ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 9, 11 January 1890, Page 5

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS.

[Laid before the Nelson Education Board, January 3, 1890.] j December 31st, 1889. The Chairman of the Nelsqn Education Board. Sir, — I have the honour to lay before' you> my report on the Nelson Publie Schools for the year 1889. Ninety-one schools were at work at the close of this year. 5741 scholars were on the rolls when the schools were examined, 5404 being present on those occasions. The absentees numbered 337. The number of children on the roll at the end of the September quarter (the latest for which returns have been - sent in) was 5801, being an increase of 319 on last year's return. On the . whole — with a few grievous exceptions which will be specially dealt with in the detailed account of each school — our schools may fairly be said to have come creditably our of the ordeal of an examination which, in several respects, was certainly somewhat more stringent than any of it predecessors. In this favourable estimate every one of the factors that go to make up the sum of what is meant by a well-conducted school has been taken into account. The honest endeavours of the majority of our teachers to remedy the admitted defects pointed out in last year's report also deserve recognition. In one important particular — the relative prominence given to the record of passes and failures — an entirely new departure has been taken in this report. I have for some time felt that my frequent references to these matters, however modified by protests against undue importance being attached to them, have largely contributed towards the wider spreading of the mistake of regarding the per centage of passes and failures as the sole criterion of j*he success of a school. It is high time that so mischievous and far-reaching a fallacy were put an end to. On this occasion the intolerable jargon of the Standards shall

not be repeated. The words " strong," and " weak pass," "failure," or "per centage -of passes," shall find no place in the body of this report. Those who, after the experience of the last twelve years, are still curious about such things, and who still believe that the exact equivalent of so complex a machine as a school can be found in a simple numerical expression, ara referred to the prodigiously long and elaborate sets of tables appended to this report. That they may find some difficulty in getting at their gist, and may feel encumbered by the wealth of information set before them, is no fault of mine. Those, on the other hand, who recognise that a comparative statement of the number of scholars able to satisfy the bare minimum of requirement of the Eegulations is only one— --and by no means the most important— element in determining the actual condition of any school,- will rest content with my brief, but carefully drawn up estimate of the state of each school when it was last examined. Included in that estimate — though not always directly referred to — they will find, in addition to the results of mere standard- work, due weight, given to such vital matters as the general tone of the school, the intelligence oi the scholars, their alertness in carrying out instructions, their behaviour to their teachers, and to one another. They will find, also, some recognition of the teacher's power of interesting and influencing his children, of his making the best use of his time; and of his readiness to adopt the latest and most approved methods of teaching. , Whether the conclusions at which I have deliberately arrived on these and other matters square with those formed by Inspectors in other districts — it may well be, under widely different conditions — is to me a matter of indifference. No transferring of inspectors, however, frequent or vexatious ; no painfully ingenious endeavors to define by regulations the indefinable, will, fortunately, bring about that uniformity for which the doctrinaires of the day are perpetually hankering. Until something approaching to a Babbages' . machine does for inspection what that invention was meant to do for calculation, the personal element cannot be eliminated from examinations. Whoever may selected as examiners, and wheresoever they may be sent, their notions of what constitutes good reading, good spelling, and good writing will go with them. And so long as men remain what they are, the result of. any examination must always largely depend upon the skill, the tact, and above all, the temper of the individual examiner, " regulate " him as you may. A brief survey .of those matters as to which something that is at leatst generally, if not universally, true may be affirmed, will fitly precede my usual estimate of the condition of each establishment. The discipline and behaviour of the children in the great piajority of our schools now leave but little to desire! Orders are carried out, and work is carried on readily, cheerfully, and in silence, without a trace of undue severity, so far as I have been able to discover. Much of this is doubtless due to the increased attention paid, of late years, to both school and military drill, which, it appears to me, rank far above all other methods of fostering those habits of prompt obedience in which colonial children were at one time so notoriously lacking. This indirect, good effect of drill would, of itself, fully justify the attention now paid to it, especially in our larger schools. In addition to this, however, it may be safely affirmed that a boy who has gone through the course of setting-up drill now adopted in our Town \ schools will have, acquired an upright, manly carriage that will probably abide with him until old age. It is something to train up a generation who, in the main, will not grow up clowns. The art of Eeading is at last regaining that position of paramount importance to which it is entitled, but which was, until lately, usurped by Arithmetic. A much higher degree of proficiency is now exacted aaad attained in this subject than was formerly reached.' There are still, however, schools where there is much room for improvement. In the endeavour to get distinctness, a stilted and unnatural style, approaching to declamation has been adopted, both in Eeading and Eecitation. 'A' is still pronounced, in many instances, as '-&,' 'the' as _ thee,' and the examiner has more than once been warned off from certain portions of the class-book, on the ground that the children had not yet " gone through them," whieh probably meant that they had not committed the forbidden passages to memory. An alternative reading-book, insisted on in England, may be looked for in vain in many of our schools. Should this omission not be supplied at my next visit, the soundness of carefully-prepared work will be ascertained by my taking as a test an extract from a newspaper, • or some other " unseen passage/' That the risk pf some of the work produced on examination-day being a sham is not imaginary may be shown by two striking instances. In .each of these a numerous class that read with apparent ease a passage at the beginning of their book stumbled miserably over a few sentences taken from the hitherto untouched portion of the same work. Although the handwriting, on the whole, ' has certainly improved of late, what has been achieved in this direction falls far short of what I still look for. In not more than half of our Schools, at the outside, can the penmanship be termed good ; in a fourth of them it is distinctly unsatisfactory. I see no reason why nine out of ten of those ■who have completed their schooling at fourteen or fifteen years old should not carry away with them a bold, current style of handwriting. But in very many instances these proportions are actually reversed, a tithe only complying with my test. It is, however, a promising sign that it is among the younger scholars that the improvement is most marked. In the matter of holding the pen properly, and of sitting in the right position when writing, to which I have so often referred, I have almost abandoned the hope of effecting any wide or lasting improvement. Where teachers cannot be brought either to see the importance of any reform, or to take the necessary pains to bring it about, an Inspector fights as vainly as the gods were said to do against stupidity. Arithmetic is fairly well taught in most of our jßchools— admirably taught in not a few. To exact

