E.—2.

1895. NEW ZEALAND

EDUCATION: NATIVE SCHOOLS. [In Continuation of E.-2, 1894.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Gomviand of His Excellency.

No. 1. EXTEACT FBOM EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL EEPOET OF THE MINISTEE OP EDUCATION Thebe was an increase during the year m the number of Native village schools from 62 to 65 At Whangape it was thought well to try the experiment of closing the school, and substituting two half-time schools—at Puketi and Makora. The school at Otorohanga has been transferred to the Auckland Education Board. At Pamapuria, Tapapa, and Te Awahou, the decline of attendance rendered it necessary to suspend operations. At Matapihi, an experimental school near Tauranga Harbour, the site was not suitable, and it will be of no use to re-open until the people are of one mind m selecting a new site. Old schools at Te Kao, Pukepoto, and Mangamaunu have been re-opened. The re-opemng at Te Kao has been welcomed by the people with exceptional enthusiasm, and the school is a large and promising one. New schools at Parapara (near Mangonui) and at Te Pupuke (near Whangaroa) are m a hopeful condition. Kawhia is a new side-school dependent on Eangiahua , the people are not Maori, and the Auckland Education Board has been asked to consider a proposal for a transfer of the control. A school has been opened as an experiment at Xarikari, m Tauranga Harbour. The average weekly roll-number rose m 1894 from 2,220 to 2,424, and the average attendance from 1,585 to 1,775, this average attendance being to the rollnumber as 73J to 100 The number of pupils above the age of ten is 46 per cent, of the total; and with respect to race the proportions are 10 per cent, half-caste ; 16J per cent. European, or inclining to European ; 73J per cent. Maori. At the end of the year there were 54 masters, 9 mistresses, 52 assistantmistresses, and 11 sewing-mistresses. Salaries of masters and mistresses ranged from ,£BO to £233, assistants and sewing-mistresses received salaries varying from £4 to £50. The expenditure m 1894 was £15,389 11s. sd. Paid to teachers, £9,778 19s. 2d., books and school requisites, £353 14s. 2d.; lantern lectures, £161 6s. 4d ; repairs and small works, £623 lls. lid.; inspection (including travelling), £841 13s. 10d.; sundries, £83 lls. Bd., boarding-school subsidies (including scholarships) and apprenticeship, £1,647 7s. 7d., buildings, fencing, and furniture, £1,899 6s. 9d. A contribution of ,£BB ss. 9d. was received from Native Beserves income towards the total expenditure of ,£15,389 lls. sd. There was good reason to be satisfied with the results of the experiment made in sending a lecturer round to the schools with a good lantern and slides. Since I—E. 2.