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Aohanga, Wellington.—A visit recently paid to this place seems to show that the Department would not be justified in establishing a Native school there, owing to the fact that there are very few children available: ten were present at the Inspector's visit. Te Reinga, Wairoa, Hawke's Bay.—The Department has not had a reply to its communications, but there is prima facie evidence of a good case here. Taharoa, Kawhia district, appears to be a good case. The Department has not, however, received the communications that were promised regarding the proposed site. Te Mahia, Hawke's Bay.—A building has been erected by the Mormon missionaries, who are conducting a school. There is no need, therefore, for the Department to take action. Ngongotaha, Rotorua. —A mission school is conducted here, and the Department has been asked to take it over. This has been done, and a teacher has been appointed to the charge of the school. Of the older applications, Waiharakeke and Makaka do not appear to be of any moment; the Litter place was visited with practically no results. Tiroa and Taheke are already supplied by the Auckland Board of Education. The children of Tikapa who formerly attended Rangitukia Native School and are now attending Port Awanui Public School do not require a separate school. Further inquiries are to be made at an early date into the application for schools at Rangitahi and Waiohau, in the Galatea district. No progress has been made in the case of Aropaoa, Eawa (Great Barrier), Port Albert, Kakanui, Te Iluruhi, Pukehou, Rahotu, Maraetai, Tauwhare, Waitoki, Ilauturu, and Mangamuka Valley. Indeed, it seems, from the information at the Department's disposal, that there are not as many children as are necessary by the regulations for the establishment of Native schools. Kakanui is to be visited in July. Kawa, it seems, can muster only fourteen children. The most recent applications are Ngamatea, near Raetihi; Kahotea, near Otorohanga; and Waitdngi. In the case of the last-named, the Department has no information to enable it to identify the locality. "Applications have also been received for the establishment of separate schools, one on either side of Whangape Harbour. This matter is being attended to. Maori Village Schools at Work during the Tear 1907 or some Portion op it, and examined or inspected, or both. Group I. — The Far North (Parengarenga, Mangonui, and Whangaroa). The following are the schools in this district —viz., Hapua, Te Kao, Paparore, (Waipapakauri), Ahipara, Pukepoto, Pamapuria, Rangiawhia, Parapara, Kenana, Te Pupuke, Touwai, Whakarara. These schools are situated for the most part in the gumfields district of the north, Hapua and Te Kao being among the most isolated positions in the service. The schools here afford the principal examples of civilisation to the Maoris, who in several instances look to the teacher for guidance in everything. It is of the highest importance, therefore, that the teacher shall by his work and attention to duty command their respect. The schools are on the whole doing very satisfactory work. In most of them the children are well-behaved and are attached to their teachers, while the parents value the schools very highly. Generally speaking, it is apparent that no efforts are spared to inculcate cleanliness in the habits and persons of the children, who take a pride in this important part of the work. Indeed, at one school, in their desire to keep the school clean they had scrubbed the outside as well as the inside of the buildings. Another feature of most of these schools is the excellent spirit of work which pervades them, the order and tone being all that one could wish. The schools at Parapara and Te Pupuke are remarkable for the new life and vigour which they exhibit and for the appreciation of the new teachers shown by the children and parents. In at least two schools, however, the children appeared at the time of the examination to be quite indifferent to their work, and their manners left much to be desired. Group 11. — Hokianga District. The Hokianga schools are Whangape, Matihetihe, Whakarapa and Lower Waihou, Motuti, Waimamaku, Whirinaki, Omanaia, Waima, Otaua, Motukaraka, Maraeroa, and Mangamuka. Mr. T. L. Miller, of Rawene, who for many years has acted as local visitor to these schools, has this year again shown his readiness to assist the Department. A new school appears this year in this group, a small aided school of about twenty children being opened at Motuti. The movement for the establishment of a European school at Whangape and the withdrawal of most of the children in its support led to the transfer of the teacher and the closing of the school. The most interesting school here is Matihetihe, which, in charge of two Maori girls, has reached a state of efficiency not excelled by any other school. At most of these schools the attendance has been very good, Waima and Whirinaki being comparatively large schools. In one or two I have had to complain of the untidy state of the children, and the results of the examination in some were unsatisfactory. Group HI. — Bay of Islands, Whangarei, and Kaipara. The schools in this group are Kaikohe, Tautoro, Ohaeawai, Te Ahuahu, Oromahoe, Karetu, Waikare, Whangaruru, Te Rawhiti, Poroti, Takahiwai, and Otamatea. The attendance at Kaikohe has reached 130, \vhich is probably the highest ever reached in a Native school. The attendance at the new school opened at Tautoro last year has increased to such an extent that an additional room has been made necessary. Indeed, the attendance at nearly all these schools has shown a steady increase, though the average was affected somewhat by sickness during the year.