more Arithmetic than is already being given would probably have the mischievous .effect of curtailing the time now devoted to other equally important subjects. I Have noticed a tendency to limit the work at the earlier stages to the bare requirements of the Eegulations, which are absurdly easy. Unless this tendency be carefully watched, too much work will be thrown upon the last years of the school course. Mental Arithmetic is hardly practised enough among the junior classes. Although the practical worth of the study of the I Grammar of what has been termed " our grammar- ! less tongue," is probably much overrated, so far as regards the effect produced upon the speech or the ! writing of our children, yet the investigation of the relations of words to each other, and of their origin, undoubtedly affords a mental training of considerable value. The subject is so taught that my moderate demands in formal Grammar are usually satisfied. The test applied in English this year — the reproduction in simple language of a short narrative previously read aloud by the class — has always been fairly well complied with, it being now pretty generally understood that the stilted English formerly in vogue will not be tolerated. Geography and History (the former subject being generally as pop alar with the children as the latter is the reverse), are so taught that there is but little ground for complaint.

Although tlie passages given out as a test j of Spelling are invariably taken from the Beadingbooks in use, the mistakes made, especially in the upper classes, are far too numerous. Severer tests will be applied in future, and a substantial improvement in the spelling wiil be expected. Science — or to put it more simply—the knowledge of common things, — takes, and deserves to take, a more prominent place in the school-course. Their knowledge pf Drawing now enables the older scholars to produce neat and accurate diagrams of such things as the hydraulic press, or the different kinds.of levers ; accompanied by a clear, written description of these objects. Drawing from models, an art of no small practical value, is now generally and successfully taught. The improvement that has been brought about, especially within the City of Nelson, in the art of Singing — by which I mean singing by note—is the most striking feature in the work of the past year. At the present rate of progress, the ability to read correctly, at sight, a simple piece of music, will in a year or two beeome as common as was the art of reading a simple narrative a few years ago. My usual short estimate of the state of every school when it was examined is subjoined. I am, Sir, ' Your obedient servant, W. C. Hodgson.

1. Bridge-street Boys : (Examined November 19th, 20th, 21st. j Mr G. Harkness ; assistants, Mr Worley. Mr Neave, Miss Snart, and two probationers. (On roll, 247 ; present, 242.) The boys who leave this well-conducted school — usually towards the close of their fifteenth year —leave it by no means illequipped for the battle of life. In addition to being well-grounded in tne ordinary subjects of an elementary school course, they possess some acquaintance, with Euclid and Algebra, and have learnt Latin enough to be Of considerable service to them should they be able to prosecute their studies further, either at College or elsewhere. They also draw fairly weft, know something of vocal music, and have been thoroughly well instructed in military drill. In : one class Natural History is a specialty, so that the scholars really know something of things around and beneath them. I wish I could add, that, as a rule, the boys who quit the school write a good current hand. - Amid much to commend, this is the one blot on an otherwise very satisfactory establishment, 2. Brook-street : (Examined November 27th.) Miss Cother and a probationer. (On roll, 105 ; present, 103.) No higher praise can be given to a school "than that it fulfils,' year after year, the special functions for which it was originally designed. In this case, the special object of the school was to prepare children of both sexes for the more advanced Town Schools. I have found the children invariably well prepared, and so imbued with habits of courtesy and ready obedience that there ought to be little difficulty hereafter on either of these accounts, with the promoted pupils. 3. Hardy-street Girls : (Examined November 22nd, 23rd, and part of 26th). Mrs Scott ; assistants, Miss Dement, Miss Kitching, Miss Leach, and two probationers. (On the roll, 271 ; present, 261.) The results of this year's examinations were satisfactory in every respect. A strong point here is the excellent organisation. The work is judiciously apportioned among the several teachers, whose harmonious action must contribute largely to the general efficiency of the school. The Arithmetic, until now a weak point, is much improved, especially that of the upper class. Higher work has been taken up, very successfully, this year than has previously been undertaken. The Drawing and Eeading are so good as to deserve special recognition. 4. Haven-road: (Examined November 27tii and 28th); Mr Sadd ; assistants, Mr Veysey, Miss M. Kitching, and a probationer. (On roll, 172 ; present, 163.) The painstaking teachers in this school have their, reward in the thoroughly satisfactory result of my examination. Very few boys, — and those confined almost to a single class, — were unequal to what they attempted, lhe tone and discipline have at last been brought fully up to the level of what is found- in the best of the Town schools. The military drill, which has been energetically carried out lately, has doubtless contributed largely to this improved state of matters. I observe that this school is thinned by the absence of a numerous class of little boys, who, for no sufficient reason, are still permitted to attend the neighboring Toi-toi Valley girls' school. 5. Hampden-street: (Examined November 25th and 26th.) Mr Knapp ; assistants, Miss G. Sunley, Miss Bond, and a probationer. (On the roll, 180 ; present, 175.) The energetic young master of Hampden street, backed up by his equally energetic staff of assistants, is steadily bringing tne school well to the front. The teaching throughout is sound, from top to bottom, the tone of the scholars being excellent. The extraordinary pains bestowed on the reading and handwriting at the outset must, in the end, tell favorably on the work ol the upper classes. The use of a second reading-book by the younger scholars will, however, be necessary, in order to render their reading less an effort of memory than it now evidently is with many of them. The paperwork of the older scholars is far better written and better arranged than it was.

