Nazxbeth Institution, Freeman's Bay.— Visited 13bh and 14th December. There are twelve hall-castes and two Maoris in this institution, who were all present, with one exception, on the occasion of my visit. The attainments of the children in reading, writing, and arithmetic are of a moderate order. Some of the girls read fairly and write neatly, but their knowledge of the multiplica tion table and the simple rules of arithmetic is not such as I should have expected, as tbe teaching appeals to be well and systematically conducted. The sentences given by me for dictation, in the Three Kings School, were attempted without success. The children went through some exercise in singing and geography in a pleasing and satisfactory manner. I was on the whole favourably impressed with the general tone and character of the school, and with

Roman Catholic School, North Shore, Auckland, —Inspected 6th June, 1867. Mr. Mollhone is manager as well as teaoher in the institution. Mrs. Mcllhone acts as matron, assisted by One European woman. There are thirty-four European, five half-caste, and five native boys ; total, forty-four. One native was absent, having recently left for Opotiki, but expected to return in a fortnight. The Euro pean children are maintained by the Provincial Government, the half-caste and native by the General Government ; each Government contributes £10 per annum for each child. The proceeds of the school estate, which Mr, Mcllhone puts down this year at £100, are not applied towards the support of the pupils, but are appropriated by his Lordship the Roman Catholic Bishop to reimburse himself in an advance made in 1863 or 1864 for improvements effected on the school estate. I have no authority for requesting any in mation from his Lordship on this point. I can clearly see ithat the capitation grant, un* supplemented, is insufficient ; in fact it does little vaoti than keep the pupils a few degrees removed from starvation point. If the Government desires to see this institution really effective, it must be pre pared at once either to increase its grant, or require the direct and immediate appropriation of the revenue of the school estate towards the object for which it was originally intended. The present capitation grant is but at the rate of 6|d. per day, a very limited sum wherewith to clothe, feed, and provide education for a child.
