PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE SCHOOLS.

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A.—No. 8.

well and intelligently, and reply in English to questions put to them upon what they read. They are evidently taught methodically. The writing of the elder children shows care and neatness. Plain needlework is taught by the mistress, and the children make their own clothes. Their general appearance was healthy and cleanly, and they were simply but sufficiently clothed. The circumstances of this school are very exceptional, and such as could scarcely be looked for elsewhere ; and it is very doubtful whether the same success would attend it if the present family arrangements were broken in upon, and an attempt were made to engraft a larger and more general school upon it. Like those at Aotea and Kawhia, the school is under the local supervision of Mr. Schnackenberg, a minister of the Wesleyan Church. The Government allow £10 a head for each pupil under tuition, but this sum has hitherto been paid to the Chairman of the Wesleyan Board of Education, and these outlying schools have only received at.the rate of £9 a head, the difference having been devoted to the purposes of the Three Kings Institution, and to provide a fund for permanent improvements, alterations and repairs of buildings, &c. I think this plan has not worked well for the interest of the bona fide Native Schools in outlying districts, such as those at Kawhia and Aotea, where the expenses of food and clothing are greater than at the central school. In this instance however the amount of £9 per head is probably sufficient for the requirements of the school, and the surplus might with advantage be devoted to the Aotea School. Mr Schnackenberg has most carefully administered the funds handed to him by the Board of Education. W. Rolleston.

Enclosure 8 in No. 1. Aotea School.—Visited Bth and 9th January, 1867. This school, like that at Karakariki and the Grey Institution at Taranaki, is not what is understood by the term " Boarding-school," but is really a village school where the children are more or less connected with each other, and live with their relations in the adjoining pa. There is a good sized building now occupied only by the teacher, which was formerly the Mission Station. The schoolroom is at some distance close to the pa. Both buildings require repairs. There are two large properties adjoining each other, which are held in trust for the purposes of the mission and of the school. That belonging to the school is upwards of four hundred acres in extent. The school has laboured under great disadvantages, principally the result of the war, and cannot be said to be in a satisfactory condition. There are twelve boys and one adult in attendance ; the ages of the boys vary between 13 and 15 years. Four are of the age of 6 years. The adult is 50 years of age. There are also two grown up women, and eleven girls of ages varying between 5 and 14 years. Of these only two have been five years at the school: no other pupils have been more than three years, and the majority have been less than one year in attendance. Considering the difficulty which has been experienced in exercising a regular supervision over a school in an isolated position, and in obtaining the services of a competent teacher, the attainments of the children, though very moderate, are perhaps as great as could be expected. Mr. Schnaekenberg has recently procured the services of a new teacher, and if the district becomes more settled I have little doubt that sufficient improvement will be effected to justify the Government in continuing a grant of money to the school. At present the deficiency of the dress of the children, and the general arrangements for their comfort are not calculated to advance their civilization. The Natives in the pa have suffered much from sickness, and there is a genei-al appearance of poverty and discomfort which is very unfavourable to the effective carrying on of the work of the school. W. Bolleston.

Enclosure 9 in No. 1. Eangiaohia School (Boys). —Visited 14th January, 1867. The school buildings stand on about six acres of land, more than half of which is under cultivation. The appearance of the garden and crops is highly creditable to Father Vinay, who is the sole teacher and manager of the establishment. The adjoining laud, about two hundred acres in extent, which is held in trust for the site and endowment of the school, is let to a European for a rental of fifteen pounds (£l5) per annum. I was informed that the school had been for the past year entirely dependent upon Father Vinay, none of the grant given by the Government having been handed over to him. I would suggest that in this, as m all cases, the grant should in future be paid directly to the local manager of each school. Of eight pupils two are Maori, five are half-castes, and one a European. One of the Maori pupils, a married adult, of about thirty years old, is responsible, in Father Vinay's absence, for the general management. Two half-castes, named Thompson, of the ages of eighteen and twenty, are fairly skilled in carpenters' work. All the furniture on the place has been made by the pupils. Four of the scholars read English with fair intelligence, and have a moderate acquaintance with arithmetic. The two Thompsons have also a knowlege of Maori and of French. The remaining pupils arc unable to read. W. Eolleston.

Enclosure 10 in No. 1. The Grey Institution. —Visited 19th January, 1867. I regret that, as I visited the school on Saturday, the day I reached New Plymouth, and was obliged to proceed by the steamer the same day, I was unable to see the school at work. I attach a letter from the Eeverend Mr. Whiteley, in reply to questions put by me to him, which contains full information as to the present position of this school, and valuable suggestions on the subject of Native education generally. W. Rollestoic. 4