E.—3.

6

used in each case for the purposes of a school. A side school was opened in a building also provided by the people at Kangiwaea, Matakana Island, Tauranga, for the younger children who could not attend Te Kotukutuku School except under very considerable difficulties, and the arrangement is working very satisfactorily. Two schools were closed —viz., Waimiha, Kingcountry, and Sakauwui, Kawhia. The former, which was held in temporary buildings, was closed permanently, while the latter, owing to a teacher not being available, was closed temporarily during the last quarter of the year. It will thus be seen that the year closed with 11.7 schools, including one side school, in active operation. During the year the work of erecting the necessary school buildings at Whakarewa, Mahia Peninsula, was put in hand; and the Department having taken over from the Auckland Board of Education the buildings of Purua No. 2 School (Whangarei district), the work of removing them to Te lloro and re-erecting them for the purposes of a Native school, and providing in addition a residence, was also undertaken. Increased attendance in several schools rendered the provision of additional accommodation necessary, and accordingly additions were made in the cases of the following schools : Parawera, Oparure, Te Waotu, liuatoki, and Mangaiuna. The survey and acquisition of the sites for the two schools, Maungapohatu and liuatahuna, in the Urewera country, where it had been decided to establish schools, were completed. The work of building schools in these places, however, as well as at Kaitaha, East Coast, where the establishment of a school had also been approved, has for financial and other reasons been postponed, hi connection with the applications for schools at Hiakaitupeka, Oruawharo, and Waiohau no further progress has to be reported. Arrangements are in progress to meet the requirements of Waikeri, Herekino, by opening a school in buildings provided by the people. • As an illustration of the growth and extension of the Native-school system consequent upon the realization and appreciation by the Maori people of the necessity of education if they are to live on more equal terms with their European neighbours, it may be pointed out that of the 117' schools at work at the end of the year forty were not in existence ten years ago, at which time there were ninety-eight schools in operation. From these figures it will be seen therefore that during the last decade twenty-one schools have been either transferred to the control of Education Boards or have ceased operations altogether. Attendance, etc. 1. Village Schools. The number of pupils on the rolls of the 117 village schools on the 31st December, 1915, was —Maoris, 4,643; Europeans, 548: total, 5,191: an increase of 118 on the roll number of the previous 3'ear. The average number of Maori children in each school was 40, and that of European children 4 - 7. The average weekly roll of the schools'for the year was 5,250 and the average attendance 4,597, the average percentage of regularity of attendance being 87"6, compared with 88 in the preceding year. In fifty-one schools an average of over 90 per cent, of the possible attendance for the year was attained, Mcmaia school once more securing the pride of place with 9.8'8 per cent. Fifty-one schools are shown as having attained from 80 to 90 per cent., while the remaining schools failed to reach 80 per cent. There has been a gratifying improvement in the regularity of attendance in the great majority of the schools, and it behoves teachers in those schools where the attendance is unsatisfactory to take such measures as will secure for their schools a more creditable position. Goodattendance certificates were gained by C9B pupils of the village schools. 2. Mission Schools. Three mission schools—Tokaanu Convent School, Matata Convent School, and Putiki Mission School —were inspected during the year. The total roll number of these schools at the end of the year was 141, the average weekly roll number was 137, and the average percentage of regularity was 91 "9. 3. Secondary Schools. The ten secondary schools which have been established by various denominational bodies in the Dominion for the purpose of affording secondary training to Maori girls and boys were visited and inspected during the year. The combined roll number of these schools at the end of the year 1915 was 421, the average roll number was 404, and the average percentage of regularity was 96. The following table summarizes the facts in connection with the attendance of the foregoing schools :—

Schools. Number. Roll Number at the End of Year. Average Weekly Roll Number. a-. „- Percentage Average ; f B Attendance. It, t ., Regularity. 'ative village ative mission .. ... 'ative secondary 117 3 10 5,191 141 421 5,250 137 404 -1,597 87-6 126 91-9 389 9(5-0 4,597 126 389 4,597 126 389 Totals 130 5,753 5,791 5,112 88-3 I I