a large number of " excepted " half-days. It is to be noted with satisfaction that several schools have materially improved their positions as far as regularity of attendance is concerned. There are some schools, however, whose record in this respect causes them to appear regularly towards the end of the table. Good-attendance certificates were gained by 838 pupils in Native village schools. (2) Mission Schools. The following are the mission schools which are visited by the Inspectors of Native schools : Putiki, Wanganui; Tokaanu Convent School, Lake Taupo ; Matata Convent School, Bay of Plenty ; Ranana and Jerusalem Convent Schools, Wanganui River; Whakarapa Convent School, Hokianga; Tanatana and Matahi, Waimana, Bay of Plenty. The total number of children on the rolls of these schools at the end of 1926 was 364, and the average percentage of regularity was 87-4. (3) Boarding-schools (Secondary Native Schools). Twelve boarding-schools which have been established by religious denominations for the higher education of Maori children, are also visited and examined by officers of the Department. There are six boys' schools and five girls' schools, and one school is a mixed school with a boarding establishment for boys only. The number of scholars in attendance at these schools at the end of the year was 570. The particulars regarding the roll number and attendances of the three classes of schools are summarized in the following table

I I Schools, I Number i Ro11 Num !> er : Average Weekly: Average j Percentage of ! * at End of Year. Roll Number. Attendance. Regularity. Native village .. .. 130 6,591 6,617-3 5,947-0 89-8 Native mission .. .. 8 364 359-3 314-2 87-4 Native secondary .. .. 12 570 480-7 458-7 95-5 150 7,525 7,457-3 6,719-9 90-1