G.—2.

2

Ahipara School. —Inspected Ist May. George Masters, teacher, and 40 scholars present. This school, lam sorry to say, I found very backward in everything, compared with the other schools. The school is held in the Native church. Desk accommodation is very bad and insufficient. The teacher is, I believe, most anxious to do his duty, but evidently wants guidance and instruction into the proper method of school-teaching. I have advised him to visit the Kaitaia School, and requested Mr. Dunn to render him every assistance by his advice. Pukepoto School. —Inspected 2nd May. C. M. Masters, teacher, and 52 scholars present, 8 reported absent. I was most agreeably surprised at the proficiency of the children at this school. Their writing was not quite so good ns that of the Peria and Kaitaia schools. This is to be accounted for by it having been recently changed from the angular style. At everything else they were remarkably well advanced, the senior class at mental arithmetic surprisingly so. I questioned them well on the meaning of words from their reading, and their answers were most correct. The schoolhouse is a good building, but too small to accommodate so many children, and will require to be enlarged should the attendance keep up to the present standard. Desk accommodation is also insufficient. The teacher is quite a zealot with regard to teaching, his whole soul appears to be in his school. He is deserving of great credit for the manner in which he not only brings his pupils on, but keeps his school together. In conclusion, I may add that the children of the Pukepoto, Kaitaia, Peria, and senior class of the Awanui School would, I frilly believe, compare favourably with most European schools ; and I feel proud to be able to report so well of these schools and their teachers. I have, &c, Eichard John Gill, Esq , Secretary, Native Schools, George Kelly, Wellington. Interpreter.

No. 3. Mr. G. Kelly, Mongonui, to the Undee Seceetaey, Native Department. Sic, — Eesident Magistrate's Office, Mongonui, 4th July, 1879. I have the honor to report, for the information of tho Government, on the several Native schools in this district as follows :— Peria School is in a most satisfactory condition: the average attendance, though not large, is steady, averaging about 30. Mr. Capper is a painstaking man, and is much respected by the Natives. The children attending his school are making decided progress, as will he seen by the specimen of work I forwarded you on the 16th ultimo. Discipline at this school is excellent, far superior to that of some of the others, arrd should be imitated. The stun of £47 is now being expended upon the schoolbuilding, which is schoolhouse and teacher's residence in one. This was much required, and will add materially to the preservation of the building, and the comfort of the teacher's family. At Kaitaia School, lam sorry to say, the average attendance for June quarter was but 13|. The parents, with one or two exceptions, take little or no interest in the school. This I attribute in some measure to inertness on the part of their chief, Mr. Hare Eeweti; besides this, tlrey are poor, and have to resort to gum-digging for a living, which takes them from home. Mr. Dunn is one of our best teachers, and is deserving of a better school. He has brought his pupils ou remarkably well. I consider they speak English best at this school. Aioanui School is also progressing well. The average attendance for the past quarter was 29. There has been a great deal of sickness lately about the place, otherwise the average would have been larger. A new schoolhouse has been built here —a fine, roomy, substantial building. It was opened in January last; since then the Natives, lam glad to say, are taking much interest in the school. Mr. Matthews is a persevering young man, and, although he has had the disadvantage of losing many of his old scholars lately (which were Europeans) through the opening of a European school close by, and is now starting, as it were, at the commencement again, I have no doubt but that his perseverance will enable him very shortly to bring his school up to tire same standard of some of our best. Before the new schoolhouse was opened but few Native chrldren attended. A sevving-mistress and pupil-teacher also should be appointed to this school; these I have already recommended, vide my letter No. 2, of 10th February last. At Pukepoto School the attendance has increased during the last quarter; the average reached 51, the highest ever attained, I believe, at this school. This school is the longest established and most advanced in the district, and would compare favourably with most European schools. Mr. Masters is quite an enthusiast with regard to teaching ; he spares neither time nor trouble to accomplish what appears to be the chief object of his life—that of keeping his school in advance of all others. He is zealously attached to his work, and, I must say, much credit is due to him for the amount of success his indefatigable labours have achieved. A sewing-mistress should be appointed to this school. Mrs. Masters has been performing this duty for some time. Mr. Masters informed me that he had been instructed by Mr. Gill to appoint her, but as yet she has received no salary. Her appointment should be confirmed. Ahipara School, lam sorry to say, does not make much progress. The average attendance for last quarter was 24, which is small for this school, as it is situated in the midst of a large! vpopulated Native district. There are two causes for this: the first, the teacher's entire want of knowledge of the Native language. The second, I regret to say, is caused through the opposition of a trader at this place, who is evidently actuated by motives of personal interest. This man, though sparingly possessed of either education or common sense, sways considerable influence over the minds of the Natives, and has succeeded in leading them to believe that Mr. Masters is not competent to teach their children. I fear that nothing but his removal will remedy the evil, as he has already lost the confidence of the Natives. I would recommend a change of schools between him and Mr. Dunn. Mrs. Dunn's children's knowledge of the English language would correct the first cause: his removal, the second. Much disappointment has been expressed by the Natives owing to the building of the