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school, rendered vacant by the decease of
Mr. Ferguson.
I was quite satisfied with the eight
children who were examined by me in
reading, writing, and arithmetic, consider-
ing the disadvantages from which they
have suffered.

Pukekapu School.
Teacher, Mr. Hardie.
I am convinced, from my examination
of the fifteen children who were summoned
to attend me on the 14th July, that Mr.
Hardie is a thoroughly hard-working, pa-
tient, and pains-taking teacher. This in-
dustrious man, by his consistent sincerity
and zealous perseverance, has gained the
confidence and the esteem of most of the
surrounding inhabitants, and has esta-
b lished a night school, which is at present
attended by nine young men—no inconsiderable number for such a scattered dis-
trict.

One boy worked vulgar fractions fairly;
and several children, examples in the com-
pound rules. The writing from dictation,
and from copies, was good. Whatever it
was professed the children had been taught,
would bear the test of searching and mi-
nute inspection, and if they are not as
brilliantly, they at all events are as care-
fully and usefully instructed by Mr.
Hardie, as they could be by the most clever
and methodical student fresh from a normal
school.

Petane School.
Teacher, Mr. Elwin.
I have this day inspected the small
school at Petane, at which, it appears, by
quarterly diaries, eight pupils are receiving
instruction. Only three of these children
attended; the others, I found, had been
absent for some days, owing to slight in-
disposition, incidental to the inclemency
of the weather. Judging from the exami-
nation of those present, and from exteri-
or evidences of the working of the school,
I should consider the few pupils suffi-
ciently and even liberally provided for.

I shall avail myself of an early oppor-
tunity of visiting the school at Clyde, Te
Wairoa, the numbers attending which had,
by the last return, reached 20.

Under a teacher of Mr. Thomson's zeal
and energy, I am confident that this school
will eventually be one of the most flourish-
ing and reputable in the province.

In all there are 324 children receiving
instruction in the schools assisted by the
Provincial Government, and the total ave-
rage daily attendance at such schools is
235.

I may here state my firm opinion, de-
duced from the result of my inspection,
that the expenditure of public money on
account of education is productive of an
abundant and profitable harvest. With
greater fiscal resources, and an improved
educational polity, the benefits of the Go-
vernment Schools might be more widely
diffused. The Act at present in force is
obviously susceptible of reform, and I
hope shortly to learn that its revision is
being considered.

In such an important proceeding doubt-
less every suggested alteration will be
completely dissected and vigorously dis-
cussed, and only those changes, whose un-
disputed efficacy or presumptive utility is
inservient to the general good, will be
sanctioned by the approval necessary to
legalise their adoption. The peculiar ten-
dencies and prejudices of individual men
very often advantageously impede the
dangerous progress of the peculiarities
dominant over others. Too often, how-
ever, the introduction of really useful
measures is obstructed by the antagonism
of those whose interests have been most
sedulously consulted. A specific illustra-
tion of this is to be observed in the un-
gracious reception by one or two of the
schoolmasters, of a return which, with
your Honor's approbation, I lately cir-
culated, with a request that the information
required by such return might be fur-
nished at the close of every month.

My design had been to invent a form of
report, disencumbered with any useless
minutiae, but comprehending all important
statistical details. The subsequent receipt
of a return from the Hon. the Colonial
Secretary, demanding similar particulars,
fortifies my opinion that my action in this
instance has neither been precipitate, over-
strained, nor unreasonable.

But a resistance to these gentle inno-
vations is to me a very convincing proof
of the desirability of remodelling our edu-
cation scheme. There is a disposition
pervading more or less all official depart-
ments, or public institutions, which habi-
tually resist change, and generally that
feeling is the strongest where the greatest
need of alteration exists. I annex a copy
of the return I have above referred to, and
respectfully urge upon your Honor the
expediency of continuing its use in the
province.

Men are always prone to be intolerant
of premonitory symptoms of reform, but I
am not prepared to temporize with palpable
evils, which antiquity of existence alone
can give a claim to survive: nor will I
sacrifice the legitimate right of experiment
to specious and needlessly artificial objec-
tions.

That a disinclination to engage in the
work of educational reform should not be
less generally manifested, is greatly to be
deplored.

Vanity prompts some to oppose every
measure emanating from a source different
to themselves. Many, excellently suited
for such labour, are restrained by an undue
diffidence of their own capabilities, while
their natural indolence or apathy very
often tempts other men to prefer the com-
paratively easy task of raising difficulties
and cavils when new schemes are intro-
duced, to the laborious undertaking of
patiently directing their own energies to
the construction of original and valuable
plans.