NELSON GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. 117

any defect that has been pointed out in a previous
report. The arithmetic at Upper Wakefield was
last year spoken of as lamentably defective. The
upper classes did their sums well, failures
occurring only among the younger scholars. The
writing from dictation is also much more accurate
than it was. Few of the scholars, however, are able
to give any explanation of the meaning of by no
means uncommon words that they meet with in
their lessons. With this exception, the school is
now in a creditable state.

Fox Hill: Mr. H. Ladley.—(24)—Excellent order
is maintained here. The penmanship is now as neat
as it was formerly slovenly. In other respects there
is little or no improvement. The arithmetic,
especially that of the younger classes, is singularly
incorrect, and none of the scholars can give an intelli-
gent account of what they have been reading. It
should be stated, however, in justice to the master,
that not a single scholar present at my examination
was more than eleven years old, and that the names
of only two of twelve years old appeared on the roll
for the last quarter.

Motupiko: Mr. Franklyn.—(20)—The children
here are well taught, and in excellent order. An un-
usually large portion of the school day is devoted to
reading, with very good results. The arithmetic is
more accurate than it was, and the first class now
know something of geography and grammar.

Upper Moutere: Mr. Cook; assistant, Miss Cook.—
(50)—A much needed addition to the formerly over-
crowded school-room has made the task of keeping
order easier than it was. The children are carefully
taught throughout. It would be as well if a little
more attention were paid to the geography and
grammar of the older scholars, which it but to relieve
the monotony inseparable from the teaching of a
narrow range of subjects. An occasional oral lesson
on geography before the wall map would probably be
found a welcome break by both teachers and taught.

Neudorf: Mr and Mrs Desaunais.—(47)—The
upper and lower classes here have improved very
perceptibly in writing, arithmetic, and dictation.
The younger children still read and give their
answers in a mumbling undertone very hard to fol-
low. Few, even of the older scholars, can give an
intelligent account—or, indeed, any account at all—
of what they have been reading.

Dovedale: Mr Beitt.—(21)—The state of this
school is highly creditable to the teacher. While
the writing and arithmetic are at least as good as
they were formerly, a great improvement has been
effected in the reading. The children also acquit
themselves fairly in geography, and can give a clear
explanation of the subject-matter of their lesson.
They are also remarkably well-behaved.

Lower Moutere: Mr Deck; assistant, Miss Leach.
—(53)—Lower Moutere, under the present manage-
ment, continues to rank high among our country
schools. The teaching is sound in every branch,
but more especially in arithmetic, not a single
scholar having failed to pass. No fault can be found
with the discipline.

Motueka: Mr Bisley; assistant, Miss Guy.—(73)—
The single weak point in this otherwise excellent
school is the writing, which is of very inferior
quality. The children throughout read well, and
understand what they read. Their arithmetic is
exceptionally good. The upper classes acquit them-
selves very well in geography, grammar, and dicta-
tion. The discipline, in both divisions, is perfect.
I cannot refrain from again expressing my regret at
the continued irregularity of attendance. It is won-
derful that the teachers here should be able to effect
so much with scholars who are absent during more
than a third of the school year.

Ngatimoti: Mr. Sutcliffe.—(32)—This school is
steadily improving. The number of good readers
has nearly doubled during the past year, and pen-
manship is so well taught that one-third of the
total number on the roll are marked as good writers.
The arithmetic is generally accurate, and the dicta-
tion tolerably free from mistakes.

Pangatotara: Mr Hale.—(21)—The present good
state of this school is all the more gratifying because
my last year's report was very unfavorable. In
arithmetic especially there was not a single failure
in the first and second classes this year, only one
scholar having succeeded in passing in 1875. The
reading is none distinct enough, the handwriting
excellent. The dictation of the three first classes is,
however, far below the average.

Riwaka: Mr Ponsonby; assistant, Miss Gaskell.—
(44)—Another year of effective teaching has, as I
expected, brought this school into a satisfactory con-
dition. The children, though still below the level of
our best country schools, read and write fairly, and
show a sound knowledge of elementary arithmetic.
They are also under far better control than they were.

Brooklyn: Miss Robb.—(22)—This little school is
going on very well. The handwriting is improved,
the arithmetic correct as far as it goes, and the read-
ing of average merit. Even the younger children
know their tables well.

Long Plain: Miss Burt (late).—(16)—I visited
this school not long before the lamented death of its
late mistress. The school was generally in a back-
ward state, certainly not because of any lack of
energy or ability on the part of the teacher. Less
than half of the number on the roll were present at
my inspection, though the weather was fine and the
roads good. But little can be done for a class of
scholars whose average rate of attendance is only 45
per cent.

Collingwood: Mr Canavan; assistant, Miss Bucker-
idge.—(40)—The present master, who has been at
work only five months, is carrying forward success-
fully the work of improvement so well begun by his
predecessor In several respects a marked advance
has been made already. Eleven scholars passed in
proportion and practice, not one having succeeded
the year previous. The geography of the first class
was also greatly improved. The reading was, as
heretofore, of the average merit.

Ferntown: Mr Roby.—(24)—Many children have
left the district since this school was opened five
months ago. Those who remain, a large proportion
of whom have not been to school before, have
made good progress. They read distinctly, write
neatly, and are very orderly.

Lower Takaka: Mr Hume.—(37)—The master
here, though inexperienced, is doing his work well.
Handwriting is very successfully taught. The
arithmetic is still backward, but improving. The
children can give a fair account of what they
have been reading, and are in excellent order. An
instance of the pursuit of knowledge under unusual
difficulties, on the part of a scholar here, is worth
recording. A lad of 15, who has had no previous