E.—3

there were twelve candidates —ten from To Aute College and two from St. Stephen's School. For the junior examination there were eleven candidates—two from Whakarewarewa Native School, two from. Reporua Native School, one from Whangaruru Native School, two from Te Paroa-Totara Native School, one from Waitapu Public School, two from St. Stephen's School, and one from Te Aute College. Public schools were poorly represented in the competition. In the senior examination the best candidates were Te Tuahu Wikiriwhi, 75 per cent. ; Charles Bennett, 71 per cent. ; and Takirau Pene Ngoungou, 69 per cent. In the junior examination the best candidates were Tutataonga Wi Repa, 71 per cent.; Manu Pene, 66 per cent. ; and Hohepa Taiamai, 60 per cent. The senior scholarship was awarded to Te Tuahu Wikiriwhi, of Te Aute College ; and the junior scholarships were awarded to Tutataonga Wi Repa, of Te Aute College, and Manu Pene, of Whakarewarewa Native School. For the current year the trustees have decided to offer for competition two scholarships—one senior and one junior scholarship. The Buller Scholarship is tenable at Te Aute College for one year, and is of the annual value of £30. At the discretion of the trustees, the term of the scholarship may be extended to a second year. Candidates for this examination must be of predominantly Maori race ; half-caste Maoris are not eligible. The subjects prescribed for the examination are English (including civics and New Zealand history), Maori, arithmetic, either mathematics or woodwork, and religious knowledge. The examination in religious knowledge is conducted by the Waiapu diocesan, authorities. The papers set are of a distinctly higher standard than those set for the Te Makarini Scholarship examination. Ten candidates—nine from Te Aute College and one from St. Stephen's School—entered for the examination. The most successful candidates were Charles Bennett, 73 per cent; Te Tuahu Wikiriwhi, 71 per cent. ; Takirau Pene Ngoungou, 62 per cent. ; and Mangu Cameron, 60 per cent. The scholarship was awarded to Charles Bennett, of Te. Aute College. Concluding Remarks. In a previous report it was remarked that the stability of the schools so far as attendance was concerned had become a noticeable feature. Within the past three or four years this feature has become still more pronounced. The closing of a school owing to the migration of the people to other parts or owing to a serious decrease in the number of children available is not now experienced. In many schools the roll number has increased very considerably, and several schools have now a prospect of reaching a roll number of two hundred. The Maori people in those districts where the schools are directly administered by the Department are keen concerning the education of their children and the progress of their schools, and they clearly recognize the value of the schools as an important factor in their advancement. The number of schools now in operation constitutes a record for Native schools. Two new schools began operations in the early part of the current year, so that the actual number of schools now in action is 136. From the returns available from Native schools, mission schools, the boardingschools, and public primary schools, it appears that the number of Maori children under instruction at (he end of the past year is now well beyond fifteen thousand. The teachers as a whole take a genuine interest not only in the immediate activities of their pupils and their schools, but also in. the progressive advance of the people of the Maori settlements in which they are located, and in many instances they take a prominent part in the forward movement that is noticeable in many of the Maori districts. They generally discharge their duties conscientiously and efficiently, and the work they do, for the most part in remote and isolated districts, merits record in the annual report. The Director of Education, in company with the Chief Inspector of Primary Schools, made a tour of inspection of the Bay of Plenty and East Coast schools early in the current year, and he has expressed himself greatly interested in the work of the schools visited. In connection with the work of inspecting and examining the schools during the year I have to acknowledge the assistance given by Mr. Henderson, Inspector of Native Schools. I have, &c., Jno. Porteous, Senior Inspector of Native Schools. The Director of Education.

8