32

be the best and surest guide to the study of
all sciences in which ideas of dimension or
space are involved; almost all the know-
ledge required by navigators, architects,
surveyors, and surveyors, in their respective
occupations, is deduced from geometry and
other branches of mathematics.

Any young man who has the intellect
and can devote the additional time to these
latter branches, and whose parents could
afford a more liberal education, should be
instructed at the Government expense.
This would be the means of creating
a little wholesome competition, especially
if they were told that, with energy and per-
severance, they might obtain admission into
the Civil Service of the colony.

I would here wish to say a few words in
reference to the present position of the Go-
vernment teachers in this province. Al-
though there has not been any complaint
made, I have ascertained for a fact that
some of the masters are almost entirely de-
pending on the support received from Go-
vernment, which I do not consider sufficient
to maintain them respectably. When I re-
quested them to state exactly the amount
received from the parents, I found that the
greater proportion did not pay exceeds 2s.
and, to show how miserably paid the teach-
ers are without the authorized assistance of
2s. a head per week from parents or guar-
dians, I will quote the Clivo school, which
has the largest daily average attendance of
any of the country schools, viz., 193; and,
provided there was no decrease in this at-
tendance, the master would receive from
Government a yearly income of £91 9s. 6d.
Take for another example, Potane, that has
an average of only 5, and mark the result;
the master, in this instance, can only re-
ceive from Government £50 10s.

I consider the position of the schoolmaster
with the parent of a pupil a very delicate
and false one. If a complaint is made in
reference to the weekly charge not having
been paid, the parent threatens to withdraw
the child, the result of which would be
double loss to the unfortunate teacher, who
is obliged to sign a declaration at the end
of every quarter that the charge made to
parents or guardians does not exceed 2s.
each per week; but there is nothing to
show how many refuse to contribute any-
thing whatever.

I conceive that the master or mistress
should be relieved from this false position,
and the only effectual means that I can re-
commend is for the Council to levy a rea-
sonable educational rate. Parents would
then be more particular in sending their
children regularly to school, by which the
province would be a gainer, inasmuch as
the standard of education would be conse-
quently raised; and, further, the province
would be enabled to pay the masters more
liberally, and provide the schools with the
necessary maps and material, which are
very much required.

I would further suggest that, in the event
of any improvement in the status of the
teacher in a pecuniary point of view, some
system of classification and graduated pay-
ments should be adopted. Such a system
would, without doubt, have the effect of
encouraging teachers to improve themselves,
and thereby increase their efficiency.

The next point for consideration is, whe-
ther or not all Government schools ought
not to be insured by the trustees or mana-
gers. In most instances, Government has
been called upon to pay a grant in aid of
building each school-house, and should one
or more of them be destroyed by fire, the
Government may again be called upon for
a similar grant in a new building, whereas
for a small annual outlay this could be
avoided.

Numbers attending school, with the daily
average for the quarter ending 31st Decem-
ber, 1867:—

I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
EDWARD L. GREEN,
Inspector of Schools.
His Honor the Superintendent,
Napier.

Superintendent's Office,
Napier, April 16, 1868.

THE following Tenders are published for
general information.
DONALD MCLEAN,
Superintendent.

Tenders Accepted.

Renting the Toll-bar at Taroha's Bridge—
Mr. J. Ferguson, at £226, for term
from April 10 to June 30, 1868. This
tender was withdrawn by party tendering,
and Mr. Boddington's, for £190, for
same term, accepted.
Renting Slaughter-house—Messrs. Baldwin
and Higgins, for £30, for term from
April 16 to June 30, 1868.

Tenders Rejected.

Renting Toll-gate—
A. Mundy, £172, for term from April 16
to June 30, 1868
W. Dennis, £160, ditto ditto
J. H. Bovaird, £110, ditto ditto
J. McInnes, £107, ditto ditto
A. Dalzell, £101, ditto ditto
J. Evans, £91 4s., ditto ditto
A. Peters, £80 2s., ditto ditto
T. Groom, £20, ditto ditto
T. Jollues, £10 10s. per week
E. Cook, £42 per month
Renting Slaughter-house—
Thomas Potter, £11 per month
A. Stewart, £25, for term from April 16
to June 30, 1868
J. Horn, £21, ditto ditto