G.-2

4

good. I think a little more energy infused into this school would increase the attendance. The Native Committee are anxious to remove the buildings to Waimamaku (about eight miles). This would no doubt increase the attendance; but would involve an outlay of about £200. Lower Waihou Native School: Established 1877. The Misses Lundon, teachers. Pupils on roll: Boys, 10; girls, 17 : total, 27. Average attendance : Boys, 5 ; girls, 13 : total, 18. Progress made by pupils very good. The attendance has fallen from an average of 49, in 1878, to the present small number owing to an ill-feeling having arisen between the teachers and the Chairman of the late Committee. From the central position of the school it ought to be the best attended of any in this district. Waitapu Native School: Established 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Hill, teachers. —Pupils on roll: Boys, 17; girls, 20 : total, 37. Average attendance : Boys, 16 ; girls, 18: total, 34. Progress made by pupils very marked. Mr. Hill, who is musical, has established a drum and fife band, in which the boys take a great interest and prove very apt scholars. The attendance at this school is steadily increasing. A new schoolhouse, at a probable cost of £100, is urgently required, the present building being unfit for the purpose, is past repairing, and is absolutely unsafe in windy weather. Oria or Rakau Para Native School: Established 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, teachers. — Pupils on roll: Boys, 17 ; girls, 21 : total, 38. Average attendance: Boys, 10; girls, 9: total, 19. Progress made by pupils good. This building, like all the others, requires painting. Upper Waihou Native School: Established 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Needham, teachers. —Pupils on roll: Boys, 17 ; girls, 21: total, 38. Average attendance: Boys, 10; girls, 11: total, 21. Progress made by pupils very moderate; the attendance of this school has fallen off considerably since last report. The numbers of pupils mentioned in this report are taken from the March quarter returns. Sewing is taught in all the above schools. Spencer yon Stuemee.

No. 5. Mr. E. M. Williams, E.M., Bay of Islands, to the Under Seceetaey, Native Department. Eesident Magistrate's Office, Waimate, Bay of Islands, Sic— 11th July, 1879. In compliance with your telegram, No. 466, dated the Ist instant, requesting me to forward a general report upon the Native schools in this district, I have the honor to offer the following remarks: — As stated in my telegram of the 2nd, yours was not received until after I had gone on board the steamer bound for Whangaroa. My absence there during the week, and subsequent journeys, have prevented my replying at an earlier date. The Native schools in this district are nine in number, stationed respectively at Mangakahia, Kaikohe, Ohaeawai, Oromahoe, Kawakawa, Waiomio, Waikare, Te Ti, and Te Ngaere. Taking these schools in the order in which I have given them notice —■ 1. Mangakahia School. —Conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Colkin. This school is in a very satisfactory state, the average number 25. Scholars regular in attendance, and master and mistress painstaking and efficient teachers. 2. Kaikohe School. —Conducted by Hirini Taiwhanga. This school, when first started, promised well as to numbers; but it has gradually diminished, until at the present time it bears but the name of being a school. Hirini Taiwhanga is himself constantly absent from it, and during the last quarter has spent most of his time in Auckland and the Waikato. 3. Ohaeawai School. —Conducted by Mrs. Watling, a very efficient and painstaking lady. The average attendance during the year has been thirty scholars, and, although suffering at times from ill-health, she has devoted her time and energy to the advancement of the school, in which she takes a lively interest. 4. Oromahoe School. —Conducted by Mr. Tabuteau, a gentleman who has been most assiduous in his duties. The scholars are not more than 16 or 17 in number, but their attendance has been regular and their progress satisfactory. Two hoys from this school, in consequence of the advance they had made, were removed by the Government to the St. Stephen's Native boys' school in Auckland. 5. Kawakawa School. —Kept by Mrs. Tautari. With the exception of two young boys, it is entirely a girls' school, 12 of whom are boarders. This school has been well conducted, every care taken of the scholars, and great credit is due to Mrs. Tautari for the efficient state of her establishment. 6. Waiomio School, conducted by Mr. Lorigan, is not in as satisfactory a state as it might be. But few children are in attendance, and the parents do not manifest the same interest in the education of their children as shown by other Natives. There are many children who might attend, and I have frequently spoken to the chief of the party, Marsh Brown Kawiti, upon the subject, but apparently to little or no purpose. 7. Waikare School, averaging thirty in number, conducted by Mrs. Horsley, is making satisfactory progress. She is an efficient teacher, and much respected by the Natives, who take a lively interest in the school, insisting upon the regular attendance of their children. 8. Te Ti School, conducted by Mrs. Hickson, does not number more than 15, being all who reside in the neighbourhood. They are regular in their attendance, atrd making steady progress. Various efforts have been made to induce the Eawhiti Natives to send their children to this school, but the objection raised has been the distance by water, and the fear that their children would not be properly cared for by others, as they would have to live away from their parents. 9. Te Ngaere School. —Conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Comes. I regret to state that I cannot report favourably upon this school. The master and mistress have, I believe, done their best to keep the school together, but the parents of the children in the surrounding villages have manifested great