E.—No. 3B.
quarter to the Board of Management, and pays over the nett proceeds to the credit of the institution. The accounts show a sum of £378 Is. 7d. as farm proceeds, after paying all working expenses for the year 1864, in addition to the farm supplies, milk for the daily use of the children, and also one cwt. of potatoes per diem. Grey Institution, New Plymouth. This institution has at present thirty-six Maori inmates. It has been used by the Government as a location for the loyal Natives, and the children are receiving education in reading, writing, grammar, arithmetic, and geography, with Bible lessons. The adults have also the privilege of attending the classes, which they do though somewhat irregularly in consequence of other duties. The institution is under the superintendence of the Rev. John Whiteley, assisted by a female teacher who also acts as matron. Kawhia. The Kawhia school contains twenty-two Maoris. In consequence of the war this school had to be entrusted for the present to two Native teachers and a matron. Erueti, who was trained at the Three Kings, is able to give instruction in English; and Rihia, who, though not a superior teacher, is a good manager of children. Hera Eketone, a widow of a Native Missionary, proves herself an excellent matron. These three persons have joint charge of the school. They were visited during the year once a month by the Eev. C. H. Schnackenburg, who reports that he always found things in order, and the work going on. It is gratifying to find that in one of the hotbeds of Maori Kiugism, Native teachers who have been trained in our schools are able to keep a school at work. Aotea. The Aotea school is conducted on the Mission Station, under the superintendence of the missionary and his wife, the Rev. C. H. and Mrs. Schnackenburg. Mr. and Mrs. Schnackenburg were resident on the station up to April last, but the state of Native affairs about the time of the murder of the Rev. Mr. Volkner, rendered it necessary that they should remove to Raglan. The school is at present left in charge of Native teachers, and is visited by Mr. Schnackenburg as often as he can prudently go into the district. There are thirty-five Maoris in the school. Karakariki, TVaipa. This school has fourteen Maori boarders; being in the immediate vicinity of war, it has been exposed to some interruptions, but its operations have been continued though the number of pupils is small. The school is under the superintendence of William Barton, our Native Missionary, whose conduct throughout the Native troubles has been most loyal and faithful. The school duties are principally performed by his daughter, who was trained at the Three Kings, and is an excellent teacher. Waima. This school is in the Hokianga District, and is conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Skinner. They experience some difficulty in securing regularity in the attendance of the children, but Mr. Skinner's own Report, which I enclose, will fully explain the circumstances and prospects of the school. There are at present twenty boarders. Kaipara and Saffian. Preparations are in progress for establishing schools at both these places. Enclosed is a tabular view, showing the numbers, receipts, &c, of the several schools for the year 1864, and also for the half-year ending June, 1865 ; and also showing the cost to the General Government of each pupil maintained in the schools, inclusive of all expenditure. The European children maintained at the Three Kings are not charged on the funds received from the General Government, these funds being appropriated exclusively to Maori and half-caste children. Thos. Btjddle. Waima School Report, October, 18G4. The present school was re-opened in February last. It had been delayed in the hope of obtaining timber to enable us to provide better accommodation for the children, but we regret to say that hope has not been realized. We began with seventeen scholars, namely, nine boys and eight girls, the eldest about fourteen years of age, the youngest about six years of age; of these, two could read a little, three knew their letters, and the rest had to begin at AB C. Up to the present time seventeen additional scholars have been admitted, and fourteen have left the school. The school is opened with singing and prayer, and a portion of scripture is read and explained. The simultaneous system of instruction is adopted, and occasionally some of the more advanced are used as monitors in classes. After the simultaneous lesson the children are exercised in arithmetical tables, writing on slates, and cyphering, and once in the week in geography ; at the afternoon school in reading, spelling, and mental arithmetic. A few of the scholars have made fair progress in knowledge ; but the children generally are not, I think, so intellectual, nor so apt to learn, as children at the South. After dinner, the elder boys are employed in manual operations on the* Station, and the girls in domestic duties and needle work. The health of the school, with the exception of the skin disease (which is very prevalent here), has been good. I had hoped to have found the children here morally superior to their Southern neighbours, but I regret to say this is not the fact. For a time the attendance of the children was remarkably good, but a few months sufficed to weary many of them, and the difficulties arising from the want of right principle in the parents, are, if possible, greater here than at the South. As to numbers to fill a school, I am not acquainted with any part of New Zealand in which the Natives are in such favourable circumstances, and the births are still considerably in excess of the deaths. If the people only become enlightened to know and avail themselves of their privileges, we may, with the blessing of God, yet have a good school at Waima. TnoiiAS Skinnek.
6
PAPERS RLATIVE TO
Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.
By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.
Your session has expired.