G.—4

18

Reading: 4th Royal Reader. One very good, foremost in a class of seven Europeans. 3rd Royal Reader: Three fairly. Royal Reader No. 2 : Two, fairly. Two read easy words in Primer fairly. Arithmetic : One doing compound multiplication and division, good. Two doing simple multiplication and division; one fair, two imperfect. Three doing multiplication; one fair, two imperfect. Two doing addition fairly. Writing: Four, good. Dictation: One good ; four fair. Tables : Four good; rest fair. Geography: Fair. The children have acquired a great deal of general information, which was brought out by questioning them on the lesson read, and about the various countries in the world. The pupils have made a decided advance during the past twelve months. One of the girls, whom I examined here last year, passed the best examination this year at the Neck. The schoolroom here is very inconvenient, and rather dilapidated, but fairly furnished with school requisites. The master is very active, and takes much interest in the Native children. I observed here, where the European children in many cases wear no shoes, that the Maori children were not only shoeless, but less tidily dressed than in other places, where more attention is paid to appearances. I think it only right to call attention to the fact that there are several children attending this school, and also the one at the Beach, whose fathers are Englishmen, but who claim the privilege of free education for their children, because their wives are half-castes. Taieri Beach School: Visited November 27th, 1876. Master, Mr. Clark. —Registers carefully kept. Highest number on the books, 10. Present, 10. Reading : sth Royal Reader, one imperfectly; 4th Royal Reader, two fairly ; 3rd Royal Reader, four fairly ; 2nd Royal Reader, two fairly ; Primer, one fairly. Arithmetic : One doing practice and proportion; four doing compound multiplication, division, &c. ; three doing simple rules; and two addition. Writing: Examined the copy-books of eight; none particularly good. Owing to the day following my visit to the Taieri Bridge School being a public holiday, and the following day being Saturday, I found it necessary to try and reach the Beach School on the same day that I inspected at the Bridge. I engaged a boatman to take me down the river, but, owing to the wind and tide being against us, we did not reach the Heads quite so soon as I had expected, and I then found that I had a considerable distance to walk. I did my best to reach the school before the children left, but failed, as they had just been dismissed when I got to the place. I obtained, however, from Mr. Clark the information which I have given above. While returning, I was caught in a severe thunderstorm, and with great difficulty got back in time for the train to Dunedin. Otago Heads School: Established 1869. Inspected December 2nd, 1876. Master, Mr. Lucas.— Highest number, on the books, 27. Present at the inspection: 17 girls, 8 boys total, 25 (four of them English). Ist Class. —Reading: sth Royal Reader. Number in class, 3. All read fluently, but need to be more distinct in their pronunciation, their ease in reading causing them to slur over the words. Meaning of lesson understood. Spelling fair. 2nd Class. —Reading: 4th Royal Reader. Number in class, 6. Four good, two fair. Meaning fairly understood. Spelling good. 3rd Class.—Reading: 3rd Royal Reader. Number in class, 2. Read distinctly. Spelling fair. 4th Class. —Reading : Book No. 2. No. in class, 7. Three good, four fair. sth Class: Reading words of one syllable. No. in class, 7. All fair. Recitations: Nine recited poetry fairly, but there is much room for improvement. Dictation :In the first four classes, three very good; rest fair. Geography : Nine answered questions about the situation of various places named, without the aid of a map, showing that they had been well taught. These also had a correct knowledge of the map of New Zealand ; the rest did not answer. Maps : Maps drawn by three of the pupils were shown : they had not been traced, and were very creditably drawn. Writing : Copy-books, five very good, three good, two imperfect. Letters and Essays: The eider children are all practised in English letter-writing, and in the composition of short essays. Arithmetic : Ist Class : No. in class, 3. Practice, simple proportion, and interest. Two good, one fair. —2nd Class : Compound multiplication and division : No. in class, 6. Two good, three fair, one imperfect.—3rd Class : Addition. No. in class, 10. Fair. Rest making figures on slates. Tables: All below Ist class imperfect. Singing : Confined to hymns. It would be well if every school were supplied with some of the most popular secular melodies suitable for children. The Natives are fond of singing, and, while every encouragement should be given to hymns being learnt, it is desirable that their musical instructor should not be confined to them. Drill: I was sorry to find that, owing to the irregular attendance of the boys, this had been given up. I spoke to many of the parents, who were present at the examination, about it, and hope that drill will be resumed. The day I examined the school a large number of the friends of the children were present, besides the committee and Mr. Taiaroa, their chairman. I was glad to notice the interest taken by the adults in the progress of the children, and hope that it will be kept up. Since my last inspection the master's house has been repaired, the passages made, chimney rebuilt, and the house painted inside and out. The school chimney has also been rebuilt, and enclosed shelves for the books fitted in the schoolroom ; the school ground fenced; and the appearance of the premises is much improved. Every