6. Toi-toi Valley. (Examined November loth, 16th, , and 18th.) On roll, 347 ; present, 348. Miss Gasi coigne, assisted by the Misses Haines, Sheppard, , Marris, Newton, Johnson, and Murray.— -The lan- , guage of exaggeration should find no place in the report of an official examiner ; but it is not outstepping the bounds of moderation to pronounce this an excellent school. There is no class, from the lowest to the highest, in which the teaching is not thorough. There is no subject that does not receive its due share of attention. The general goodness of the work was, however, most conspicuous in the Eeading, the Arithmetic, and the English. The Mental Arithmetic of the older girls was remarkably good. The neatness of the copy and drawing books, and the good arrangement of the paper- work, were also most praiseworthy. The senior girls passed, a creditable examination in Elementary Algebra, this subject having boen entrusted to Miss Johnson, a junior assistant. A Committee of ladies again took the trouble to examine and report upon the Needlework in the Town schools. They expressed themselves in terms of warm but by' no means indiscriminate approval'of the work submitted to them. With regard to one very numerous class, for example, they '• regret that the button-holes must not be included in this commendation. With one exception, they were invariably bad." 7. CUjton Terrace. (Examined July 29th.) Miss Hood. On roll, 23 ; present, 23. — I found tho children here unusually well trained, A special feature

is the neatness and finish of everything taken in hand, frora the .drawing exercises and copy-books to the paper-work done on examination day. The organization of tho school, and the behaviour of the scholars, are at least as praiseworthy as the bookwork. The lady who examined the Sewing gave a, very favourable report. 8. Hillside. ("Examined July Ist.) On roll, 21 ; present, 21. Miss Manson. — The younger children here did very well, but the older scholars showed a marked falling off, this year, in both Arithmetic and Grammar. The rest of their work was of good quality. The scholars performed their allotted tasks' j quickly and neatly. The lady who examined thei Sewing, reported that the carelessness, formerly com- ' plained of had disappeared, and that the general result was creditable. 9. Happy Valley, (Examined September 2nd.) Mrs Anderson: On roll, 25 ; present, 24. — The children attending this little school gave but a poor account of themselves on examination day, only two of those whose work was recorded acquitting themselves, even fairly well. Arithmetic, English, and Handwriting were the weakest points. The older scholars, were quite at sea in paper-work. Some of the scholars had attended very badly. The upper classes somewhat redeemed themselves by the readiness of their answers in History and Geography. 10. Stoke. (Examined July 26th.) Mr Naylor; assistant Miss Allport. On roll 100 ; present 93. — Stoke maintains its good reputation for sound teaching. Half of the scholars in the fourth class broke down most unexpectedly in spelling, but" the rest of the work, throughout the school, was creditably done. The Arithmetic, as heretofore, was excellent. Singing is well taught, and the ladies who examined the Needlework gave high marks to the majority of the

gins. 11. Richmond boys. (Examined June 17th.) On roll 67; present 63. Mr Cowles and a probationer. — i, In several respects the boys here fell somewhat short of the level of attainment reached last year, notably in Arithmetic and Eeading. Tha latter was, indeed, by no means equal to what I now find, as a rule, in schools of this standing. The scholars displayed, however, considerable general intelligence, and excelled in giving definitions of words. Elementary science had been well taught, and the drill was good. Vocal music is efficiently taught, both in this and in the adjoining girls' school. 12. Richmond girls. (Examined June 18th.) On roll 82 ; present 79. — Miss Spencer and a probationer. There was much that was unpleasant in this year's examination. It was not merely that a large proportion of the girls were quite unequal to the work that they attempted. The habit of copying from and prompting one another is so general, and so deeprooted, that it will largely account for the break-down of sc many scholars under circumstances where independent working — to some extent at least— is enforced. In those subject where copying is out of the question, such as Eeading, Writing, and Drawing, the work was uniformly good. It is to be hoped that this year's sharp lesson will be taken seriously to heart. 13. Ranzau, Examined June 19fch. (On roll 59 ; present 58.) Mrs Coleman and a probationer. — A steady continuance of painstaking and skilful teaching has at length brought it to pass that a very backward set of children can now read, write, and spell fairly well. Arithmetic and Grammar, save in their most elementary forms, are still, apparently, grievous stumbling-blocks to the majority. It is only due to the' zealous, but much disheartened, teachers that the parents should so far do their part as to give the children the benefit of at least four out- of five days' good teaching weekly. A year's attendance at the foregoing rate would more than repay the saeiifiee demanded. The discipline and organization of the' school are excellent. The report of the ladies who examined the Sewing was favorable. 14. Hope. (Examined June 20th.) On roll, 44 i present, 43. Mr W. H. Bryant. — The scholars here again gave a good account of themselves, two only being unequal to the work demanded from them. The • upper classes were, however, much superior to the juniors. , Geography and Grammar receive less than their' due share of attention at the outset. Arithmetic is a strong point. The children attend more regularly than they did formerly. 15. River Terrace. (Examined June 21st.) Mrs Bryant. On roll, 47; present, 42.— Although the number on the roll has been grievously lessened by the opening of a school for boys within a mile of Eiver Terrace, the quality of the teaching is as good as ever it was. No scholar proved unequal to the work attempted; the Handwriting, Drawing, Eeading, and Arithmetic (especially tlie latter) being creditable throughout. The tone of the school is excellent, the scholars getting through their tasks independently, and in perfect silence. The lady who examined the Needlework spoke of it in terms of warm approval. 16. Brightwater Boys. (Examined' September 27th.) On roll, 37 ; present, 25. — As the scholars, when examined, had not been, for some time, under the charge of a permanent teacher, and as the school-work had lately been much interrupted, good results could hardly be looked for, and, in fact, were not obtained. In several respects — notably in Grammar and Geography — the boys acquitted themselves much better than I had expected them to do ; while their behaviour, during examination, was, on the whole, creditable to them. 17. Brightwater Girls. (Examined June 24th.) On roll, 34; present, 33. Miss E. Stanley. — Although the girls certainly acquitted themselves better at the late examination than they did the year before, far too large a proportion of the older scholars proved quite unequal to the very moderate demands made upon them. Arithmetic and Geography were, as heretofore, very weak points., The juniors were better prepared. The ladies who took the trouble to judge of the Needlework sent in a very favourable report. 18. Spring Grove, (Examined June 25th.) On roll, 73 ; present, 63. Mr Humphreys ; assistant, Miss Knapp. — Spring Grove, like Eiver Terrace, has been despoiled of a large number of its boys by the opening of the new school at Brightwater. It would seem, however, that the regularity of attendance, in this neighbourhood, is in inverse ratio to the facilities provided for getting a schooling. Thi.* year the attendance of thirteen the older scholars — nearly all of whom, it is almost needless to add, broke down — has not exceeded, and in some cases has fallen much short of, 77 days in nine months : many more have not been present during more than half of the school-days throughout the year. This wretched state of things has naturally told most unfavourably against the children,, who, however, gave a far better account of themselves than they did in 1888, especially in the lower classes. Tho organization and discipline, as hitherto, leave nothing to be desired. . The Needlework was creditably done.

