9

G.—2.

Taumarere School. —Inspected 18th June, 1879.—This is a girls' boarding-school, which partakes of the character of a high school. There are 20 on the books, of whom 16 are boarders. There were 16 present.—Maps, &c.: Mereator's map of the World, Europe (too small), Hemispheres (in one map), and New Zealand, one blackboard, ten desks (American). Arrother blackboard ought to be supplied, also ball-frame, large map of Europe, one New Zealand, one British Isles, and one chart of Pacific. —Building: The building in which the school is held is private property ; dimensions, 26 feet by 14 feet (walls 8 feet high), room ceiled. The floor-space of this room is ample for the number of scholars, yet the lowness of the walls and ceiling rendered the atmosphere stuffy, oppressive, and, in my opinion, decidedly unhealthy. In view of a probable increase in the number of pupils by ten or twelve, this room would be decidedly too small.—Progress of pupils : Eeading, very good. Dictation, very fair. The spelling was decidedly good throughout. Composition should be practised more. Arithmetic, fair. A fair general knowledge of the geography of the world and of New Zealand was exhibited. The answers in grammar were satisfactory. Music and singing are both taught, and several of the pupils played fairly well some duets and other pieces on the piano. The writing was generally good. Sewing is also taught. Housework and domestic economy are also taught at this school.—Efficiency of teachers : The teachers are energetic and efficient, and the discipline and method good. I was glad to perceive that both teachers and pupils appear to take an equal interest in the success of the establishment. It is very desirable that increased accommodation should be provided at this school. Peria School. —Inspected 10th May, 1879. —On roll: Boys, 19 ; girls, 16 : total, 35. Average : Boys, 10 ; girls, 10 : total, 20. I was unfortunately unable to obtain a muster of scholars, as the teacher was, and had been for a week or two, laid up in bed with inflammation of the eyes. —Desks and maps, &c.: Desks, 12, which will seat comfortably from 45 to 50 children. Two Hemispheres, one World (Mereator's projection), one large New Zealand, one small New Zealand, one Australia, one Geographical Terms, one ball-frame, one clock, one date-rack, two blackboards, and one easel.—Building: The schoolroom is 42 feet by 20 feet, with a porch 12 feet by 5 feet. The room is well lighted, comfortable, and airy. A teacher's house is attached. The school ground is fenced in. Progress of pupils : Upon inquiry I found the scholars could read fluently, and were working in the compound rules of arithmetic. I examined their exercise-books, and was very much pleased with their work ; the writing, also, was very good. The girls are taught sewing twice a week. The sewing-teacher tells me that so impressed are the parents of the children with the advantage of being able to cut out and make their own clothes, and so proficient have their children become, that many of them are buying sewing machines. The cleanliness and order observable in the schoolroom led me to judge that the school could not but be properly conducted. Victoria School.— lnspected 9th May, 1879.—0n roll: Boys, 17 ; girls, 12 : total, 29. Present: Boys, 14 ; girls, 7 : total, 21.—Desks, maps, &c.: Desks, eight (a great deal too high, and the seats, which are fixtures, too far from the desks). Maps, 5 ; there is no map of Europe, or separate Hemispheres, which should be supplied. Three blackboards, one easel, one clock, one table, three hells (two broken), one ball-frame. —Building: Schoolhouse, 30 feet by 20 feet, fairly comfortable. There is a detached teacher's house. —Progress of pupils : Eeading very good, and meaning of words fairly understood. The composition and letter-writing was excellent. Arithmetic in the senior class was fair ; knowledge of geography superficial; writing good. Efficiency of teacher : The master is capable aud energetic, and takes great interest in his pupils. The school is spoken well of by the Natives, which is a good criterion. One large map of Europe; separate Hemispheres —east and west; aud a sot of Collins's Eeading Cards are required at this school. Pukepoto School. —Inspected 6th May, 1879. —On roll: Boys, 41 ; girls, 23 : total, 64. Present: Boys, 34 ; girls, 16 : total, 50. —Maps, &c. : There is the requisite supply of maps, with the exception of the map of New Zealand, which is much wanted. There are six desks, 14 feet long (the desk accommodation is scarcely sufficient), and two blackboards. —Building : School-room, 34 feet by 19 feet. I understood from the teacher that there were some alterations about to be made in the school. —Progress of pupils : The progress exhibited by the pupils at this school is most satisfactory. The reading was very good, and the meaning of the words thoroughly explained by the scholars in good English. Composition and letter-writing excellent. Great attention appears to have been paid to the study of geography. Pupils in all classes were very good in arithmetic. In mental arithmetic, in the practice of which the teacher appears to have spared no pains, the scholars were particularly good. The writing throughout the school was excellent. This is one of the few schools where the Vere Foster copybook has been adopted, and to this I ascribe the success of these pupils in writing. —Efficiency of teacher: The master of this school is a thoroughly efficient teacher, apt and painstaking, and particularly devoted to his work. The Natives themselves so thoroughly recognize his ability that children are sent to this school even from places so distant as Parengarerrga and Hokianga. Ahipara School— Inspected sth May, 1879.—0n roll: Boys, 19; girls, 27: total, 46. Present: Boys, 14 ; girls, 19 : total, 33. —Maps, &c.: Maps, two blackboards, ball-frame, reading cards. The desks are fixtures round the room. A blackboard and easel is wanted, as one of the blackboards is too small and has no stand, and the other very cumbersome and heavy, slung on perpendiculars, and difficult to move about. A set of mounted natural-history pictures is much wanted. —Building : 45 feet by 20 feet —a Maori church, very uncomfortable, with low walls, unlined, and many of the windows were broken. I was not surprised to see that many of the children were suffering from severe colds. There is a detached teacher's house, comfortable and in good order.—Progress of pupils : Most unsatisfactory in all subjects. —Efficiency of master : The teacher has been upwards of two years at this school, and has had no previous experience in teaching. There is little or no discipline maintained, and the master does not appear sufficiently to avail himself of the assistance of the blackboard. The practice adopted by him of using some of the senior pupils as teachers of the junior classes is to be condemned. Awanui School. —lnspected Sth May, 1879.—0n roll: Boys, 30; girls, 10: total, 40. Present: Boys, 29 ; girls, 9: total, 38. —Desks, maps, &c.: 20 American desks; maps —World, Australia, and England; 2 easels (no blackboard), 1 ball-frame, 2 tables, 2 forms. —Building: School-room 30 feet by 20 2—Gr. 2.