E.—2

16

whether the points of the lesson have struck home. Plasticine-work has been done with fair success. The results of the examination were highly satisfactory. Miss Grant has for a considerable time been impeded in her work by her health not keeping generally satisfactory. She has been compelled, therefore, to resign the charge of the school in order to seek rest and restoration. The people and children of Karioi, who have been much indebted to Miss Grant and the members of her family, will very deeply regret her departure, and the Department joins with them in hoping that she will be able to return to the work in which she has achieved so much success in renewed health and vigour. Te Haroto (examined 9th November, 1903: Mr. Bird).—Under the new teacher considerable progress has been made at this interesting school. The attendance has been well maintained; the order is fairly good; excellent terms of friendliness exist, One seldom finds such thoroughgoing interest in the school as is here manifested, There is a very good tone in the school, and the children seemed very anxious to get on. The Chairman, Wi Pikai, has been a source of great help to the master. Extra subjects have been well attended to, the club drill being very good. The master requires a little more experience to enable him to cope fully with the requirements of the Department, Reading requires special attention, and the phonetic method should be the basis of the work. Handwork of various kinds, carton-work, modelling, and paper-work are all verywell done. The master has, with the assistance of the boys and the people, erected a building for a workshop without any expense being incurred by the Department. The examination results were very- satisfactory, and show that steady and earnest efforts have been made. (Since the above was written the Department has received news of the death of the Chairman. His loss will be a serious one to +he school. Up to the end his thoughts were of the school, and almost his last words were an injunction to the children to attend regularly.) Pipiriki (examined Ist June, 1903: Mr. Pope).—A good appearance was made at examination, the children being neatly dressed, and showing much interest in their work. The principle of grouping is here extensively used, though the arrangements admit of some modification. Excellent use had been made of the new drawing-books, while the work in other extra subjects showed that progress had been made. The master has become theoretically and practically fond of the blackboard. This is always a step in advance. Good use has also been made of the newer English teaching by conversation. Excellent use has also been made of handwork; paper-work of all kinds was all well done; cane-work was good; and bricklaying, which the master values highly, has also been successfully taught. The results were pleasing on the whole, but in some subjects there were weak places. The low age of the juniors caused them to be generally weak. It is gratifying to note that at a meeting of the people held some time previously resolutions had been passed prohibiting certain undesirable forms of amusement, such as dancing hakas, singing at the boardinghouse, striking in the playground, or wearing dirty clothes. This deliberate expression of the people's opinion is very pleasing, and their example might well be imitated. Pamoana (examined 28th May, 1903: Mr. Pope).—Organization and discipline still maintain their usual state of excellence, and the interest in the school is still well maintained. Extra subjects deserved the maximum marks. The methods of teaching were also very good. In conversational English, however, it is advisable that after a proper stage of efficiencv'has been reached 'the conversation should be between pupil and pupil, the teacher supervising.' The results were exceedingly good, and the excellent percentage attained shows that in the midst of other pressing work that has during the year engaged the teacher's attention and time the school work proper has received thoroughly satisfactory treatment. In connection with the model village, a workshop was erected during the year, and the boys have for some time been receiving instruction in woodwork. The boys also assisted in the erection of the first of the cottages which was built in connection with the scheme. Pariroa (examined 28th October, 1903: Mr. Pope).—Good work has been done here with the grounds. The attendance has been satisfactory; children made a good appearance in the main though they are still old-fashioned in their method of cleaning slates. They are, however well under command, and are not even inclined to be rude. The parents take interest in their school and its work. Extra subjects require strengthening all round. The methods in teaching were thoughtfully worked out. Considering that there had been much illness here, and that other disturbing elements had been present, the results were satisfactory. In Class S2, the most important one by far, good work was shown: the whole class passed, most of them well ' Puniho (examined 30th October, 1903: Mr. Pope).—This school, the establishment of which marks the first advance into the Taranaki District proper, was opened with considerable ceremony in June. So far much success has attended it, though the school met with a severe blow shortly after its opening through the death, by drowning, of the Chairman. The order was not bad and the master was rapidly getting hold of his pupils. Children had not quite learned everything in the way of cleanliness. Extra subjects were all in the rudimentary stages. Plenty of physical exercises are needed. The master had made laudable efforts to get the ground drained The prospects of the school are satisfactory, and on the whole the results were decidedly pleasing The pupils all seemed interested in their work, and generally a good beginning had been made Everywhere there were traces of really hard work done by the teachers. Southern Schools. Okoha (examined 22nd December, 1903: Mr. Bird).-Through unusual pressure of work the examination of this school took place very late-so late that the teachers were compelled to spend Christmas at the settlement. It speaks well for their loyalty that they remained in charge to see their school examined The garden and grounds had been fenced in, and there was a pleasant display of flowers and vegetables. Grouping should be made use of in the upper classes The rule is very gentle; punishments seem to be unnecessary amongst the Maori children here ' Tone