19. Lower Wakefield hoys. " (Examined, June 28.) On roll, 94 ; present, 90. Mr Walter Ladley, and two probationers. — If education be distinguished from mere instruction, the boys at Lower Wakefield may fairly be termed the best educated of all those who attend our country schools. To the technical portion qf their work, such as distinct aud wellmodulated Eeading, neat and well-formed Writing, and accurate Arithmetic, are superadded a grasp of the subjects taught, and a ready intelligence far in advance of what I meet with elsewhere. The unusual extent to which the ordinary lesson-books are supplemented by oral instruction accounts for the fulness of general information displayed by the older scholars. Only one scholar fell short of the requirements of the examination. Vocal Music (taught by note), and Elementary Science, are both prominent features of the school-course. 20. Lower Wakefield Girh. (Examined, June 27th). On roll, .23; present, 22. Miss Bird.-— The result of my examination was creditable to a young teacher, who, though well-trained, had only recently beeh entrusted with an independent command. Even fewer girls fell short of what was required of them than was the caso last yoar. In point of general information, however, as to such matters, as lay at all outside the ordinary school routine, the inferiority

of the girls to their neighbours, the boys, was very apparent. Needlework is well taught, ■ lnd " Vocal Music has been begun. Excellent order is maintained. , I 21. Pigeon Valley: (Examined June 27th) Oni roll, 20 ;- present, 17. Mr Burrell. Four-fifths of, tlie scholars here wera quite unfit for the work that they attempted.- The arithmetic was very bad, the grammar being also defective. Irregular attendance was alleged in explanation of the general unpreparedness of the scholars, but as the one who stood lowest on the list had made 268 attendances in nine months, this plea is hardly borne out by the facts of the case. 22. Eighty-eight Valley : (Examined June 29th.) On roll, 25; present, 23. Miss Bolton. Seeing that the most regular attendant had made no more than twenty-five school-weeks during nine months, the present teacher, who had been in charge only twelve weeks when her scholars were examined, has reason to be satisfied that so much as a third of the children -acquitted themselves well. The work of the school is carried on in a most orderly and methodical fashion. 23. Upper Wakefield : (Examined July 4th.) Mr Edndge and a probationer. (On roll, 78 ; present, 72. I found here every token of a thoroughly welltaught and well-ordered school. This general approval must, however, be -qualified by the statement that the older scholars, under the immediate charge of the master, had been evidently been better trained than the younger children, some of whom were ill-prepared, It will be remembered that last year this state of things was exactly reversed. Vocal Music is well taught, Needlework being attended to. 24. Foxhill. (Examined,. July sth). On roll, 72 ; present, 66. Mr Peart ; assistant, Mrs Peart.— No reasonable fault can be found with either the teaching or the general management at Foxhill. The work was very even throughout, and few of the scholars found any difficulty in performing their allotted tasks, which were. got through in a neat and workmanlike manner. The lady examiner expressed herself as being well satisfied with the specimens of needlework submitted to her.

