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East Coast, I have read the statement in the Hawke's Bay Herald, which I annex herewith; and as it describes a state of things amongst the chief men and promoters of schools north of Tokomarua worse even than that which I have described, and as it is vouched by the signature of the writer, I beg strongly to call attention to the facts that he discloses. Tokomarua. —Here I found twenty-five pupils present in school; of whom seventeen were Maori, six half-caste, and two European; their ages varying from eight to eighteen. The numbers have varied greatly, from eighty-five to ten; the average up to March being seventy-two, and during April sixty-two ; the hours of attendance from 10 to 12, and from 2 to 4. Their health has been good, except from influenza ; and there has been one death— a child of seven years old. The appearance of the children was clean, and their conduct respectful; their progress in reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic was small; their pronunciation of English good, so far as it went. The master has, I imagine, no special gift of teaching, but both himself and wife appear thoroughly interested in the Natives, and anxious in every way, in school and out of school, to improve them in all ways. The chairman of his Committee is described to me as drunken and immoral in the extreme, and he is the only man to whom the master can look for assistance. I think the coming year may possibly produce one of those changes which sometimes suddenly occur in the habits of the Natives; but at present the prospects of this school are not very hopeful. Uaioa, Tolago Bay. —Eeturning to Tologa Bay, I inspected the school at Uawa, which, notwithstanding the unfavourable circumstances which attended its opening, and the drunkenness which is so prevalent in its neighbourhood and amongst its Committee, has already effected a change amongst the children which the residents tell me is most remarkable. The master, Mr. Parker, appears to have obtained a control over them which has already reclaimed them from habits of theft, insolence, and general annoyance, which were much complained of, but have now in a great measure ceased. I found the temporary schoolhouse which the Natives have lent for the purpose completely filled with pupils. I have misplaced my memorandum of the actual numbers, but they could not have been much under fifty, chiefly Maori, but with a few half-castes ; the order, regularity, silence, and observance of the pupils were complete. Their progress in reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic excellent. Mr. Parker is ably assisted by his wife in the management and teaching of so large a school; and I was much impressed here, and in some other schools, with the great effect which is obtained by a teacher who knows his work, compared with that of one who, however well informed himself, has never been accustomed to teach others. I recommend, therefore, that two or three additional teachers should be always employed in assisting our best schoolmasters, so that they may be themselves instructed in systematic teaching, and be replaced by other candidates as they themselves are appointed to the charge of schools. The attendance at Uawa is for the usual four hours. The health of the pupils is good, and there have been no deaths. I received from the Committee, before leaving Tolago Bay, a written agreement to bear half the necessary expense of a new school building, and certain additions to the schoolmaster's house. Whakato. —Eeturning to Poverty Bay, I inspected the school at Whakato, about ten miles from Gisborne. Here the numbers were so small, only ten pupils being present in the school, that I could form little idea of what effect is being produced. The numbers who have attended are as high as seventy-three, and the lowest seven ; the average to 31st March was fifty; from that date to middle of May, twenty-five ; from then to tho day of my inspection, ten. The master attributes the falling off to the gathering in of the crops, and thinks the general progress of his pupils tolerable. He gave me the idea, however, of being a most amiable and willing man, without any aptitude for the work he has undertaken. He says he has received no assistance whatever from his Committee, has never even received a visit, but has no trouble in managing his pupils. The general result seems to me, that in the most beautiful spot in Poverty Bay, with a good schoolhouse, a possible number of seventy-three pupils, a rich Committee who have considerable rents from sheep runs, the most fertile land, and every advantage, the school is dying of inanition. It would give me great pleasure to hear that a better appointment had been found for the present master, in some other line of duty; that an active, intelligent, and experienced teacher had been .appointed to Whakato; and that a little emulation was excited between it and the school at Turanganui. Eeturning to Gisborne, I took passage to Napier, my inspection in the Auckland Province having occupied me nearly three months. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. A. H. Eussell.

Enclosure 1. The Secbetaby Boabd of Education, Auckland, to the Inspectob of Schools. Sib, — Board of Education, Auckland, 23rd May, 1873. I have the honor to acknowledge your Memorandum of sth May, and to inform you that the Board will agree to the transfer of the Pukepoto School on the terms which you propose therein, and will agree to the appointment of new trustees if the Superintendent can divest himself of the present trust without expense to the Board. I am, &c, Eeedeeick J. Moss, Colonel Eussell, Napier. Secretary.

Enclosure 2. The Eesidewt Magistbate, Mongonui, to the Insfectob of Schools. SlB a — Eesident Magistrate's Office, Mongonui, 21st April, 1873. I have the honor to request that you will be good enough to bring to the notice of the Government the application of the Natives of Kaitaia for assistance in establishing a school near