NATIVE SCHOOLS IN THE BAY OF PLENTY.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 128, 22 November 1873, Page 3

NATIVE SCHOOLS IN THE BAY OF PLENTY.

We continue extracts from recently published report. —

Omabamoto.— Here ft school has been completed for the children of the surrendered Whakatohea. There are 88 children living dose to the building, and it is expected that at least half of those will attend The Government has furnished £l6O for this building. ToßEftu. •—Here two acres of land have been given by the natives, who have also promised £76 towards the school-house, for which the Government has also authorised £2OO.

Kotoivi. Returning from Opotiki to Maketu, I proceeded thence to Kotoiti (near Rotorua), and on the 22nd ultima inspected the school there under charge of Major Wood. I found only 18 pupils in school, all Maori, whose ages varied from five to fifteen years. The numbers vary greatly, from the peculiar circumstances of the locality (the Lake district). The highest number has been 61* the lowest (the day before my arrival) 10; the general »<;er»ge hue been about 45. The pupils coma by canoe from Taheke, about a mile j from Mourea, two miles ; from Huharua, one mile ; from Euato, about eight or tea miles, which takes about, three hours’ canoeing. They bring food with them from the long distances to last them the week, and live in small wbarea pear the school. There is someting very remarkable in this keen desire for schooling on the part of the natives who have to seek it under such difficulties. The appearance of the pupils was clean and decent, their behaviour respectful and orderly; their reading, writing, spelling, and arithmetic were good for the time they had been at school. The instruction is given only in English. Their progress and pronunciation wore fair. The health of the pupils is good. The hours of instruction nominally from 10 to 12, and from 2 to 4, but as the place is very isolated, and there is no other amusement or occupation for either master or pupils these hours are often lengthened. Major Wood states that ho has a nominal committee, but Waata Tanui, the chief of Taheke, is the only one who assists him, and he is very useful and anxious for the success of the school. Eotoiti is so out. of the way that there has been great difficulty in getting workmen to undertake the necessary work. There has been no supervision, and the consequence is that what has been done has been not only very expensive, bat miserably performed, —everything, indeed, requires alteration, repair or improvement, and I shall have to recommend considerable further outlay upon this school.