25. Motupiko. (Examined, October 22nd.) Mr . Evans. On roll, 21 ; present 21.— The scholars did i much better all round, and especially in the upper classes, than was the case a year ago. The inaccuracy of their Arithmetic was, however, fatal to several. The English papers were well done, and the Eeading still improves. The needlework done under the (gratuitous) supervision of the teacher's mother, received warm commendation from the ladies who were good enough to examine and report on this portion of the school work. 26. Tadmor. (Examined, October 24th.) Miss Stanley, and a ' probationer. On roll, 51; present, 49.— As usual, I found • here all the well-known characteristics of good teaching, and careful training. The children go through their allotted tasks quickly, and in absolute silence, and they have evidently been accustomed to carry out cheerfully, ahd at once, any instructions given them. Their work was generally satisfactory,- in every subject. The lady examiner gave a good report of the Needlework. 27. Stanley Brook. (Examined, October 25th). Mr Forsyth. On roll, 43 ; present, 42.— Por two successive years this school has passed most unsatisfactory examinations, the second of these being much worse than the first. More than half of those whose work was recorded were obviously quite unprepared for the tasks that they undertook. The same faults that were pointed out in last year's report reappeared in an exaggerated form. The Eeading and Eecitation are. the two redeeming points. The scholars were also very orderly during the examination. 28. Dovedale. (Examined, July 11.) Mr Boyes. On roll, 41; present, 31.— 8y dint of unremitting pains, the present teacher has raised his school far above the level that it has reached for some time past. No scholar broke down, the older pupils shewing a marked advance in general intelligence. The discipline is excellent, the children having been trainel to get through their tasks in perfect silence, and quite independently. 29. Ngatimoti. (Examined July 23rd.) Mr S. M. Scott and a probationer. On roll. 56 ; present, 52. — The results of my examination were such as might have been expected from a teacher who not only understands his business thoroughly, but who also puts his heart into it. . The best and most modern methods of instruction are adopted here, the master's way of teaching Eeading and Writing being especially worthy of imitation by some of our teachers who have yet to learn how much caii be achieved, even in these apparently simple subjects, by skilful method. The tone and discipline of the school are excellent. The ladies who kindly examined the Needlework expressed themselves as being well salisfied. 30. Appleby. (Examined July Bth.) Mr Eoby. On roll, 30 ; present, 29— The scholars here again gave a good account of themselves. Tiieir Trading throughout was distinct and well emphasised, their Arithmetic and .Drawing being also creditable. The Geography and Grammar were distinctly . inferior to the rest of the work. The discipline is praiseworthy. 31. Redwood's Valley. (Examined October 30th.) Mr Gambitzky. On roll, 14; present, 11.— The children attending this little school got through their j work satisfactorily on the whole, and showed that considerable pains had been taken with them. 32. Waimea West. (Examined June 22nd.) On roll, 72 ; present, 68. Mr H. Langford, and a probationer. — The scholars here were again entirely successful in every class and in every subject. Another proof is thus given of the truth of my contention that the yearly requirements are not at all out of the reach of scholars of ordinary capacity, where the teachers know their business thoroughly, and contrive to imbue their pupils with a strong desire to maintain the well-earned reputation of their school. The promptitude -with which all orders are carried out, and the spirit of independence and dogged perseve-' ranee shown throughout the examination, are qualities that will serve the scholars in good stead hereafter. The defects in the Needlework pointed out by the lady examiner last year, have now been remedied, as is shown by her favourable report. 9 33. Sarau. (Examined July 9th,) MrEobinson; assistant, Miss Cook. On roll, 96; present, 91.— The teachers may fairly be congratulated oh the marked improvement upon last year's work that 'has been effected. This improvement is general, and includes every class but one— the fifth. The difficulty that the older scholars, seem to feel in expressing themselves on paper evidently does not extend to their speech, to judge by their well-nigh irrepressible loquacity, when they are supposed to be at work. A few weeks' trial of the sterner discipline, ot our Town schools would put a stop to this nuisance. The Needlework appeared to me to be very oreditably done. 34. ANeudorf. (Examined July 10th.) Mr De\saunais. On roll, 19 ; present, 17. — The children here had been so carefully trained that not one of them was unable to satisfy the requirements of the examiner. It is only to be regretted that a teache whose competence has not been called in question should be doomed to waste his energies upon such a mere handful gf scholars, It will be remembered that his predecessor, shortly before leaving this school, underwent a somewhat similar experience. 35. Lower Moutere. (Examined July 20th.) Mr G. Deck; assistant, Miss Deck. On roll, 75; present, 68. — There was abundant evidence of the sound and thorough training that had been given here in the singularly even quality of the work in every class. I have still to regret, however, that something like a fourth of the older scholars had attended on less than seventy-five days during nine months. The children in the upper classes, have yet to learn the valuable lesson of doing their tasks in silence: The lady examiner spoke in terms of approbation of the needlework. 86. Pangatotara. (Examined, July 22nd) Bir C. J. Deck, and a probationer. On roll, 54 ; present, 58. — This school is steadily improving. The more regular attendance of the scholars has, naturally, told 'most favorably on the results of the examination. The ill-success of the few children who broke down was clearly attributable, in a great degree, to excessive iieKYQUsaess. The twining oi thq yQuagei.

