G.—2.

12

report so unfavourably of this school. I understand tho attendance is nominal, owing to a disagreement between the teacher and the Natives, and the latter have written to Government asking for a change. I consider it would be better, as I reported last year, both for the teacher and the school, that Mr. Stewart should change places with some other teacher. 7. Torere School: Teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Graham. —My last visit to this school was on 4th Eebruary. There were 28 children present out of 30 on the roll. I examined them in reading, spelling, colloquial English, and simple arithmetic. The discipline of the school is good, and the improvement fair considering the time the school has been opened. 8. Onutio School: Teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Hill. —I inspected this school on 16th December last. There were 28 children present out of 42 on the roil. I examined them in reading, spelling, translating, and arithmetic. They have hardly made as much progress as they should have done, probably owing to the teacher having such a large school to manage. The discipline was good, and the children clean and neat. 9. Te Kaha School: Teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Levert. —There were 38 children on the roll of this school, but only 16 attended when I was there on 17th December. They had made fair progress in reading, writing, and arithmetic. The discipline was very good, and the school and scholars remarkably clean and neat. The expenditure has been authorized for a school at Ohinemutu, where one has long been required. The contract for the building has been let, but, owing to the difficulty of procuring timber there, no great progress has yet been made with the building. I hope soon, however, to be able to report this school in operation. A few Native children are still attending the Opotiki District School; and ten sons of chiefs from different parts of the Bay of Plenty are now 7 iv a boarding-house attached to the district school at Tauranga, and are making good progress. My inspection of schools has necessarily been made at such times as my other duties would permit mo to visit the several scattered localities, and I have not yet completed my round for this halfyear ; and this report is therefore incomplete, and will be followed by a supplementary one. I have sent it in now because I learn by telegraphic communication from the Native Office that the reports are required for printing for Parliament. I append hereto a tabular statement of the attendance during the last three quarters. I have, &c, H. W. Beabant, E.M., The Secretary for Native Schools, Wellington. Native Officer, Bay of Plenty.

NATIVE SCHOOLS, Bay of Plenty.—ABSTRACT showing ATTENDANCE, July, 1878, to March, 1879.

No. 9. The Eev. J. W. Stack to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sic,— Christchurch, 30th June, 1879. I have the honor to forward herewith my report on Native schools in the South Island for the year ending 30th June, 1579. lam sorry that, owing to a cause over which I had no control, and which I have already explained in my previous correspondence, I have been unable to complete my inspection of all the schools. There are at present thirteen Native schools in this island supported by the Government, and by next December the number will be increased to fifteen, and there are five English schools attended by Maori or half-caste children, and one private school; making a total of twenty-one schools in which children of the Native race are receiving instruction. There are only two villages of any size—Arowhenua and Moeraki—unprovided with schools. The Natives of these places think that by refusing to allow their children to be taught, they will insure for themselves a larger share of compensation when tho " Middle Island claims for unfulfilled promises"

Name of School. Nm iber on Books. Dec. March Quarter. Quarter. Average Attendance. £, -5 .2 fc?g ; _£ a. Sept. Dec. j March £ S Quarter. Quarter/Quarter. Remarks. Sept. Quarter. 1. Maketu ... S7 37 12 29 10 14 22 Six European children attending school. School-buildinn; used bv Native Land Court during Sept. quarter. 2. Matata ... 3. Te Awahou 4. Te Wairoa 5. Eotoiti G. AVhakatane 7. Torere 8. Omaio 9. Te Kaha ... .0. Tauranga Dist. School .1. Opotiki Dist. School 34 37 34 2.; 37 49 40 13 21 37 21 41 26 51 37 42 36 12 L6 35 80 ■17 27 40 35 4 I 36 8 14 11 22 22 !() 23 26 26 7 12 27 12 22 15 22 21 21 21 9 !) 24 16 28 17 11 25 31 23 ti 7 37 is 22 7 5 28 2s Hi 8 0 Nine European children, including teacher's own, have been taught at this school. Totals 378 359 355 191 192 205 200 II. w. -Jeabanative 0 r, E.M., 'flicer, Bay of Plenty.