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which reflects the highest credit upon both master and pupils ; and I trust that when the Waima School shall have been as long in operation, I shall be able to report as favourably upon it. I have, &c, Spencer yon Stunner, Colonel Russell, Inspector of Native Schools, Resident Magistrate. Auckland.

Enclosure 4. Mr. De Gennes Feasee to the Inspectob of Schools. Sic,— Mangakahia, Whangarei, Auckland, 31st May, 1873. I am only now in receipt of your two letters, dated respectively 3rd March and 7th May, as I have had no opportunity within the last three months of obtaining my letters from Whangarei. There being a store established at this place, prevents the necessity of Natives going into Whangarei. I have sent copies of the plan you forwarded of the schoolhouse to two different men, one at the Wairoa and the other at Waimate, asking them to make an estimate of the cost. There will be no difficulty in obtaining windows, doors, &c, from Auckland, and having them shipped to Kaihu, and from thence brought by boat via Mangakahia Eiver to this place. W 7ith respect to my school attendance, for the last six months the average number of pupils has been thirty, the greatest number thirty-five, and the least twenty-two. Their ages are from four to fifteen years. There are twenty-one boys .and fourteen girls, five half-caste and thirty Maori children (no Europeans). With regard to their progression, I consider it very fair; and as they show great willingness to learn English, I have great hopes of their speaking English in the course of a few years. I find difficulty in getting them to pronounce certain words, particularly those euding in sh and th. Tho whole of their instruction is given in English, and their progression in English and writing remarkably good. I have not yet taught any geography, but would commence at once had I some editions of geography for beginners, none having been sent from Auckland among the other books, except one edition of Cornwall's Geography, which is useless for young children. I will at foot mention the books, &c, I require. Their state of health is on the whole good, although I had as many as eighteen children really ill at the school from influenza a few weeks ago. The children arrive perhaps two hours before school hours, and in wet weather are out in the rain playing ; they then come in and sit in their wet things all day, so it is not to be wondered at that they should fall sick. With few exceptions, they are clean and decent in appearance, but not in habits. I have no difficulty whatever in managing them, and as you will see from the average, particularly regular in attendance —the hours being from 10 to 12 a.m., and 2to 4 p.m., which Ido not consider affects their health in any way. I should think it desirable to establish a few European games, such as cricket, marbles, and tops. With respect to the Committee, it is quite a nominal one, who have not the remotest idea what their duties are —the only one whom I get asssistance from, and who is really useful to me, being Kamareira Te Wharepapa. The following are the books, &c, which I require : —Geography for beginners, with some large school maps; 1 black board and stand (which I should suggest the carpenter should make when building the schoolhouse), 20 more copies of Nelson's " Step by Step," Part I.; 2 boxes of slate pencils. I have, &c, Colonel Eussell, Inspector of Native Schools. De Gennes Feasee.

Enclosure 5. The Resident Magistbate, Opotiki, to the Inspector of Schools. Sic,— Opotiki, 11th April, 1873. I have the honor to inform you that contracts have been entered into for the erection of Native schoolhouses at Whakatane and Omarumutu, in my district. I anticipate that the former will be completed in about two weeks from this date, and the latter very shortly after. The building in each case is a schoolroom 30 feet by 20 feet, with two rooms attached for masters' apartments. The Whakatane School is erected on a reserve of three acres given by Government, the Natives subscribing one-third of the cost of the building. I think from thirty to forty children may be expected to attend this school. The Omarumutu School is for the surrendered Whakatohea, and is built on an excellent site of four acres given by them. The Government put up the building, but the Natives do some fencing, &c. There are eighty-eight children living close to the building, aud I hope that at least half of them will attend school. I am instructed that you have been informed of my recommendation that Mr. R. O. Stewart of Taupiri, Waikato, be offered the appointment as master to one of these schools; and I propose, if approved, that he should be sent to Whakatane, and that notice be sent him at once. I have also to inform you that there is a school in operation at Ohiwa, eight miles from here, conducted by Mr. J. Avent, which the Government have subsidized to the extent of £40 per annum. I take leave to request that you will be good enough to have sent to me a supply of school books, copy books, stationery, &c, for the three above-mentioned schools. I would also suggest that three or four wall maps be allowed for each. If these are sent altogether to me at Opotiki, I can have them distributed to the different schools. I have funds authorized for desks and other fittings. I have, &c., Colonel Russell, Inspector of Native Schools, Heebeet W. Brabant, Wellington. Eesident Magistrate. 2—G. 4.