A.—No. 6.

12

FURTHER EAPEES RELATIVE

Enclosure 3 in No. 4. Repout on St. Stephen's School, (Church of England.) Visited 22nd May, 1868. Since this school was visited by Mr. Eolleston, in December, 1866, considerable alterations have been made in the nature of the establishment, and it is now little more than a boarding-house for a number of Maoris and half-castes. There are at present five associates, viz., three printers, one tailor, and one carpenter living in the building, all of whom are under 20 years old. One married couple (Native) also live here, the man being manager of the institution under the Rev. Mr. Burrows. Eor none of these is any aid now received from the General Government. There are six children at present receiving aid under the Native Schools Act, at the rate of £25 each per annum, but as it is impossible to keep a schoolmaster they are sent to the parish school of St. Mary's, where they are taught) with the white children by Mr. Hewson. I visited the school and examined these children with the following result: —■ A. B. C. D. Heading ... ... ... ... ... 13 2 0 Writing ... ... ... ... ... 0 5 1 0 Spelling ... ... ... ... ... 1 0 2 3 Aiithmetic ... ... ... ... ... 0 1 3 2 Mr. Howson has lately begun to instruct these pupils in geography and history. There is a small room provided at St. Stephen's for each child, except in one instance where two sleep in the same room. Those rooms which I saw were clean and healthy, and the arrangements seemed all that was necessary. I was showed over the premises and found everything exceedingly clean and tidy. The buildings at St. Stephen's are at present in charge of the Rev. Mr. Burrows, who has taken them over since Mr. Chapman left some months ago, but this is merely a temporary arrangement, Mr. Burrows informs me that a project exists for remodelling the school in some important respects, and that a correspondence is now going on with the Government with the object of making this " a special boy school," whatever that term may mean. As I have not seen a copy of the correspondence I am unable to form any opinion on the plan proposed, but 1 cannot see that this school has a bettor title then any other in this district to be specially favoured, and I consider that even the grant of £25 a year, while the other schools only receive £10, must be regarded in that light. Until recently the trustees have derived about £50 per annum from the school property, but not more then £20 can now be realized. Attempts have been made to get some little payment from the parents of the children at school, but without success. Mr. Burrows requested me to mention that Charles and Sarah Brown, children of Richard Brown, a settler, who was killed at Taranaki during the war, are now merely on the list of ordinary pupils, although they were specially placed in the institution by the Government. Sarah Brown is at present under the care of Mrs. Chapman, and that lady is willing to keep and instruct her, if the Government will continue the same grant to her as to the other children at St. Stephen's. I have, &c, Auckland, 25th May, 1868. Robt. H. Etton, Inspector of Native Schools.

No. 5. Copy of a Letter from I. IST. Watt, Esq., to the Hon. the Native Minister. Sic,— Dunedin, 11th June, 1868. Referring to Mr. Hake's letter of the 6th March, 1868, and to my letter of 21st March, 18G8, I have the honor to inform you that I did not receive any reply to the latter until subsequent to the Natives starting upon their annual mutton-bird catching expedition, and that I was removed to Dunedin, prior to their return, in explanation of my not visiting Ruapuke to confer with Mr. Wohlers and to certify to the fulfilment of the contract for the building of the schoolhouse and master's house there. I would also respectfully submit, that it would be advisable that the question raised by the Natives as to whether they (that is the Natives in Foveaux Straits) are entitled, exclusive of the other sellers of Stewart's Island, to the income to be derived from the £2,000 to be invested for educational purposes, should be settled ; for as I stated in my letter to Mr. Eollcston, accompanying that already quoted, they think the income to be derived from this should free them from the one-fourth contribution required toward the school fees; and I may add that lam convinced that even were they willing to pay the fees required, that in most cases their poverty would not admit of it, as the reserves of land made for them have not hitherto yielded them any revenue, nor will they until they shall have been surveyed and some title be obtained under which they may be let. On my arrival in Dunedin I saw Mr. Hislop, the Inspector of Schools, who informed that he could not then help me to obtain a master as he was in want of masters himself; but on the 6th instant I received a letter from him, introducing to me a Mr. Henri—in which he says, " Mr. Henri has recently arrived with his wife and child from Auckland, where his wife was a teacher under the Board of Education in that Province. Ho appears to be a gentleman well fitted for a teacher, and you will be able to judge for yourself whether he is not likely, along with his wife, to suit very well for Buapuke." Mr. Henri is a Huguenot, and speaks English well, with but little Erench accent, and his wife (formerly Miss Drabble) is an Englishwoman. I have informed him as to what will be the nature of his duties and of the remuneration he is likely to receive, he is anxious to go, and I think he is likely to suit; but Ido not think it advisable to appoint him trusting to the Natives paying any portion of the school fees. He is out of employment and is anxious to receive an answer as-soon as possible, and