E.—2

12

ance Maoris require to have all their physical powers fully developed if they are to attain to healthy manhood. If they cannot be made to do this, quite plainly all their literary education is entirely wasted. There is nothing that I know of so likely to develop harmoniously the physical powers of a young Maori as is a course of gymnastic training persistently and intelligently given. The Native College, Te Aute, Hawke's Bay. —The work done at this school is on lines that differ considerably from those on which the other boarding-schools are worked ; consequently no good would result from an attempt to give the report on Te Aute a form similar to that adopted in the other cases. The number of pupils present at the inspection which took place on the 3rd June last was 68, and the average attendance for the preceding six weeks had been 68-8. The attendance might be considerably increased if the Maoris in the neighbourhood would go to school. Te Aute is not a "local" or a primary school, although it does some-primary work. Still, the authorities would be glad to have these local Maoris in their lower classes if they would join the school and attend regularly. The school is worked by four masters, and the work done ranges from the most elementary up to that done in the matriculation class, which nearly always sends up three or more candidates to the matriculation examination. Secondary-school work is done in Classes VI. and V. also, the boys in the higher class taking English—composition, parsing, analysis, paraphrasing, &c.; Latin—grammar and translation; Euclid—Books I. and 11. ; algebra to quadratics; arithmetic and mensuration ; physiology; and geography. In Class IV. and the lower classes more elementary work is done. The order is good, and is maintained, as far as a visitor can see, without any difficulty. The tone of the school is quite admirable; all kinds of "cheating" seem to be unknown. The boys work with commendable earnestness, and their behaviour in general is very good. The " extra work " —singing, drawing, and drill—needs no special remark. It may be said, however, that the singing of the middle classes of the school showed great improvement at the inspection. With regard to the examination, it may suffice to say that, although the questions set were for the most part considerably more difficult than they have usually been, yet the answering was as a whole satisfactory, even when compared with the excellent work of the previous year. The accommodation at Te Aute has been greatly increased, and there is now room for seventy-five boarders, or even eighty on an emergency. Great improvements have been made also in the lavatories,'the back-yard, &c. It is pleasing to be able to say that a difficulty that has given great trouble has at last been got rid of. Eealiy satisfactory closets and urinals have been built, and the drainage difficulty has been caused to totally disappear. The carpentering work of the older pupils is still carried on, under the superintendence of Mr. Webb, with satisfactory results. A great many small jobs of very various kinds have been done, and in doing them the boys have undoubtedly received a good deal of manual training that will be very useful to them in after years. Te Makarini Scholarships Examination. —This examination was held on the 21st and 22nd of December last. Nine candidates presented themselves. The senior scholarship was awarded by the trustees to Heta Tarawhiti, of St. Stephen's, and the two junior scholarships to Teko Waiti, of Waioweka, and Wi Hare, of Omaio. It is expected that the number of candidates for the junior scholarships will be largely increased this year, seeing that the standard of difficulty of the examination for such candidates has been considerably lowered in order that this end may be secured. Statistics. A statement of the expenditure incurred in connection with Native schools will be found in Tables Nos. 1 and 2 of the appendix. Table No. 3 gives the ages of the children whose names were on the Native-school rolls at the end of the December quarter. Table No. 4 contains statistics of the attendance during the year 1891. In Table No. 5 there is full information with regard to the race of the children who attend Native schools. Table No. 6 shows the examination results for the year; and Table No. 7 gives the inspection results, which, together with those obtained at examination, form the basis for computing the gross percentage on which depend the relative positions of the different schools for the year 1891. So much room has been taken up by the digests of the annual reports on separate schools, and so much remains to be said on general questions affecting Native schools, as to make it advisable to again omit an analysis of the statistics. I merely place in juxtaposition a statement of the results obtained in 1881 and in 1891, and leave them to tell their own tale :—■ From Table I. for 1881 and from Tables I. and 11. for 1891. — Expenditure, &c, on Native Schools. r, i • -i Aii t> t School-requisites, Salaries and Al owances Boarding- D .... , m ~. * , ' m, , , T , , ■ , , ° Buildings, &c. Travelling, and Total. for Instruction. schools. ° ' n .. h ' ■ Contingencies. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1881 ... 8,322 7 7 3,585 13 1 4,440 5 8 2,132 15 10 18,481 2 2 1891 ... 11,186 12 0 1,633 13 6 1,020 7 6 1,537 14 6 15,378 7 6 No deduction has been made here for recoveries, or for payments from Native reserve funds. In both 1881 and 1891 these amounted to over £200. From Table IV. for 1881 and Table 111. for 1891.—Ages of Children. , Percentages. , Under 5. Over 5, under 10. Over 10, under 15. Over 15. 1881 ... ... 4-73 ... 52-49 ... 35-37 ... 7-41 1891 ... ... 2-28 ... 54-10 ... 40-12 ... 3-50 From Table 11. for 1881 and Table IV. for 1891. — Average Attendance. Fourth Quarter. Whole Year. Nu «Q Jfloaging •* 1881 1,458 ... 1,339-25 ... \°sVd &1 1891 1,705 ... 1,837-06 ... 2,231