G.~2.

10

feet, with 2 porches 8 feet by 10 feet. The building is new, warm, and comfortable.—Progress of pupil Beading in the senior class good, and the rtieaning of words understood. The olher classes have near all joined since the 24th of January of this year, and few of them knew their letters at that time. Composition: Senior class fair. Arithmetic : Senior class working in the compound rules, and the work satisfactory. Geography : Not much knowledge of this subject, on account of want of maps, there being no Hemispheres, Europe, or New Zealand in the school. Writing :On slates fair, no copybooks in the school.—Efficiency of master: The master of this school will, I think, make a usefu teacher ; he appeared willing to profit by and desirous to learn from the hints and directions I gay him. Two blackboards and a set of reading-cards, and pictures much wanted.

No. 7. Mr. H. T. Kemp, Civil Commissioner, Auckland, to the Under Seceetaey, Native Department. Sic, — Civil Commissioner's Office, Auckland, 3rd July, 1879. In compliance with your request, I have the honor to make the following general report on the Government Native schools within the Districts of Auckland aird Kaipara. I will also premise by saying that the Government is already in possession of an interesting report recently made by Mr. Ponsonby Peacocke of all the schools north of Whangarei; an inspection which was in man) 7 respects deemed to be of much importance by Mr. O'Sullivan and others, and one which, as knowing the district, I myself felt could not be dispensed with without serious loss and inconvenience to the Government, as well as to the children, and to the communities with which they were severally more intimately connected. I shall thus confine myself to a few remarks touching those schools in the AucklandKaipara District, which have not this year had the benefit of an official inspection, all of which, with the exception of the Otamatea school, under Mr. Haszard, and St. Stephen's, under the Eev. E. Burrows, are comparatively new institutions : — 1. St. Stephen's, Auckland, an old establishment attached to the Church of England, and recently enlarged by direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, has a full complement of scholars of various ages, selected from different districts, whoso admission is available under the authority of the Premier and Native Minister; and is supported in a large measure by a Government capitation allowance, in addition to its own resources, which, however, are but limited. 2. Three Kings, attached to the Wesleyan denomination, has recently been revived under the superintendence of the Eev. T. Buddie, and is more properly speaking a training-school for students, some of whom are eligible for the work of the ministry, and are sent out to suitable stations among their own countrymen, while others having ability find places of trust and respectability in the public service of the country. This and St. Stephen's were among those early endowments set apart for educational purposes under the administration of the present Premier, Sir George Grey, as Governor of the colony. 8. Orakei School is one established under the direction of the late Sir Donald McLean, at the express desire of the resident Natives, who at the time included the tauiwi, or strangers, living at Kohimarama, and whose children (had they remained) would have supplied a more than fair average number of scholars. The attendance is not at present very large; but hopes are entertained of some additions from the adjoining districts, and thus afford the schoolmistress (widow of the late Mr. Collins, the first master) ample scope for unremitting care aud attention. 4. St. Mary's Convent School. —This establishment, which has also been enlarged with the assistance of the Government, has long given instruction to children of the Native race, and promises to extend its usefulness by receiving in increased numbers, as boarders, Native and half-caste children on the same terms, aud with the like facilities, as those of the European race. This system, practically and consistently carried out, cannot be too highly commended, if the redemption and civilization of the Maori people is ever to be accomplished. 5. Woodhill Mixed School, Helensville, Kaipara. —This school originally started about two years ago, by private enterprise on the part of the Natives, who engaged the master, and provided his pay, which they did successfully. Mr. Fosbroke, the master so employed, giving satisfaction to the parents of the children, and with marked progress—so much so that the settlers in the neighbourhood were only too glad to avail themselves of the opportunity to send their own children ; and as this institution expanded it was found desirable to provide suitable buildings, which has accordingly been done in concert with the Board of Education in Auckland. 6. Otamatea School, Kaipara. —With refeience to this establishment, which was one of the first brought into really good working order in the district, but little can be said in addition to the high reputation in which it has always been held, both as regards the zeal and efficiency of the master, Mr. Haszard, and the management generally of the committee, ably sustained by the Eev. William Gittos as chairman. 7. Matakohe School, Kaipara.- —This is comparatively a new institution, undertaken at the earnest request of the resident Natives, and finally completed with the assistance of the Eev. Frank Gould and Edward Coates, Esq., the Chairman of the Committee. The cost of tho buildings has been borne by the Government. TJp to the present time the master has given satisfaction, and the school, as a commencement, is on the whole progressing favourably. 8. Kaihu School, near Dargaville, Kaipara. —This school has been in operation for nearly three years, under the management of Mr. Henry Baker, the buildings, &c, having been supplied "by tho Government; but, owing to various unforeseen causes, the attendance has been very variable, and if the Natives continue to disperse and remove their children to newly-formed settlements beyond the reach of tuition, the master will in a short time find it difficult to collect together scholars sufficient o form an average attendance. The above comprise the schools now in working order on the Kaipara or western shore. On the eastern side two new schools are in course ot completion at the Poroti and Ngunguru settlements, in