5

E.—3

continued education for qualified Maori children by providing at these schools a number of scholarships or free places. The value of the free places is £30 per annum, and they are tenable for two years. The roll number of these schools (ten in number) at the end of 1921. was 488, of which number fifty boys and sixty-two girls held the free places referred to. One free place was also held at an ordinary secondary school. The great majority of the scholars were ex-pupils of Native schools. The syllabus of work to be followed by free-place holders is prescribed by the Department, and is designed to secure such industrial training as is considered desirable in the case of Maoris : the boys learn agriculture and woodwork, and the girls take a domestic course. A farm of 600 acres is being worked in conjunction with Te Aute College —one of the schools referred to. In some of the schools the more capable pupils are prepared for the Public Service Entrance Examination, a satisfactory number of candidates being successful at the last examination. The Makarini and Buller Scholarships were founded out of private bequests, and are tenable by Maori scholars at Te Aute College. One senior and one junior Makarini Scholarship and one Buller Scholarship were awarded in 1921. Senior free places are provided for boys in the form of industrial and agricultural scholarships, which enable the holders to be apprenticed to suitable trades, or, under recently amended regulations, to obtain agricultural training at Te Aute College. Two scholarships of the latter type have been awarded to promising boys. Senior free places for girls take the form of nursing scholarships. These scholarships have proved very satisfactory, a number of Maori girls having qualified as nurses and now being at work in the field. At the end of 1921 three scholarshipholders were in training. University scholarships are available for Maoris possessing the necessary qualifications, and two such scholarships were held at University colleges by Maori youths in 1921. Expenditure. The total net expenditure on Native schools during the year ended the 31st March, 1922, was £77,650. The chief items of expenditure were teachers' salaries and allowances, £56,338 ; new buildings and additions, £7,072 ; maintenance of buildings, repairs, &c, £4,058 ; secondary education, £4,297 ; books and school requisites, £1,546. *

No. 2. REPORT OF THE SENIOR INSPECTOR OF NATIVE SCHOOLS. SIE, — v In compliance with instructions, I have the honour to submit herewith the following report upon the general condition of the Native village schools, and also upon that of the various Maori mission schools and Maori secondary schools, which were inspected and examined during the year 1921. New Schools, etc. The number of village; schools in operation at the end of 1920 was 119. During the year the schools at Karioi, Ruapehu, and Whakawhitira (Kaitaha), East Coast, which had been closed towards the end of the previous year, were reopened. The Ohautira School, Raglan, owing to the small number of children available, remained closed during the year. Arrangements, however, were made to reopen it early during the current year. New schools were established at Otukou, Tongariro district, and at Karakanui, Kaipara. In connection with the former of these schools the people contributed £75 towards the expense of making alterations considered necessary in the buildings which they offered for use, a similar amount being expended by the Government. For the expenditure thus incurred the buildings will be available for school purposes for a number of years free of charge. In the case of Karakanui, school is conducted in a church building offered for the purpose, and accommodation has been found for the teacher with a neighbouring European settler. The two schools referred to are now fulfilling a useful purpose. There were thus 123 Native village schools in operation at the close of the year under review. The schools at Matala, Bay of Plenty, Pukepoto, Mangonui district, and Whangaruru, Bay of Islands, which owing to ago and faultiness of design had become quite unsuitable for further use, were replaced during the past year with up-to-date schoolrooms. The old buildings at Pukepoto and Whangaruru are as far as possible to be used as workshops. The erection of school buildings at Awarua, Bay of Islands, and at Waiohau, Galatea country, has been put in hand, and the work should be completed during the current year. Additional accommodation was provided at Kirioke