THE following Report on Education, by the late Inspector of Schools, is published for general information.

JOSEPH RHODES,
Deputy Superintendent.

Napier, Dec. 31, 1866.

SIR,—It is my duty, previous to departure from the province, to tender my resignation of the office of Government Inspector of Schools, and I will at the same time endeavour to lay before your Honor a brief review, of the condition of the several schools that have for the past few months been subject to my supervision, making particular allusion to those which were especially remarked upon in my former report.

The Roman Catholic Boys’ School at Napier is now held in the room which has been recently erected, and is well lighted, more commodious, and in every respect better adapted to its uses than the portion of the church hitherto made to serve the purpose.

The school is still deficient in requisite appliances and materials, which if placed at the disposal of a good teacher, would conduce to the greater utility and prosperity of the establishment.

The boys passed an examination with less discreditable results than at my inspection six months ago, but are still far short of the standard which they may justly be expected to attain. Mr. Mulhern pursues the simultaneous method of instruction, and is thus compelled to limit his personal tuition to a few of his pupils, and for the remainder to engage the aid of some of the most advanced boys as teachers, thereby necessarily entrusting authority into the hands of those altogether incapable of using it rightly.

I called Mr. Mulhern’s attention to the fact that this system, though excellent in model schools and under able administrative educationists, is defective in this instance, from the peculiar constitution and classification of the school. Upon a different plan the instruction might be rendered even less laborious and more self-reliant.

Roman Catholic Girls’ School.—The small attendance of girls, incidental to the inclemency of the weather, on the day fixed for my inspection (20th instant), precluded the possibility of my forming an opinion of very great accuracy of their general or comparative progress.

As far as I was able to ascertain, however, both now and at a visit I paid to the school about two months before, I observed every sign of rapid improvement and careful training. The children seem greatly attached to their instructresses, who with mild and tender treatment combine a firmness and authority which secure perfect order, obedience and regularity.

Meanea Flat.—From the increased number of pupils, and the improved style of their answers to my questions on the various subjects of examination, I am convinced that Mr. Honan has spared no exertions during the last half-year to create a more favorable impression of the school at Meanea, and to render it deserving of encouragement and support.

The school-room is too small, the furniture insufficient, and even that little of inferior description; the writing desk cumbrous, and of a size, shape and fashion that make it almost useless. It is to be hoped that money will shortly be raised by subscription to build a new school-room, and that the whole of the present building will be converted into a dwelling-house for the master and his family. The accommodation will be very limited even then.

Waipawa and Hampden.—The school at Waipawa was closed for a short time lately, owing to the indisposition of the master, but I am pleased to learn that since Mr. Drover’s recovery the duties have been again resumed with the accustomed regularity of attendance and steadiness of progress.

The parents of children residing at Hampden also appear to be well pleased that they are able to retain the services of a teacher of Mr. Paterson’s quiet and peaceable disposition.

Puketapu.—My inspection of the Puketapu school had been deferred till the day upon which the children were to be dismissed for the holidays, to suit sundry local arrangements, but I was unavoidably detained in Napier on that day. I have evidence that Mr. Hardie, by his industry and perseverance, continues to sustain the reputation of his school.

Napier Girls’ School.—The Napier Girls’ School is well attended, though mostly by very young children. The mistress, Miss Caldwell, is well qualified for the duties, and her zealous and affectionate care of the children is very commendable.

Since my last report two schools have been discontinued: one at Waipukurau, the building temporarily used for school purposes having been destroyed by fire; and the other in Napier, St. Paul’s Presbyterian School, from the master’s inability to derive a maintenance in consequence of the number of his pupils having rapidly and suddenly diminished. Many of the boys thus removed are now attending St. John the Evangelist’s School, under the charge of Mr. W. Hudson. To explain the decline of his school, Mr. Haswell intimated to me that he suffered from the canvassing of rival competitors. At the time of my inspection, 41 children were on the school books; just previous to the closing of the school, the number did not exceed seven or eight. I felt bound to enquire for a reason for such an unfortunate change, and that above stated is the one offered by Mr. Haswell.

I am compelled to mention that complaints reached me from various sources of the needless and excessive severity with which the children were frequently visited by the master. If there be any foundation in this, I am at no loss to account for the decadence and unpopularity of Mr. Haswell’s school.

The feeling is now almost universal that an habitual recurrence to the employment of force in the management of schools generally implies incompetency on the part of the teacher, or inadequacy of moral superintendence. Harsh means of discipline are very distasteful to parents or guardians under any circumstances, and although the infliction of