NATIVE SCHOOLS.

Industrial Employment. The girls are instructed in needlework every day by Miss Harrison. They also perform, each in turn, domestic duties iv Mr. Reid's house. Tuesday is set apart in every week for washing of clothes, &c. School Estate. This school is without any endowment, but portion of the land adjoining, which is the property of the Wesleyan Mission, is devoted to the use of the school. This year there are 'about ten acres under wheat. It may be proper under this head to state, that out of the funds received from Government this year, Mr. Reid has invested the sum of £50 in the purchase of sheep, as a provisional support for the school upon the expiration of the Government grant. Henry Taylor. L. O'Brien. Karakarika School (Wesleyan.) Inspected on the 6th and 7th February 1860. This school is under the management of Martha Barton, a Native girl aged 20, trained at th., Wesleyan Institute, Three Kings. Number of Pupils On the roll, 18 ; present at inspection, 18 ; in average attendance during last Quarter, 20. Classification of Pupils according to Race, Sex, and Age. Maories—Boys," II ; Girls, 7. Total 18. Their ages vary from ;} to 16 years.

Subjects of Instruction—Judgments awarded — Observations. Scale.

The pupils in this school are divided into two classes. The first read and spell English words of three letters, write on slates, and cipher as far as Simple Multiplication and Addition ; they read the Bible and other religious books in the Maori tongue. The second class read and spell English words of two letters. Considering that the school has been in existence for a period of only nine months, we are of opinion, that the pupils have made satisfactory progress ; their pronunciation of English words is very distinct. The mistress of this school is very painstaking and zealous, and under careful supervision might become a valuable and efficient teacher. School Furniture. The school furniture consists of one table, two forms each 12 feet long, and fixed seats all round tbe building, a few printed reading cards and several Bibles in the Maori tongue; of all other books, maps, and appliances for imparting instruction there is a total dearth ; this is to be regretted, especially in a Maori school, where " SegniGV irritant animos demissa per aurem, Quain quae sunt oculis Buhjecta tidelibus, et quaa Ipse sibi tradit spectator." —As a general remark applicable to this, and all the other schools we inspected, we might state, that the introduction of a clock would, in our opinion, tend to form habits of punctuality among the children, and introduce generally some regard for the value of time, of which the Native race seems wholly unconscious. School-room. The building used as the schoolroom is the Wesleyan Char el, 35 feet long by 17 feet in breadth, and 6 feet high, substantially put together, and built of raupo, at present in good order and repair, it is well ventilated and lighted by four windows. This building is not erected on the school estate. Sleeping Accommodation, fyc. The dormitories (undeserving of the name) consist of two detached raupo houses. The Boys' dormitory is 14 feet long by 9* feet deep, and 6 feet high, three boys .(and occasional visitors) sleep iv this building ; it has neither window nor door. The Girls' dormitory is 16 feet long, 8 feet broad, and 5J feet high, and contains two beds. No. lis tenanted by eleven girls, some of the age of

18

! Very Good. 5. Good. I 4 - Indifferent. 3. Bad. 2. Failure. 1. Total. Reading 1 7 5 4 1 18 Spelling 1 5 6 6 18 Arithmetic 1 1 1 1 4 6 7 Writing 1 4 2 7 Tables... 2 ... 1 10