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of the desks a good organisation may be obtained. The children have made satisfactory progress. A new fence should be put up, a closet removed, and a drain cut. The room is suitable.

G. 1. Akatarawa.—School is held in an old cottage rented for the purpose. There is a mistaken feeling in the neighbourhood that it is hardly worth while sending a child for half-a-day’s schooling. William Field is the best scholar in the Provincial schools west of Wellington. The school room was untidy and the attendance irregular.

G. 2. Waiohine.—The Town Hall is used as the schoolroom, and is very badly fitted up with very long double block desks. The teacher, Mr. Howland, exercises a refining influence over his pupils. The copy-books were neat. Very satisfactory progress has been made since my last visit.

G. 3. Makakahi.—This is a new school. It must have been built by persons unacquainted with schools, for there is not space for a dozen children, though the building is quite an ornamental one; and costs, I understand, over £120. It is a complete failure, and almost useless. I think it had better be converted into a master’s house, and a new school built. The copy-books were the neatest in the Province. I hope the master will continue to devote himself to his work.

H. 1. Featherston.—There would, in all probability, be a larger attendance if there were larger accommodation. The school is well situated, and has sufficient space around for a playground. An extension is wanted, 18 feet wide and 24 feet long, to give space for ten sets of parallel desks 9 feet long. There is a fair master’s house detached. I have ordered six new desks. The discipline is rather lax, but the work done on the whole is satisfactory.

H. 2. Greytown.—A new school should be built immediately. The present old room cannot accommodate 112 children if they are stowed away in every corner. Mr. Wakelin is a competent and painstaking master, and brings a good deal of intelligence to bear in all he undertakes. The school is doing good work, except perhaps in the lowest classes, which were badly provided with slates and reading books. More assistance is needed. The present site seems to me a very suitable one, if the new building is put some distance from the road.

H. 3. Moawhango.—A small school, doing little work. The room would be suitable if lined and repaired. A residence is detached. The fencing is falling to pieces. The mistress is not competent to teach more than the work of Standard I. New desks wanted.

H. 4. Tahoraiti.—Children are taught fairly the work of the first two Standards. The room wants more light; it is in good repair. A house is attached, and the grounds are fenced. The children are mostly girls, and the room is very clean and tidy.

H. 5. Kaiwaiwai.—The master has no suitable residence, and no other accommodation can be had. It would be best to convert the present building into a residence and build a suitable schoolroom, or else make a new arrangement for the working of all the schools on the east of the plain. As the master is about to be married the case is urgent. The school has made satisfactory progress. An acre is being fenced.

H. 6. Wharekaka.—Mr. Badland has done much conscientious and necessary work in this and the Kaiwaiwai school. The settlers are anxious to have a schoolroom built. The present school is held in a chapel.

I. 1. East Masterton.—Under the new master, Mr. Tillington, the school is rising from its fallen condition. The building used is the Town Hall. The old building useless. This school will, I think, in time produce good results.

I. 2. West Masterton.—The children in their appearance are a pleasing contrast to many at East Masterton. The school is carefully and efficiently conducted by Mr. Jupp, a teacher of very old standing in the Province. New desks wanted.

I. 3. Carterton.—As the old school, though a good sound building, is much too small for the numbers, school is held in the Town Hall close by. An extension is wanted by a room in front of the old building, by which the old part would form a wing at the north end of the new. The new room should be 20 feet by 35 feet at least, to give space for three blocks of desks 9 feet long; the old part would afford space for two other blocks 9 feet long—seating in all about 100 children, or 120 if necessary, by adding more desks or forms. The discipline is good and the results satisfactory. Arithmetic is well taught. The playground should be cleared.

I. 4. Taratahi, No. 1 (by Carterton).—A large new school, which has increased very much in the last few months. A chapel is used as a roomy schoolhouse. At present there is an absence of method and organisation. Mr. Skipper should have assistance. Better discipline and better results will be looked for.

I. 5. Taratahi, No. 2 (by Masterton).—School is held in an ill-lighted pent up back room of an old roadside inn. The master, Mr. Hansard, is very assiduous in his duties, and the school has made good progress. The copy-books were neat and the arithmetic very accurate.

Printed under the authority of the Government of the Province of Wellington, by Thomas M. Kelly, Printer for the time being to such Government.