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DETAILED REPORTS OF SCHOOLS IN THE PROVINCE OF HAWKE’S BAY FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 1876.

I. TOWN SCHOOLS, NAPIER.

1. Boys’ Trust School.

Head Master, Rev. John Campbell, who has also a zealous Assistant Master. On Roll, Boys 142; average attendance 115. Visited, December 13, 1875; June 13, 1876.

This School under its able and assiduous Master keeps its high position, is flourishing and useful. Nine of the senior boys of this School gained each a Special prize at Christmas, for working successfully the complicated prize Sum I had given out;---one of the lot being exceedingly well written and deserving particular notice. Much more room is sadly wanted; it is hoped the trustees will early see to this.

2. Girls’ Trust School.

Mistress, Miss Gascoigne, who has also 3 Assistants. On Roll, little Boys 49; Girls 113; total 162; average attendance 126. Inspected, Sept. 21, 22, and 23, 1875; June 15, 23, 1876.

This School is in a very pleasing and efficient state; the Scholars are generally diligent and improving fast in all the various branches of learning taught therein. Very much more room, however, is needed,--as the children are packed together like herrings in a barrel! Special prizes were given to four girls of this School at Christmas for writing each an Essay on Kindness to Animals; one of which was one of the two head prizes awarded by me for that Essay.

3. St. Mary’s R.C. Boys’ School.

Head Master, Mr. J. A. Rearden, who has now an able Assistant, and also useful zealous Monitors. On Roll, Boys 126; average attendance 108. Visited, Dec. 9, 1875; June 14, 1876.

This School continues in its general flourishing state; but like the others above-mentioned sadly wants more School-room! No less than twelve boys of this School gained Special prizes for Essay writing at Christmas; and four for successfully working the long prize Sum I had given out. These four sums were also by far the best written and put out of hand (save one) of all that were sent in to me.

4. St. Joseph’s R.C. Girls’ School.

Mistress, Mad. Marie St. Pierre, who has several Assistants. On Roll, Girls 60; average attendance 53. Visited, Sept. 28, 1875; (I had also arranged for Visiting this School on June 15, 1876, but that day unfortunately proved to be a Church holiday (Corpus Christi); then I arranged for visiting it later, but when the time came the holidays had commenced.)

Owing to its assiduous and kind teachers this School is in a general flourishing state; but, as in the others, more room is wanted.

5. Port School, Mixed.

Mistress, Miss Margaret Sproule. On Roll, Boys 22, Girls 22, total 44; average attendance 33. Inspected, Sept. 29, 1875; (on going to this School on 22nd June to Inspect it, I found the holidays had begun some days before.)

This is a useful and steadily improving and increasing School; the Scholars are mostly all very young.

6. Emerson Street, Denominational (U.M.) Mixed School.

Mistress, Miss M. A. Harvey, who has an Assistant. On Roll, Boys 28, Girls 36, total 64; average attendance 56. Inspected, Sept. 9, 10, 1875; June 5, 1876.

This School consists almost entirely of very young children, among whom are several foreigners (Scandinavians). It is therefore much behind the other Schools general School learning; there is room for improvement. I fear the total amount of teaching power is rather low;--or a better system is wanted; or, it may be, that the minds of the children are too much occupied with learning hymns and pieces for recitation.

II. COUNTRY SCHOOLS.

7. Meanee township Mixed School.

Mistress, Mrs. Elizabeth Carr, who has an Assistant. On Roll, Boys 14, Girls 16, total 30; average attendance 26. Inspected, Nov. 24, 1875; June 6, 1876.

This School is also mainly composed of very young children, who, however, seem a nice orderly lot,--all regular in attendance and advancing in learning; their Mistress is both kind to them and attentive to her duties.

8. Central Meanee, R.C. Mixed School.

Master, Mr. R. H. Huntley, assisted by Mrs. Huntley and her Assistants. On Roll, Boys 56, Girls 35, total 91; average attendance 79. Inspected, Nov. 25, 1875; June 20, 1876.

This is a useful School, the Master being both able and long-experienced in teaching; but much more room is sadly wanted; also, a trained Assistant-teacher. However the Scholars manage to do so well as they do, seeing they are so crammed, is a marvel! Among the boys are a few little Maori lads who are also getting on remarkably well. Eight boys and one girl of this Institution gained Special prizes for successfully working the long Prize Sum.