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Napier Girls' School.

Teacher, Mrs. Brooke Taylor.

Just previous to my visit on the 19th June, the duties of this school had been interrupted by an infectious sickness having afflicted some of the children. This necessitated the closing of the school, by which Mrs. Taylor lost several of her best pupils. I am pleased to observe, however, by a return lately received, that the school has recovered its original numerical strength, and is in a fair way to prosper.

While smarting from the unkindly influences above described, the school was not in the best condition to pass through this ordeal of inspection. The first two classes read very well, but the majority of the girls were very young, and not advanced beyond spelling monosyllables, or naming the letters of the alphabet. The writing was not good, and their improvement in this respect must be greatly obstructed by the uncomfortable desks that have been supplied to the school. They have a too precipitate slope for anyone conveniently to practise writing upon.

Mrs. Taylor is very anxious, persevering, and attentive to the responsible charge she has undertaken.

Waipawa School.

Teacher, Mr. Droyer.

There were present at my inspection on the 22nd June, 10 boys and 11 girls.

From my personal acquaintance with the educational history of the children attending this school, I was easily able to form a just estimate of their progress, and it affords me infinite pleasure to be called upon to record my entire satisfaction with the results which have attended Mr. Drover’s labours. His task I know to be a difficult one, for the school was first opened by myself, about twelve months ago, and the profitable use the children have evidently made of this time, reflects the highest credit upon their master.

I consider this neighbourhood is peculiarly fortunate in having secured the services of a schoolmaster of Mr. Drover’s ability and experience.

Hampden School.

Teacher, Mr. -----.

The affairs of this school have been somewhat deranged of late by certain disputes which unhappily arose between the trustees and master, and which resulted in the removal of the latter.

These unfortunate occurrences, so notoriously public, I trust are now at an end, and will not prove detrimental to the school.

Meaner Flat School.

Teacher, Mr. Honey.

At my examination on the 29th June, only 11 children were present. The reading of the whole was good, but in no other subject can I conscientiously report that they acquitted themselves at all creditably. I was informed upon enquiry, respecting several of them, that they had been in attendance at school for a considerable time.

That such attendances have been constant I am quite prepared to believe, but, from the total absence of registers, or any documents containing the necessary information, I am unable to decide what amount of blame may justly be imputed to the negligence of the teacher, and how far unpunctual and irregular attendance of the pupils may have contributed to this result.

Numerous complaints were made to me during the few hours that remained in this district, but they were of a nature to call rather for the special attention of the local trustees than for the office of a Government Inspector. But I am bound to remark that, it was represented to me that of the children residing in its close vicinity, the number who attend at the school is comparatively small. I mention this circumstance less to convey strictures upon school, parent, or teacher, than to induce some explanation that will account for the discouraging fact that a school liberally subsidised by Government, evidently fails in its mission to supply the educational need of the locality in which it has been erected.

Clive School.

Teacher, Mr. Paterson.

The frequent changes of masters could not do otherwise than operate most fatally upon the progress of the children attending this school. Upon interrogating a boy present on the morning of examination, I learned that he had been under the instruction of six masters, who had successively been in charge of the school during the three years he had attended it.

Mr. Paterson had only been here for about three months, and, for the time, had been apparently successful with his pupils. His attachment to the place, however, has already declined, and I have just received an application from him for a transfer to Hampden.

The school building is sadly in want of repair; the schoolroom ill adapted to purposes of instruction, and lamentably deficient in necessary articles of furniture, apparatus, and school material.

So far as I am aware, no one has as yet been elected to the office of trustee of this school.