E.—2.

the end of the year the lecturer has been engaged in visiting the schools that were left out of his first circuit. Five lanterns are now being procured, one for each of five large groups of schools , slides will be exchanged among these groups, and the descriptive lectures will m future be given by the masters. At the end of the year there were 67 Government scholars at the four boarding-schools for Natives 29 boys and 38 girls. Six Maori boys were apprenticed to trades 2 saddlers, 2 printers, 1 blacksmith, 1 carpenter The boarding-schools had 143 pupils in addition to the 67 Government scholars. Progress is being made towards the building of three schools in important districts Mawhitiwhiti, near Normanby, Pipinki, on the Wanganui Eiver , and Euatoki, m the Unwera country At the first-named place the work is in the hands of a contractor, and at the others the buildings are to be erected on the co-operative principle under the direction of the Department of Public Works. It seems likely that schools will be wanted soon at Taumarunui (Upper Wanganui), and at Te Whaiti (Uriwera country) At Otamauru and Te Teko new buildings were provided last year to take the place of temporary schoolhouses, and at Whangaruru the accommodation was improved. Since the close of the year a new building has been opened for a new school at Arowhenua (Temuka), and one at Hiruharama (inland from Waipiro Bay). The schools at Ahipara and Kopua, closed in 1893 and 1891 respectively, have been reopened , and a school has been opened at Kawhia with temporary accommodation. The Mangamuka buildings are now being removed to a new site, and work will be resumed there at once.

No. 2. The Inspectoe of Native Schools to the Inspectoe-Genebal of Schools. Sik '~ T , . , Wellington, 31st March, 1895. In accordance with the terms of your standing instructions, I have the honour to lay before you my report on the general condition of the Native schools of New Zealand and on the work done m them during the year 1894. Numbee of Schools. At the end of the year 1893 there were sixty-six schools in full working order In the course of 1894 three schools were opened, three were reopened, and four were closed. During the year therefore—or some portion of it—seventy-two schools were in operation, and at of the year sixty-eight schools were open—viz., sixty-four village schools and four boarding-schools These numbers do not include four denominational schools that the Department has been asked to inspect and examine—viz., the Native schools at Matata, Waerenga-a-hika, Otaki, and Putiki. Changes—New Schools opened, and Schools eeopened oe closed. At the beginning of the year a half-time school was opened at Bawhia, on the Upper Waihou Biver, m connection with the Eangiahua Native School. Although undoubtedly useful this is in no sense a Native school, and it could quite properly be handed over to the Board on demand The people of Parapara, between Mangonui and Awanui, had long desired to have a school, but had failed to make it quite clear that one was needed in their district. However, in April 1894 operationswere begun in a small but not unsuitable building, and now there is every reason to be satisfied with the attendance, and with the general prospects of the school. After very protracted negotiations, a school has been opened at Te Pupuke, Whangaroa. A tribal misunderstanding prevented the thorough success of the school for the first few months, but this difficulty has now been, to a large extent, overcome, and there is every reason to hope that this, the settlement of the famous Hongi Hika, will possess a prosperous school. Pukepoto, one of the oldest of our Native schools, was reopened in May, in compliance with the request of Mr. Leopold Busby and other influential Maoris, who promised to give active support to the school. So far the Department has had no reason to regret the reopening. Te Kao the furthest north of all New Zealand schools, was reopened in July Here also the action of the Government has been duly appreciated by the Maoris, who are maintaining a capital attendance. The school at Mangamaunu, near Kaikoura, was reopened in September. A good start was made' but the attendance is falling off somewhat, the Maori population is but small. Pamapuria, near Kaitaia, Tapapa, on the Eotorua-Oxford Eoad , and' Te Awahou, on the Eotorua-Tauranga Eoad, have lost their schools through the smallness of their attendance.' Otorohanga was closed as a Native school in December last, it was handed over to the Auckland Board of Education at the Board's request. This institution never achieved any striking success as a Native school, but good work was done by it in breaking ground among the half-caste and European children of the district. v ■ :

2