E.—2.

some of this was very weak. Symptoms of a return to old-fashioned methods of teaching reading and arithmetic were also noticed. Opanaki (examined 6th July, 1894). —The children settle down to work in a businesslike way, and work honestly they are clean and well dressed. The results must be regarded as quite satisfactory in view of the amount of sickness prevalent here during the year It is hoped that the Taita buildings will be removed to Opanaki shortly Pouto (examined 12th March, 1894). —The population of the Pouto district is small and migratory, and most of the older Maoris earn a more or less precarious livelihood on the gumfields; under these circumstances first-class work can hardly be expected. However, the master that had charge of Pouto temporarily made the school show fairly good work at examination, and had put the school generally into good working order He has since been removed to a larger school. Thames and Waikato. — District Superintendent, Mr G. T Wilkinson, Otorohanga. Otorohanga (examined 2nd August, 1894). —On the Auckland Board's expressing a desire to take the district under its care, the Department did its best to facilitate the transfer The final examination of this school showed that the teachers' work had been thoroughly sound, very good results were forthcoming. Tapapa (examined 6th August, 1894). —The results were found to be decidedly poor, the attendance having been for a considerable time very unsatisfactory The school has been closed. Te Waotu (examined 3rd August, 1894). —Although doing good work in a difficult district, Te Waotu school lacks the orderly and attractive appearance that in general characterizes Native schools. The examination shows that very good work has been done, and the general results may be regarded as satisfactory Hot Lakes and Bay of Plenty. — District Superintendent, Lieut.-Colonel Roberts, S.M., Tauranga. Te Awahou (examined 7th August, 1894). —The attendance at Te Awahou became thoroughly unsatisfactory, and it was necessary to close the school. It is likely that a sad accident on Eotorua Lake, by which nine Awahou Maoris lost their lives, greatly disturbed the Natives, and led them to take less interest in their school. Galatea (examined 24th August, 1894). —Useful work was being done here, although Galatea is not one of our strong schools. Some allowance should be made for extreme isolation, but not so very much, seeing that there are very isolated schools that need no such allowance. The results were fair, but little of the work was good. There was a satisfactory number of passes, but the strong, unquestionable passes that give an examiner almost as much pleasure as they give the teacher were entirely wanting. Te Houhi (examined 24th August, 1894). —When the examination took place the school had been open only about eight months, and the results were not very striking, but a good start had been made. Of course, it had taken the children some time to become accustomed to the school and its ways. Paeroa (examined 10th August, 1894). —The pupils work honestly and well, they are evidently fond of their teachers. Behaviour is good , the irregularity of attendance is the only indication that the tone is not all that could be wished. The results of examination were very satisfactory indeed. With the respect and best wishes of the Department, Miss Louch left the service at the end of the year to enter a new sphere of duties. Huria (examined 9th August, 1894). —The revival of this school is satisfactory and there is reason to hope that success may be permanent, and not due to mere love of change. The new teachers appear to have thoroughly secured the esteem and co-operation of the people. The weak point in the work was the reading, but the results were on the whole pleasing. Matapihi (examined 11th August, 1894). —The experiment of opening a school here was not permanently successful, nor was it expected to be. It was hoped that the temporary school could be continued until a site was obtained, but after a time the attendance fell away rapidly, and work had to be suspended last September. Maunqatapu (examined 13th August, 1894). —The children need rousing brisk mental arithmetic, quick oral working at the black-board, and similar expedients would infuse life and spirit into the work. It should be stated, however, that, although the answering is slow, it is generally correct. The work at examination was by no means bad. Te Matai (examined 14th August, 1894). —The complete recovery by this school of its old standing in point of numbers is very pleasing. It is a large and thoroughly presentable school, doing admirable work. The results are very satisfactory indeed. Maketu (examined 15th August, 1894). —The attendance is not so punctual as it ought to be; but the children, when in school, work honestly and behave well. Their general appearance was very pleasing. The results of the instruction were good on the whole, but the class subjects in Standards V and VI. were weak. Matata (examined 16th August, 1894). —The attendance had become irregular just before the examination, the school being too small to stand much irregularity, and a large proportion of the children of school age at Matata were attending another school. On the whole, it seemed desirable that the school should be closed. The Matata Maoris, however, showed great desire to have it reopened, and their wishes were complied with after a short delay The prevalence of epidemics during the year and the irregular attendance being considered, the school did well at inspection and examination. Te Teko (examined 21st August, 1894). — The Te Teko people keep up a satisfactory amount of interest in their school, which is doing very good work. There seems great reason to believe that capital educational results will be achieved at this secluded spot. It should be mentioned, however, that the children below Standard 111. are as yet unusually slow in understanding spoken English.

5