13

G.—2

are settled. The Natives of the two little villages south of Eiverton have not yet decided on a site for the school asked for last year: the number of children under instruction is larger than in any previous year. I am glad to report that satisfactory evidence was afforded during my examinations of the conscientious manner irr which the teachers of the several schools have done their work. It was gratifying to find that, with only one or two exceptions, the teachers tried to exercise a good influence over their pupils outside as well as inside the schoolroom. The schoolroom and master's house at Akaroa are just completed, and similar buildings at Kaikoura will be ready for use in August next. The Natives at Molyneux Heads are desirous to have more commodious school buildings erected there, and I would respectfully recommend that a sum of £400 be granted for that purpose. The schoolroom at Otago Heads requires enlarging, and, as the present building is needed for a classroom, I would suggest the erection of a new schoolroom, at a cost of £150. At Eiverton, the chapel to which the schoolroom is attached is now used for school purposes, tho close, contracted lean-to being altogether too small for the number of children crowded into it. As most of the windows are broken, and the roof much out of repair, a sum of £50 is required to make the building habitable. At Stewart Island the school buildings require painting ; £15 would probably cover the cost. As much inconvenience is often experienced by the masters from not being able to obtain as soon as applied for the school requisites they require, I would respectfully suggest that I, as Inspector, should be allowed to authorize the purchase of such things as are wanted, provided that the expenditure does not exceed £1 per annum per head on the average attendance of scholars. As the Eiverton and Stewart Island Natives continue to make inquiries respecting tho Southland reserves, I shall be glad to be furnished with a reply to the questions asked in my report for last year. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs, James W. Stack, Wellington. Inspector Native Schools, South Island.

Kaiapoi: Master, Mr. H. J. Eeeves. —Inspected 27th March, 1879. Eegisters carefully kept. Highest number on the books, 25. Present at inspection: Boys, 15 ; girls, 10 : total, 25. Beading: Ist Class: Number in class, 1. Book, 4th Boyal Eeader. Would read well but for a natural defect in his utterance. Text understood. Spelling good.—2nd Class: Number in class, 4. Book, 2nd Eoyal Eeader. Two good, two fair. Spelling fair. Dictation, two good, two imperfect. —3rd Class : Number in class, 5. Book, Ist Eoyal Eeader. All read fairly, but pronunciation rather defective. Text understood. Spelling fair. Dictation fair. —4th Class: Number in class, 7. Book, Ist Eoyal Eeader. One good, one fair, five imperfect. Pronunciation imperfect. This class is composed of a very dull set of children. —Sth Class : Number in class, 4. Book, Primer. Beading imperfect.—6th Class : Number in class, 4. Learning alphabet and to form letters. Arithmetic: Doing practice and proportion well, one. Simple division, one fairly, two imperfectly. Simple multiplication, one fairly. Simple addition, three fairly, five imperfectly. Tables, weights and measures, five could answer correctly questions asked ; tweuty knew multiplication tables up to six times. Geography : The whole school were examined together. All had some acquaintance with geographical terms, and with the map of the world and New Zealand. Seven very proficient. Writing : Copy-books. Seven good, thirteen fair. The writing generally very good ; books particularly clean and free from blots. Exercise-books, containing lessons in geography and history, one very good, one good, three fair. Mapping: Some of the maps very good, two extremely so —almost fac-similes of the original from which they were copied. Music : Mr. Eeeves has taken great pains to teach singing. The children sang a selection of songs and sacred pieces, being accompanied on the harmonium by one of the pupils, a boy under thirteen years of age. Their singing was decidedly the best I have heard in any of the schools examined up to the present time. Becitations : Three recited pieces of poetry fairly well. Drill: All are taught drilling, and they go through the various exercises with precision. Sewing: This is taught by Mrs. Eeeves. The girls under instruction are very young, but their work was very neat and well executed. The schoolroom was very clean, floors, desks, and forms having quite a fresh appearance. Everything about the interior presents a pattern of order and neatness. It is disheartening to have to report that, in spite of tho master's indefatigable exertions, the children have not made the progress during the past year which they ought to have done. Most of the scholars with whom he began, and who did him so much credit in years past, have left, and those now under his instruction are exceedingly dull. The parents seem to have lost much of their interest in the school, and do not second the master's efforts to make the children prepare their lessons at home. The frequent meetings that take place at Kaiapoi with reference to the land claims distract the children's attention, and make the maintenance of discipline amongst them very difficult. Mr. Eeeves takes great trouble to provide entertainments for the amusement of both parents aud children, hoping thereby to render the school attractive. Unfortunately the parents do not consider themselves under any obligation to him for all this extra trouble which he takes on behalf of their children ; they regard it as their dve —as part of what he is paid for doing. When distributing the prizes to tho children I took occasion to remonstrate with the parents —most of whom were present —on the folly of their conduct in neglecting to aid the master in everything he did for the benefit of their children, and to remind them that without such assistance his efforts to instruct must prove fruitless. Riverton .- Master, Mr. Ireland. —■ Inspected 18th March, 1579. Eegisters carefully kept. Highest number on the books : Boys, 13 ; girls, 17 : total, 30. Present at inspection, 30.