E.—2

6

became so poor that the school had to be closed at all hazards. At Whakarapa the 1890 examination work had seemed to give promise of a bright future for the school, but there was, as on former occasions, a sudden collapse, and it seemed that the only course open was to suspend operations for the time, at all events. Kopua had to be closed because most of the people had moved away to other districts, especially to Otorohanga. It may be expected that after a time the parents will return, and that the school will have to be reopened. Pukepoto, one of the oldest, and formerly one of the most distinguished of the Native schools, had to be abandoned, for reasons given further on in this report. New Schools and New Buildings asked for or in Progress, and Proposals for re-opening Schools that have been closed. New schools will probably be very soon needed in the neighbourhood of Te Pupuke, of Opanaki, of Parapara, and of Utakura—all in the North Auckland district; and at Arowhenua, near Temuka, in South Canterbury. There are other cases where the urgency is perhaps quite as great, but the negotiations with regard to them are not quite so far advanced. There are also many applications in from Maoris in different parts of the colony, asking for new Native schools or for the reopening of schools that have been closed. The business relating to these applications is for the most part only in the preliminary stage; but no doubt the negotiations will in many cases lead either to the erection of new buildings or, if the circumstances do not prove favourable enough to warrant the Government's incurring all the expense, to the granting of a certain amount of aid if the Maoris show themselves willing to bear a considerable part of the cost rather than lose the chance of getting their children educated. A list including all the applications that have been recently dealt with or are now receiving attention will probably be useful. The cases are given in what may be considered the order of their urgency—of course only approximately. Te Pupuke, Whangaroa Harbour, affords a satisfactory opening, and should be able to maintain a large school. The site has not yet been secured. Opanaki, North Kaipara. —lt has been decided that a school is to be built here, but the site has not yet been secured. There is difficulty with regard to the title. - Parapara, Mangonui. —A small schoolhouse will be built when a title has been obtained. Utakura, Okaihau. —Negotiations for the establishment of a school are in an advanced stage. Survey is wanted. Arowhenua, Temuka. —An opening for a fair-sized school. Site not yet settled. Ruatoki, Urewera Country. —Probably a first-class opening. Settlement to be visited shortly. Patukauae, Pakaraka, Bay of Islands. —A very good opening, but the ca,se is not urgent. Probably the reopening of the Oromahoe School would satisfy the requirements of the district. Whareponga, East Coast. —Site has been secured. It is not improbable that after next inspection the Akuaku School will have to be removed to Whareponga. Tahoraiti, near Danevirke. —Site not yet secured. Te Ngaere. —The school was closed on account of the apathy of the Maoris. The application that has been received asks for removal of buildings to a more convenient site, and for reopening. Te Ngae, Lake Rotorua. —School is needed. Whakarewareiua. —School apparently greatly needed. Otamauru, Whakatane. —Site not secured. Anaura. —Site not secured. Very fair opening for small school. Whangantru. —Temporary school opened. Increased accommodation may be needed. Hiruharama, inland from Waipiro. —Cannot be settled until Waipiro case has been adjudicated upon by Land Court. Whatatutu, thirty miles from Gisborne. —Not yet visited. Waiomio, Kaivakawa. —Application for reopening. Horoera, Fast Coast. —School asked for. A small settlement. Mohaka, Hawke's Bay. —Board thinks accommodation provided by itself sufficient. Moawhanqo. —A very good opening, but application dormant. Kapowairua, North Cape. —Unpromising. Pakaraka, near Rotorua. —Dormant application. Mangamauntt, Kaikoura. —For reopening. Unpromising. Waipiro. —Board school there now. Native school will probably not be needed. Te Houhi, near Fort Galatea. —Latest application. The place will be visited shortly. Schools in Full Work. The basis on which the schools are grouped is their geographical position. Much information with regard to the work done by individual schools, and their efficiency as educational institutions, has been tabulated and printed in the appendix. Table No. 6 gives the results obtained by examination. In Table No. 7 these are combined with the results of an evaluation made by inspection. Additional information relating to the character and circumstances of particular schools will be found in the following paragraphs : — The Far North. — District Superintendent, Mr. H. W. Bishop, R.M. Te Kao, Parengarenga Harbour. —The effect of the gum trade on the education of the children of this district is unfavourable. Parents find even young children very useful in gumfield work. Hence the school has to struggle constantly against very adverse influences. The work done was found to be better than it could fairly be expected to be under such circumstances. Ahipara. —The passes obtained were not very numerous and not very strong, but a very fair amount of work had been done. The difficulties connected with this school have been, and are, very great, and a careful review of the whole of the work of the late teachers leads one to conclude that they deserve credit for what they accomplished in spite of such obstacles,