NATIVE SCHOOLS IN THE BAY OF PLENTY.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 108, 13 September 1873, Page 3

NATIVE SCHOOLS IN THE BAY OF PLENTY.

W e take the following from the Inspector’s Annual Report, recently published. We shall refer to the Whareroa, Boto-iti, and Lake Tarawera schools at an early date ;—■ MiKKTtr.—From Whareroa I went on to Maketu. I found the school in a state of collapse —shut up, indeed, as regards pupils, but still in the occupation of the late master. As I was told an inquiry had been held into his conduct, and a report made to you, I need not here allude further to the subject. I understand a new master has since been appointed.

Matata.- —Proceeding on to Matata, I Inspected the school under charge of Mr and Mrs Creek. 1 found thirty-five pupils in school, of whom thirtyone were Maori, three half-east©, and one European. Their reading, spoiling, and writing from dictation, were but moderately good ; writing good j pronunciation of English bad, and no attempt at colloquial English. The pupils were loss cleanly in appearance, and worse clothed, than in any school which I bod previously visited j and their attendance was reported to be very irregular. Yet, notwithstanding these unfavourable circumstances, I was more favourably impressed by this school than by some others of which I have been able to report more favourably. It is a lawless diet riot, comparatively, but the natives seem to be in earnest. The pupils come from long distances, riding, some of them, twelve miles ; bringing food with them to last from Monday to Friday ; then returning home for Saturday and Sunday, but living in groat discomfort during the school days. The master and mistress appear cheery, hopefuL and anxious to by the pupils. They complained of the samo'ftogloct

that I heard of in every school in this district (even the late master of Maketu school attributed his misfortunes to the absence of an y supervision), but at Matata there seemed to be a disposition to make the best of things, instead of the worst, os I find sometimes the case, I strongly recommend compliance to the Native Schools Acte, as to Committee, School site, &c., and, if possible, the election of some European residing in the neighbourhood as Chairman of Committee. It seems the natives have hitherto paid £4O a year towards the master’s salary, but they complain this is too much for them, and, after due inquiry, I promised to recommend that their future contributions should be one shilling per month per pupil, as in so many other eases.

OiirwA.—The next school is that of Ohiwa, which I did not visit on my way to Opofciki, nor indeed had I heard of it until I met with Mr Brabant, Resident Magistrate of Opotiki, who kindly accompanied me on my return, when we visited the school together. It is one ef those which show the disposition self-help which the natives sometimes evince when earnest about a matter. William Marsh, the well-known.

Rotorua chief, has secured the services of a pakeha (Mr Avent) on his own account, and giving up to him a small native house, a school has there been carried on since August last, I found about a dozen more pupils, men and boys, busily at work sitting on the ground with their slates on their knees, having neither desks nor forms, and but little light, yet making good progress; better indeed as regards spooking and spelling English than in some schools having greater advantages. A subsidy of £4O a year has, I am informed by Mr Brabant, since been given to this school, an u books and other necessaries are being provided. Whakatane. —The nest school house is at Whakatane, where there is a large native population. It is the cheapest and best school which I have yet seen, the contract having been taken at £l4O. If a good teacher be appointed here, I have no doubt the school will be a great success.

Opoxiki. —l found here no semblance of a native school. There is an excellent provincial school, attended by a largo number of European children, and by one remarkably intelligent Maori boy. It seems to have boon intended for a mixed European and Native 'school ; was opened about April last, when eight or ten natives attended ; but they fell off speedily to the one whom I have mentioned, I saw the chief Him Te Popo in company with Mr Brabant, and pointed out the propriety of his sending his chldren to the school, but he objected to the distance (a mile and a half). It was suggested. Uf me, however, that the fact of the natives being Roman Catholics, and the teacher a Presbyterian clergyman, might be a greater objection than the distance. I was impressed by the great ability of Mr Martin as a teacher, and should recommend, in case of the cst-:hli«t>mftnt *'f c- ;i? .*•

possible ; at present tae dative couooi ifunu simply sacrifices any salary paid from it to him.