scholars is by no .means satisfying. It is gratifying to find that some of the! older scholar^profiTlarPlf by the; reading they get ,from;?tMe .,' ;^hpol library. Here, rather from the, imposition . of crushing homelessons, is to be found the. solution of. 'tlie problem how to employ the long winter evenings. \ ' 87. Motueka Boys. (Examined,. Jujy 15th). Mr Malcolm, and two probationers. On roll, 81 ; present, 73. The favorable impression that I formed last year as to the excellent training given #t, this school was fully confirmed by the result of my last examinatioh. The scholars 1 , with, hardly an exception, had been so thoroughly grounded that they ; founa no difficulty in answering, fully and accurately, tha questions put to them. The upper claspj especially, were evidently considerably in advance of the requirements of " the Eegulations." The. tpnp and discipline of this school are all that can he desired. . 38. , Motueha Girls: Examined July i*6th.) Miss Dewar and a probationer. (On roll, v7O ; present, 62.) This school is steadily improving, 'the girls having been even more successful on this occasion than they were last year. None of the scholars, indeed, proved unable to satisfy the requirements of tha examiner, even irj Arithmetic, so long a stumb-ling-block to the weaker scholars. The Eeading here, as at the adjoining boys' school, is so. good as to deserve special mention. 39. Riwaka: (Examined July 19th.) Mr. Jennings; assistant, Miss E. Guy. (On roll, 66 ; present, 66.) The scholars acquitted themselves, very creditably this year, very few falling short of what was expected from them. The Handwriting of the lower classes, formerly very faulty, is better than it was, but there is still room for improvement in the Eeading of thesa classes. The scholare, especially those in the upper classes, have a bad habit of chattering at their work. The needlework seemed to me veyy well done, but I should have been pleased to see the specimens laid before me, both here and at Brooklyn, submitted to a more competent judge. 40. Brooklyn : (Examined July 17th.) Miss Guy and a probationer. (On roll, 50; present, 50.) Brooklyn in several respects fell considerably short of the excellent results obtained last year. Spelling and Arithmetic proved fatal to several children, although the latter subject was by no means badly handled by the large majority of the. scholars. Tha papers of the older scholars in Grammar' and Geography were very good. A beginning has been made with; Vocal music, and Elementary Science is well tanght. ' The specimens of needlework shown were numerous, and, apparently, very neatly done. The tone and discipline of the school, as usual, left nothing to desire. The scholars are still both punctual and regular attendants. 41. Lower Takaka : (Examined Nov.' Bth) ; Mr. F. Peart ; assistant, Miss Page ;oa roll, 90 ; present 87.— This is a thoroughly well taught and well ordered school, extreme pains having evidently been taken by both teachers with every class, from the lowest to the highest. As to those scholars to whose irregularity of attendance their inability to get through their work ea'isfactorily was clearly due, I shall not, while I can help it; suffer the burden of their short, comings to be shifted from the parents to the teachers. 42. Long Plain : (Examined Nov. 13th) ; Miss M. M. Sc©:t ; on roll, 39 ; present, 39. — Both mi_tress and scholars have 1 evidently striven hard thia year, and by no means unsuccessfully to- take away the reproach of being altogether ' behind most of the other neighbouring schools. " Long Plain now takes a very fa'r rank among our country schools. The weakest part of the work is still the reading, an art which tho children here seem to find an incredible difficulty in mastering. Vocal music is now taught here, very efficiently. The tone and discipline of the school are excellent. 43. Eastlakaka-. (Sxamined November Ilth); Miss Frank and a probationer ; on roll, 61 ; present; 59 ; — This is the first occasion, for several years, on which the scholars here have acquitted themselves only moderately well. Arithmatic, formerly a s' rong point, was a stumbling block, this time, to many. The poorest work watf certainly in the lower part of the school. There is no falling off in the good behaviour and ready obedience of the well trained scholars. 44. Mohtjripi: (Examined November 9th); Miss Anderson and a probationer ; on roll, 55 ; present, 55, lhe result of this year's examination has only con* firmed the high opinion that I have hitherto held as to the quality of the teaching given here. No scholar failed to accomplish creditably the work attempted. The answers given in the " class subjects " Were so good as to show tnat a capable . teacher needs no artificial stimulus to thoroughness, such as is supposed to he given by high per centages. The organisation and discipline are perfect. 45. Gollingiuood : (Examined July 30fch) ; Mr. Anderson; on roll, 43; present, 42.~,Th8 master terminated his connexion with hi3 school on the day after my examination, leaving behind him a fairly well taught and orderly set of scholars. Their work waa tolerably even, the only weak point being Grammar, which was defective throughout. The lengthening of th -:: school day from four to five hours daily, whioh I have so often recommended, has evidently told favourably on the progress of the children. 46. Eockville : (Examined August lst) ; Miss Croucher ; on roll, 31 ; present, 30.— The scholars here again uhderwont a very creditable examination, every subject haviug clearly received its due share of attention. The children have been trained to work quite independently, and in perfect silence, which will account largely for the general accuracy of their work. The report of the lady examiners on the needlework was very favourable. 47. Ferntown : (Examined July 31st) ; Mr. Porteous ;on roll, 25 ; present, 24. — I am sorry to havo to report lhat the scholars at Ferntown, who did badly last year, acquitted themselves even worse on this occasion, the work of more than half of them falling short of what might r be fairly expected. Arithmetic— especially that of the older scholars — was the weakest point, the handwriting of several children being also very slovenly. The attendance, however, is of more than average regularity;. 48. Pakaivau : (Examined July 31st) ; Mr. Macintosh ; on roll, 33 ; present, 33. — The outcome of this year's examination certainly fell short of what might have been expected from the well known energy and teaching <apaeity of the master. The arts of reading intelligibly, and spelling with any approach to correctness would seem, indeed, to be beyond the reach of some. of the children whom I examined. A large class, however — relatively to tke size of the school — found no difficulty with the higher work. 49. Westport Boys: (Examined September oth 6th and 7th) ; Mr. Kay ; assistant, Mr. Bosworth and three probationers ; on roll, 241 ; present, 223. — The result of this year's examination waa creditable to teachers and scholars alike, the work being very even throughout the school.. The Reading of the younger scholars, which was improving last year, is now so good in point of emphasis and intonation as to deserve special mention. Arithmetic, (grammar and Geography are the best parts of the work, . Spelling being rather fauliy, especially in the upper .classes. The discipline and organisation are, as hitherto,. excellent. 50. Westport Girls : (Examined September 13th and 14th) ; Miss Meredith ; assistant, Miss Virtue, and lhree probationers; on roll, 220 ; present, 210.— Jt must bo gratifying to Westport parents te be assured that they have in their midst so thoroughly well taught and well conducted au institution as the guls' school. Not a single pupil was unable to Batiafy the requiiementsof the regulations, .while a considerable proportion of the candidates went far. .beyond the preseribed minimum, of attainment. The Heading, Spelling, and Writing throughout the school were most creditable. The Arithmetic aad Grammar were also of more than average merit. The, neatness of the paper work was highly commendable.;. Singing ia taught systematically. , . .. '0 „ 51. Denniston: (Examined September t Uh) ; Mr. W. F. Dencker ; assistants, Mc Kennedy,- Miss Harris and a probationer. ; qx_\ rpU, 195.;. present* 170.—Although a marked improvement has certainly been effected by the , present staff, during the past six, months, snuch remains to be done, before this school qwvto restored fa a, thorough^ 8^ 8t

