E—No. 9

sole charge of the females. Her own ill-health, as well as that of her family, compelled her to abandon the arduous duties she voluntarily undertook and so ably discharged. The school now sadly lacks her vigilant care. It is confided, in Mr. Ashwell's absence, to a Native teacher, who most conscientiously, but yet inadequately, fulfils the trust reposed in him. This school has considerably fallen both in number and character from what I remember it to have been some four years ago. Its decline is to be attributed mainly to Mrs. Ashwell's failing health, and again to the Natives themselves, who have been led away by the excitement which has prevailed in Waikato for some years past. The school-buildings have been erected on the Mission Land, on a somewhat extensive, though not well-devised plan ; they have been standing for some years, and begin to show signs of decay. The dining-hall, girls' dormitory, and school-room, are all spacious. There are also three raupo whares, a wooden store, and a large building of rude construction used as a cooking-house. The girls' dormitory is furnished with iron bedsteads, sufficient to allow each girl to sleep separate, but they prefer, and are permitted to sleep two, three, and four in a bed. The bedding was very filthy and the room dirty. In raupo whare No. 1, which was clean and tidy, seven small children sleep, under the charge of a monitor and his wife ; the beds were raised off the floor, but the supply of bedding appeared scanty. In raupo whare No. 2, which is of very limited dimensions, four boys sleep, in beds off the floor ; bed-clothes sufficient but not very clean. In another dilapidated whare two men, two boys, and one woman sleep. I was refused admittance into this hut, on the grounds " that it was too dirty for me to see." For the purpose of examination the pupils were divided into three classes. I found their attainments to be as follows : — Class I. (Consisting of nine). Beads easy English narratives. Pronunciation for the most part distinct. Spelling.—Easy words of one or two syllables.—2 only might be classed as good; 3 fair; 4 deficient. Tables. —Multiplication.—All fair. „ Pence. —Failures, with 2 exceptions. Writing.—Inferior ; style bad; copies careless. Only 3 made a tolerable attempt at writing out the Lord's prayer on their slates. Arithmetic.—Four questions propounded : — 1st question in addition —Money.—Only 2 right. 2nd „ long division. —All failed. 3rd „ multiplication by two figures.—Only 2 right. 4th „ simple addition.—6 right; 3 wrong. Class II. (Seven in number). Read words of three letters ; repeat multiplication table, as far as 4-times, by rote ; 3 forming letters on paper —4 on slates ; 3 worked a very simple addition sum. Class III. (Seven in number, all very young children). All perfect in their letters. Diet and Clothes. Three meals per day : — Breakfast.—Potatoes and pumpkins. Dinner.—Potatoes, with pork alternate. Day's allowance scanty. Supper. —Boiled rice or flour, with sugar. The clothing was clean, but scanty. One hour before breakfast is devoted to Scriptural and catechetical instruction. The school hours are from 10 to 12 a.m., from 3 to 4 p.m., and from 7 to 8 p.m. Little or no attention is devoted to the industrial training of the pupils. Formerly, when Mrs. Ashwell resided on the station, the girls were taught carefully and systematically all sorts of domestic work. The men and boys were employed at times in agricultural pursuits at Hopuhopu, about two miles higher up the river on the opposite bank, where the School Estate is situated ; it is a valuable property of some 13,000 acres in extent, but now of no account. The buildings and improvements thereon are fast falling into decay. The whole establishment, both internally and externally, sadly needs the careful attention of an active Superintendent. Heney Taylor, Inspector of Native Schools.

' KARAKARIKA SCHOOL. (Waipa River.) Inspected, three different times during the year ; the last inspection took place May 2nd, 1863. This is a mixed School, under the able and judicious management of Andrew Boston and his sister, both Natives, trained under Rev. Mr. Reid at the Three Kings Wesleyan Institute, Auckland. Their joint salary is £15 per annum.

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NATIVE SCHOOLS.