A.—No. 6.

16

FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE SCHOOLS.

Native Schools Act, and for which alone the Government grant is given, it would scarcely bo justifiable to continue the subsidy to this school, as the grant would in effect be little more than a part payment of the boys' wages for working on the farm. If, however, an additional teacher is obtained, and the hours so increased as to render the instruction of more practical value, I consider that this school has an equal claim with the others which I visited, to the General Government aid. On the occasion of my inspection there were only five boys present for whom a payment was made by the General Government (£lO per annum). There are however seventeen pupils upon the roll, but the claim upon the Government will of course only be made for the average attendance during the quarter. The five who were present I examined, with the following result :— A. B. C. JX Eeading ... ... 0 0 3 2 Writing ... ... 0 1 0 4 Spelling ... ... 0 0 1 4 Arithmetic ... ... 0 0 1 4 The eldest of these children had only been at school about eighteen months, and the youngest not more than three months. The premises were clean, and the bedroom well aired and healthy. The beds are all sheeted, and the sheets changed once a fortnight. The children were not tidy, but as 1 arrived during play hours I am not prepared to find any fault on this head. The children's underclothing is changed once a week, and three meals are provided for them daily. Eobt. H. Eytok", Inspector of Native Schools.