Until quite lately, the school was worked with too few teachers— no light roattter where the scholars are insubordinate and impatient of restraint. The cordial 'support of both Committee and parents will be needed by the teachers in their task of enforcing that prompt and implicit obedience, without which nothing of Value can be achieved in a school. The scholars attend with shameful irregularity, the list of those excepted on that account being twice as long os it ought to be. Writing and Reading are subjects in which the children here fall most conspicuously behind the level of neighbouring schools. 52. Waimangaroa: (Examined September 10th); Mr Griffin ; assistant, Miss Marris and a probationer; on _011, 137? present, 124. After making ample allowance for the fact that nearly half of the candidates whose work was recorded had failed last year in the tasks with which they one ahd all succeeded at my late examination, great credit- is due to the present Staff for the way in which they have completely restored the credit of a very backward school. The Beading throughout, but more especially that of the younger children, has improved to a remarkable extent. The Handwriting, Drawing, and Arithmetic aro also much better than they were a year ago. The school is well organised, and the discipline leaves nothing to be desired. 53. Karamea : On roll, 20 ; Mr Ray. The ahortness of the stay made by the steamboat (which is at present the only means of reaching the district of which I can avail myself) prevented me from examining this little school. 54. Promised Land (Karamea) : Examined September Bth ; Mrs Pettit jon roll, 39 ; present 38. Owing to the impossibility of reaching this part of the •district at stated intervals, an unusually long period intervened between my two examinations. The children had, however, evidently made excellent use of ihe long time allowed them for preparation. Without exception they proved fully equal to the tasks that they undertook. The Handwriting and Drawing were so good as to deserve special commendation. The' Arithmetic was also very well done. The 'Reading wap not equal to the rest of the work, being indistinct, and wanting in spirit. The tone and discipline of the scholars were most commendable. Needlework is well taught. 55. Addison's Flat : (Examined September 18th); Mr Rich and a probationer ; on roll, 59 ; present, 57. —Although some of the children were unequal to the work that they attempted— r having barely succeeded With lower work at the previous examination — there is a marked improvent all through the school, especially in those subjects to which unfavourable reference was made in last year's report. The scholars read much better than they did, and a considerable advance has been made in both Arithmetic and Grammar. The Handwriting, though neater than it was, is fltill j, far frbm being so good as it ought to be. The discipline and organisation are praiseworthy. 56. Cape Foulwind : (Examined September I7tb); Rev. Mr. Lang and a probationer ; on roll, 89 ; present, 84. — Change of teachers has brought little or no improvement to this unfortunate school, which again cut a very sorry figure on examination-day. Although no class did well, the upper classes were the bost Conspicuously backward, most of them breaking '" dbwh in Several subjects. The contrast between the well taught and well ordered scholars that I had lately beon examining, and the noisy, backward pupils at Cape Foulwind was very striking. 57- Charleston Boys : (Examined September 19th) ; Mr Bowling and two probationers ; on roll, 84 ; present, 78. — By dint of strenuous and well directed effort, the staff has succeeded in bringing up to 'a high level of attainment a formerly very backward Behoof. Very^few boys — and those in the lower classes only— failed to give a good account of tnemselves in every subject. In Elementary Science the four upper classes acquitted themselves so well as to merit special commendation. The thorough training that the boys have received in carrying out promptly any orders given them, rendered "the task of examination comparatively easy. The value of this kind of instruction in after life can hardly be overestimated. 58. Charleston Girls-. (Examined September 20th) ; Mrs Dowling and two probationers ; on roll, 85 ; present, 83. — Under the guidance of a teacher of well known energy and capacity, the school has been, already restored to at least as high a place as it held in its best days Not pnly have all those girls who .acquitted themselves so badly last year, fully redeemed themselves, but the rest of the scholars got through tbeir tasks, in every subject, most creditably, feiuging is well taught ; and, as I was informed by the ladies who kindly undertook the inspection of the needlework, the quality of the work is commendable. 59. Brighton : (Examined September 21st) ; Miss Bradley ;on roll, 24 ; present, 24.— An excellent understanding evidently subsists here between the mistress and her scholars, who attend with laudable regularity, under exceptional difficulties, They are thoroughly well taught, and have been trained to do their paper-work very neatly. 60. Lyell: (Examined October 16th) ; Mr Rotton and a probationer ; on roll, 63 ; present, 60. — The scholars here who fell short of their usual performance last year have fully redeemed themselves at my late examination, when the work turned out to be uniformly good throughout the school. The recent appointment of a probationer, who has relieved the master from the care of the younger children has doubtless contributed somewhat to the marked improvement of the school. The general neatness of the paper work and the excellence of the discipline are especially praiseworthy. Drill is very carefully taught. 61. Fern Flat: October 17th); Mrs Alexander ; on roll, 30 ; present, 26. — It is refreshing to find that this hitherto most unfortunate little school needs no apologies for the backwardness of the scholars. More effective work has been done during Mrs Alexander's six months tenure of office than hasi been effected by her numerous predecessors in as many years. Very few scholars, and those very young, fell short of what was required of them. The formerly wretched handwriting is now excellent, especially that of the older scholars. A corresponding advance hae been made in every subject. The improved style of teaching has also brought about a corresponding improvement in the attendance. 62. Capleston : (Examined October 9th) ; Mr Balton, Mfb McMahon ; on roll, 100 ; present, 91. —Although this school has certainly improved under the present management, there is still great room for improvement in several respects. More than a fourth of the scholars were still unequal, to the work that they undertook, and the majority of the children haye still to learn what silence and prompt obedience really mean. The handwriting is much better than it was, bnt in Drawing nothing worth recording has been attempted. Such excuse as may have been afforded by the somewhat crowded state of the school room will shortly be taken away by the addition to the building now in progress. 63. Reefton : (Examined October 13th and 15th) ; Mr Burnham ; assistants, Mr H. Ellis, Miss Moller, Miss Anderson, and three probationers ; on roll, 290 ; present, 270.— This school had been closed for eome time before my arrival, on account of what turned out to be a purely imaginary outbreak of diphtheria, and was with difficulty re-opened for the examination. These untoward circumstances doubtless told unfavourably on the children, who, on the whole, fell somewhat short of their usual mark. Some portions of the work, however, were so well done as to deserve special notice. The Arithmetic— especially the mental arithmetic — Writing, Drawing, and English, were all of more than average merit. The Reading of many of the scholars in the lower classes was, however, very halting, and there was too much faulty spelling. 64. Blacks 1 Point : (Examined October 10th) ; Mr Green, assistant Miss Sunderland, and a probationer; on roll, 122 ; present, 118.— Not the least painful of the duties of an inspector is the writing of an unfavourable report of a school where the teaching staff is both experienced and zealous. But it must be admitted that the result of this year's examination was disappointing. More than a third of the scholars who attempted anything beyond the most elementary work wore clearly unequal to their several tasks. The bttbdwr itiog of the lower classes was far worse tban

