G.-7

1878. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE SCHOOLS (PAPERS RELATING TO).

Laid on the Table by the Hon, Mr. Sheehan, with the leave of the House.

No. 1. Mr. H. W. Brabant, E.M., Tauranga, to the Secretary for Native Schools. Sir,— Tauranga, 20th July, 187 S. I have the honor to forward, for the information of the Hon. the Native Minister, the following report on the Native schools in operation in the Bay of Plenty and Lake District, during the halt-year ending 30th ultimo: — The schools which have been open during that period are eleven in number, as follow: —1, Maketu ;2, Matata; 8, Te Awahou; 4, To Wairoa; 5, Eotoiti ; G, Whakatane; 7, Galatea; 8, Omarumutu; 9, Torere; 10, Omaio ; 11, Te Kaha. Maori children have also attended the district schools at Tauranga and Opotiki. 1. Maketu School : Teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Pinker. —This school has been satisfactorily conducted and well attended during the half-year. My last visit to it was on the 16th instant, when I found 52 children present. It has been held for some little time past in the Courthouse, as the Native Land Court have been using the schoolroom. I examined four classes in reading, writing, and spelling English, in dictation, translating English into Maori, arithmetic, and reciting. I thought the children improved both in bearing and discipline since my last visit. 2. Matata School: Teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Creeke.—l visited this school on the 9th instant, when I found present 41, the whole number on the books. I examined six classes, the four first in reading, writing, and spelling English, in dictation, translating English and Maori, reciting, &c, and the two others in easy reading and writing. This school continues to have the best average attendance in proportion to the number on the books, and to be the best taught, of any in the district. Some of the elder pupils had left, but I noticed a marked improvement in others since my last visit. 3. Te Awahou School. —This school has been unfortunate, in the fact that two teachers have had to resign during a short period of time, the first from impaired siuht, and the second from illness. On this account but little progress has been made. A new master, Mr. Robinson, took charge on the Ist instant, and I have every reason to believe that some progress will be made during the next half-year. A suitable building is much required for the school. 4. Te Wairoa School: Teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Haszard.—This school continues to be well attended, and the teachers are energetic and painstaking. My last visit was on 26th February last: there were then 17 children present. I examined three classes out of four in reading, writing, and spelling English, in translation, geography, and arithmetic. Their writing and geography were good, the other branches somewhat defective ; but I should remark that the whole of the first class were absent at some Native meeting on the day I was there. 5. Rotoiti School: Teacher, Major Wood.—l inspected this school on 29th March last: there were then only 7 present out of 18 on the roll ; the attendance has, however, as appears from the returns, considerably increased since then. I examined the children in reading English, translating, and arithmetic, and New Zealand geography ; and they showed signs of careful teaching. There were a considerable number attending this school at one time, but they have now grown up, and it appears that there are not now the number of children in the vicinity to make up a large school. 6. Whakatane School: Teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart. —I visited Whakatane for the purpose of inspecting the school on 10th July. There are 29 on the roll, but on that day there were only four Maori children there, and the attendance generally had not been satisfactory. This has been caused partly by the Ngatiawa Tribe being absent at the Thames, putting up a carved house for the chief Xaipari; but I was also informed by some of the Ngatipukeko that they had disagreed or felt dissatisfied with the teachers, and hence the children did not attend. The children I saw showed little signs of progress. I may remark that Mr. Stewart has been at Whakatane some years, and formerly had a large school, and was much liked by the Natives. Probably it would now be better both for master and pupils if he changed places with some other teacher. 7. Galatea School. —-The teacher, Mr. Quinlan, has been absent during a considerable portion of the half-year, from illness. The school has never been well attended. It was opened at the wish and in consequence of the exertions of the chief Peraniko, who is now dead. Since his death the attendance has been nominal, and it has now been closed. 8. Omarumutu School: Teachers, Mr. and Mrs. DufFus.—l called at this school on May 29th, when I found there had been no attendance for some time, owing to the Omarumutu Natives having I—G. 7.