E.—l.

3L55 per cent, were of mixed race living as Europeans. No statistics are available showing the standard classification of the Maori children in public schools, and thus no idea can be formed of the degree of attainment reached by Maori children in these schools. By 3,952 children coming under this category sixteen certificates of competency and thirteen certificates of proficiency were, however, obtained during the year. In many parts of the colony the Native school is the only means of education, and attending Native schools are some 380 European children. Included in this number are the children of the Native school teachers. Facilities for higher education offered by the provisions under the Education Act for free places in secondary schools are afforded these children, of whom several during the year have qualified as required by the regulations. The Inspector's report and full details respecting the Native schools appear in a separate paper (E.-2). Industbial Schools. In view of the developments that have taken place during the last few years in the industrial-school system, it appears desirable to give a statement of the several establishments connected therewith and the functions allotted to each. Under the authority given by the Act the transfers from one institution to another necessary to secure a broad general classification of the inmates are freely made. The establishments belonging to the Government are the following:— Auckland Industrial School. —This institution receives girls who do not need reformatory treatment, and it has also the care of boys who are not too old or too wild to be boarded out, or who can be placed at once at service or in the Costley Training Institution. Girls only are taken into residence. Boys' Training Farm, Weraroa, receives boys who, not needing reformatory treatment, are, by reason of age or temperament, not fitted for boarding out. Wellington Receiving Home receives infants and young boys and girls fit to be boarded out, and older girls who can be trusted at service. It is not at present adapted for residential purposes. Christchurch Receiving Home. —The purpose of this establishment is similar to that of the Wellington Receiving Home. Te Oranga Home, near Christchurch (Reformatory). —This is a reformatory for girls whose character requires that they shall be kept under strict discipline. Young women of seriously vicious or depraved habits committed to the Home are at present transferred to institutions more specially fitted for the care of such persons ; but they will form a separate section of the institution when the contemplated extension of the buildings has been effected. Burnham Industrial School (Reformatory). —This is a reformatory for boys whose vicious or criminal tendencies do not admit of their being dealt with at any of the other institutions. Caver sham Industrial School. —Similar to the Auckland Industrial School. The private schools established under the Act are all in connection with the Roman Catholic Church, and receive boys and girls who do not need reformatory treatment. They are the following :— St. Mary's Industrial School, Auckland, with separate branches for boys and girls. St. Joseph's Industrial School, Wellington ; for girls. St. Mary's Industrial School, Nelson, with separate branches for boys and girls. St. Vincent de Paul's Industrial School, Dunedin •; for girls. The numbers on the books of all the schools on the 31st December, 1906, compared with the numbers at the corresponding date of the previous year, are as follows:—

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