13

te.—3

occasion to admire his work, particularly in plasticine-modelling. So great, indeed, is the Maori's ability in all imitative arts it seems to us a pity that he rarely reaches the technicalschool stage. A great drawback to the co-education of the Maori and the white children in our district is the uncleanly habits of the former. So indifferent, are the pa Maoris to the relation of cleanliness to health that it is at intervals necessary to call in the aid of the Health officer to force the parents to attend to the cleanliness of their children. Where the Maori has adopted the English style of living there is no complaint to make; not infrequently his children are cleaner and tidier than many of their white companions. Wellington. Of the 346 Maori children attending the Board schools of this district, 256, or nearly 75 per cent., are distributed among twelve schools, the remaining 90 being distributed among twenty-seven schools and bearing such a small ratio to the roll numbers of these schools that their identity is to all practical purposes lost. In the opinion of the Inspectors of this district the Maori pupil in S6. except for some natural disabilities in English composition anil spelling, quite holds his own with his fellowpupils, but judging from the average age there would appear to be some falling-off in efficiency in the classes below' So, the difference in average ago between white children and Maoris being nearly twelve months in each of the classes S4 to I'. In the opinion of the Inspectors this difference is due less to natural ability than to irregular attendance and frequent changing of abode. Marlborough. In Marlborough at the end of 1915 the total roll of Native children was seventy, and out of that number forty-seven received instruction in three schools which may be classed purely Native. The teachers have been zealous workers, and have made themselves beneficial factors in the children's home life. The schools are models in neatness, are scrupulously clean and well equipped. The pupils are tidy, Well-behaved, industrious, and intelligent. The following are brief notes on the various subjects : — English : The same difficulty that, may exist in some districts is not much in evidence here. The children's knowledge of the mother-tongue is limited, and the inherent obstacles in learning a foreign language are thus greatly reduced. They converse in English, and the difficulties in mastering details of pronunciation and accent are thus also minimized. Reading : Reading in most cases was fluent and fairly expressive. Recitation was satisfactory, ami in some cases good. Composition varied in quality. Spelling was decidedly good, and the writing in one school from the infants to S5 was excellent. Writing generally was satisfactory. Arithemtic : Arithmetic has much improved, and may be classed as satisfactory. Geography; This subject has received a good deal of attention. Local geography was well known, mapping was good, and in some cases excellent relief maps in plasticine had been prepared by the older scholars. Handwork : In all kinds of handwork the children show great natural ability. Specimens (from nature) in " Permodelle," plasticine, and brush drawing were of special merit. Drawing generally was good, and sewing very good. In a few cases the boys did satisfactory work in sewing. Singing :In most schools ample instruction was given. Breathing-exercises, modulator tests, and ear-training were regularly practised. The singing was good in tone, free from harshness, and the songs were carefully selected. Physical exercises : Two schools gave an excellent exhibition of wand and Indian-club drill. In addition physical exercises were taken daily in all schools, with beneficial results. I am satisfied the education of the children, in this district requires no special form of treat ment, and given good instructors they can hold their own with their European schoolmates. Nelson. Whangarae is the only school in this district at which all in attendance are Maoris. The attendance at this school for 1915 was only 86 per cent, of the average roll number. The general work was satisfactory, the weakest subjects being the various branches of English. The school has suffered greatly from the frequent changing of teachers. The balance of the Maori children are distributed in very small numbers throughout different schools of the district. As a rule they are above the average age of their classes, but where regular in attendance have made satisfactory progress. Grey and Westland. hi the Westland District twenty-eight Maori children were included in the roll number, and these were distributed among four schools, the largest number in any school being fifteen. The average progress of these children is very fair. In the Grey District the number of Maori children was five. These attended two respective schools. The average progress was satisfactory. North Canterbury. The schools in this district which are attended only by Native children are three in number —Rapaki. Wairewa, and Tuahiwi. The work in none of these rises above a fair level. The results in subjects such as singing, drawing, writing, and handwork compare favourably with those obtained in the Board's other schools; but in composition and English, which are affected by home circumstances, the work is only of very moderate quality.