E—No. 8

NATIVE SCHOOLS.

16, while Bed No. 2in close proximity, is occupied by a Maori, Ins wife and child. The provision for ventilation in this building consists of two small apertures, intended for windows and a door. Such accommodation, and such an arrangement as the above, must prove injurious to the health of the children, and decidedly prejudicial to the formation of habits of common decency and morality. r l he teacher living at a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile, is precluded fiom exercising that careful and constant'supervision which is so very requisite among young people. The bedding in the Boys' room consists of five blankets and one sheet. The covering of the Girls' bed consists of six blankets and three rugs. The bedstead is formed of wooden slabs overlaid with mats and sailcloth. Both blankets and rugs are extremely dirty. Cleanliness and Clothing. We are sorry to state that the children of this school, as regards personal cleanliness, are allowed to indulge their aboriginal taste to its fullest extent ; no attention seems paid to this very necessary part of their education. Indeed the very scanty supply of clothing which they receive prevents them from cultivating habits of cleanliness. The clothing given by the managers to the eighteen children in this school has been in all, up to the present time, 13 dungaree frocks, which may be valued at 2s. 6d. or 3s. each. The majority of the children are miserably clad, thrre making their appearance in tho school room in the dungaree frcck only, and five in a single cotton shirt. Diet and general Manner of Living. The children have three meals per day consisting of potatoes only; very rarely indeed are they allowed flour or meat. The meals are partaken of either in the Girls' bedroom, or in the open air in true Maori fashion. There seems up to the present time to have been r,o effort made to induce the children to abandon the rude customs of their parents. W T e were informed that the parents of the children alone supplied the food; it would appear, therefore, that no portion of the Government grant allowed for the maintenance of this school, had been devoted to such purpose. Cooking Utensils. The cooking utensils of this establishment consist solely of two iron pots. Hours of Instruction. >. The children attend school for about one hour and a halt before breakfast, they return again at 9 a.m. and remain in school, with half an hour's intermission, until noon, and recommence at 5 p.m. for about an hour and a half. Industrial Employment. The children engage in no industrial employment of any kind whatever. School Estate. About '10 acres of land (though not as yet legally conveyed) have been given over to the trustees of this school. About 2 acres are under tillage, viz.- \ acre under oats, \ under wheat, i under potatoes, and 1 acre under maize. B|nt TayLoßj L. O'Brien. Rangiawhia School (Roman Catholic). Inspected 13th February, 1860. The teacher of this school is William Meehan, a boy of about 14 years of Age. Number of Pupils. On the Roll, 20. Present at inspection, 19. In average attendance during last Quarter, -20. Classification of Pupils according to Race, Sex, and Age. Maories. Half-castes. Boys, 15 Boys, I Girls, — G llls > 2 ""TJ" 3 Total— \% Adults-Male 1 Female 1 Total 20 We are of opinion that the two adults are supernumeraries—the >an seldom, and the woman scarcely ever attending school. The children's ages vary from 8 to 14.

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