THE Grey River Argus, PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1875.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2278, 26 November 1875, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus, PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1875.

In nothing has the improved condition of the Native race in New Zealand been made more strikingly manifest than in the remarkable success which has attended the Native schools established by the Government, and the eagemes3 with which Maori parents desire their children to receive an English education. Few would credit the Btrides that have been made in this direction since the cessation of hostilities did not the reports of the Inspecting Officers supply ample evidence. The Venerable Archdeacon Clarke in his report to the Native Minister upon the schools in the northern part of tha North Island furnishes some interesting information. It must be remembered that in the Government schools Maori is not allowed to be spoken except in explanation, although translations from the English to the Maori by tbe pupils are encouraged. Referring to the schools in their order, the Inspector gives the number of children and reports upon the proficiency displayed in each. We select some of his comments as follows : — " All the scholars but ten are reading words of four letters, and are able to render their lessons into Maori with tolerable accuracy. . . The business is carried on entirely in English. ... Although five months ago the children had never seen a map, they readily named the principal countries witn their capitals, trie i provinces ot JNew Zealand with their chief towns, the different British dependencies and the oceans, rivers, &c. ... On the whole everything is most satisfactory." In relation to the Pukepoto school, which the Archdeacon says is par excellence the school of the North, he remarks : — "There are 41 scholars on the roll, viz., 29 boys and 12 girls, at inspection, 39. The lßt class of 12, are reading 'Royal Reader, No. 3 ;' the 2nd, of 8, also * Royal Reader, No. 3 ;' the 3rd, of 9, ' Royal Reader, No. 2 ;' the 4th, of 5, ' Royal Reader, No. 1 ;' and the sth class, of 7, in the alphabet. The progress is highly satisfactory, considering that there is but one of the original scholars remaining. The dictation exercise (an account of my own adventures) was remarkably well done, writing it first in English, and then translating into Maori. As an illustration of their progress, I may give the following instance :— The sentence occurred, ' How far is it from Mangonui to Ahipara T One of the boys misapprehended it, and wrote, How far it is from Mangonui to Ahipara !' which he correctly rendered into Maori thus : ' Ano te roa o Mangonui to Ahipara !' They gave me the meaning both in English and Maori of almost every word in their reading lesson. The writing is as good as that of English boys of the same age. In arithmetic the most advanced are in the rule of three. Their geography is very creditable. The singing struck me as being rather more noisy than harmonious. Those who doubt the practicability of teaching English to the Natives would see the problem solved by a visit to the Pukepoto school." The attendance at the various schools appears to average from twenty to thirty, and, in many instances, the children travel three or four miles to attend. Some of them are managed by Native Committees, and a small annual contribution "from each district is expected by the Government. In the Hokianga district the schools appear to be very flourishing. At Pakia the average attendance was 41, including children up to seventeen years of age, and a night school for adult Maoris was well-at-tended, each pupil paying one shilling per week. Mr Von Stunner, in his report on this school, says: — " Hori Karaka Tawhiti, the Chairman of the School Committee, informs, me that he believes it will be necessary to enlarge the schoolroom, a3 at the opening of the school he anticipates an attendance of over- 80 children." At another school the inspector "found the progress made to be most satisfactory, the pupils being able to read, speak, and write easy sentences of English correctly, showing also a fair knowledge of geography and arithmetic." On the East Coast, in the districts, not many years ago, the hot-beds of insurrection and celebrated for horrible outrages, the progress of the schools is simply astonishing. In most of the schools the pupils read and vrite English with creditable accuracy, and at one school some of the advanced scholars had got as far as practice in arithmetic. The girls are taught sewing, and the boys amuse themselves with cricket and other athletic games. There were over 300 children on the books in that district. In the Waiapu district the schools are making fair progress — one at Akuaku, the Inspecting Magistrate reports, " exhibits a most favorable and encouraging Aspect. The number of scholars keeps

steadily up to from 60 to 65, with nearly an equal number of boys and girls. This happy state of things may be accounted for in a great measure by the very superior character of the Natives in that neighborhood, who are for the most part very intelligent, and who appeal fully to appreciate the efforts which Government is making for their good. They force their children to attend school, and any truant ou being caught ia severely punished. The children are always clean and well dressed. Mr and Mrs Brcwn, whose method with the children I consider admirable, are much respected, both by parents and children; consequently the progress which is being made in the various branches is surprising. Reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic (in which they are wonderfully apt), and geography are the principle studies." It is impossible to doubt that the influence of these schools upon the rising generation of Natives and upon the future relations between the two races will be of the most beneficial character. What with the peaceful policy of the Government, the opening up of the country by roads and railroads, the rapid increase of the European population, and, not least, the English education of the Native children, it is to be hoped that the Colony has now sufficient guarantee, against any future war.