what I usually look for — and find. The children are orderly, and the organisation is good. 65. Little Grey : (Examined October 1 Ith) ;Mr Dawson ;on roll, 44 ; present, 42. — Last year a full third of the scholars were unequal to the demands made upon them. "This year the black list was swollen to nearly half. The worst features were Beading, Grammar, and Handwriting, the latter being slovenly and shapeless. Needlework is well taught by the teacher's wife. 66. Gordon : (Aided school, examined July 6th) ; Miss Robb; on rdl, 15; present, 15. — This littlo school has fully justified the favourable anticipations that I was led to form of it last' year. Extraordinary progress has been made by the older children, whose education had been totally neglected before the opening of the school. The good done by establishment of this kind is almost incalculable. 67. Upper Motupiko : (Aided Bchool, examined October 21st) ; Miss Sadd ; on roll, 21 ; present, 21. — Under the firm but kindly management of the present teacher, this little school has done very well. Marked improvement has been effected in the Arithmetic, Grammar, and Geography. The paper work was done quickly and very neatly, The Reading is not, as yet, equal to the rest of the work. The lady who kindly reported on the needlework, expressed herßelf in favourable terms. 68. Sherry: (Aided school; examined October 23rd) ; Miss M. Stanley ; on roll, 23 ; present, 23.— This school passed a most creditable examination. The work was remarkably even, in every class and in every subject. The excellent tone of the school, and the good feeling that evidently subsists between the , mistress and her scholars deserves special notice.] The report ef the lady who examined the needlework j was most favourable. j 69. Woodstock : (Aided school ; examined July 12th ) ; Miss L. Sheppard j on roll, 25 ; present. 21. — The children did far better at this examination than they did last year. The heading has clearly improved, and little fault can reasonably be found with any of the other work. 70. Churchill : (Aided school, examined July 13th) ; on roll, 30 ; present, 26 ; Miss Thome.— The children were but poorly prepared for their examination, more than half of those whose work was recorded being quite unequal to the tasks demanded from them. The reading of the younger scholars was very faulty. 71. Pokororo i (Aided school; examined July 24th) ; Miss Alexander ; on roll, 22 ; present, 21.— This little school fully maintains its well deserved reputation for efficient teaching, Hardly any of the children found much difficuly in getting through the prescribad work quickly and correctly. s . 72. Mdrahau : (Aided school ; examined July 18th) ; Mr R. Hodder ; on roll, 19 ; present, 17.— A year's judicious teaching has brought this formerly backward littlo school fairly abreast of the generality of our aided schools. The master has, very sensibly, devoted his attention mainly to improving his scholars in those essential^ matters, such as Reading and Arithmetic, in which they were formerly so behindhand. I neither found, nor expected to find, much knowledge of Geography, History, or Science. 73. Sandy Bay : (Aided school ; examined July 18th) ; Mr P. Ellis ; on roll, 8 ; present, B.— The scholars at fciaudy Bay acquitted themselves far better on this occasion than they did the year tefore. very | few of the scholars being unequal to the tasks that j they attempted. Here, as at Marahau, the efforts of the teacher have been wisely confined to bringing up ' the heavy arrears in the most necessary subjects. | 74. Baton : (Aided school ; examined April 16th); Miss Corrigan ; on roll, 18 ; present, 17. — On the whole, the scholars gave a fairly good account of themselves; very few being unequal to the work that they undertook. Needlework ia carefully and skilfully taught.-----75. Waiwero : (Aided School ; examined July 22nd) ; Misa Knowles ; on roll, 10 ; present, 10,— It is difficult to write with much confidence as to the conduct of a little school that had been at work only eight months when t was examined. On the whole, the children seemed to. have been tolerably well taught. 76. Kailunax (Aided school; examined August lst ; Mrs Russell ; on roll, 18 ; present, 17) — Fresh spirit seem3 to have been infused into this little school since the present mistress took charge, a year ago None of the scholars found any difficulty in getting through their prescribed tasks, which were done in an unusually short time. 77. Riverdale : ( Aided school ; examined August 2nd ; Miss Thompson ; on roll, 16 ; present, 16). — hiverdale has amply justified the favourable augury as tb its future that I expressed in last year's report The reading is still the strong point, though none of the rest of the work was ill-done. Much of the success in Reading is doubtless attributable to the variety of books used, and to the practice of homereading — not home tasks. 78. Bochfort Terrace : (Examined September 10th ; Aided School) ; Miss Gillespie ; on roll, 20 ; present^ 9. — Such of the children as presented themselves at Waimangaroa for examination acquitted themseives far better than they have done on their own ground for, years past, the presence of large numbers of other scholars having apparently given the more timid candidates confidence. It is only to be regretted that eo many pupils should have absented themselves— quite causelessly — from the annual examination, in direct contravention of the regulations in virtue of which the subsidy is payable. 79. Granity Greek i (Aided School, examined September 16th) ; Mr E. Satchell ; on roll, 29 ; present, 29.— -As usual, no scholar whose work was recorded, was found unequal to the work taken up. Although no tasks are imposed outside of the usual school hours, the pupils find no difficulty in getting through the papers set them on examination day quickly, accurately, and honestly. The discipline leaves nothing to bo desired. 80. Matiri : (Aided School, examined October 13th) ; Mr Smith ; on roll, 22 ; present, 22.— -<The scholars here were so judiciously classified at thej opening of the school, six months ago, that they were ! all found quite equal to the work that thev undertook. I This school has certainly begun under good auspices, the children being very orderly, and regular in their J attendance. j 81. Matakitaki: (Aided School, examined October j 19th) ; Miss Inglis ; on roll, 12 ; present, 9.— The scholars here, who gave a very poor account of themselves last year, fully redeemed themselves under the management of their very youthful mistress. The work was well done all round, and was got through in good time. 82. Murohison : (Aided School, examined October 18th) ; Mr H. B. Huddleston ; on roll, 32 ; present, 27.— Although a few children fell short of the prescribed mark, the scholars, on the whole, as usual, acquitted themselves creditably. They had evidently been carefully instructed in the u.ual school course, and, what is at least equally valuable to them, had acquired habits of prompt and respectful obedience. 83. Cronadun : (Aided 1 School, examined October Bth) ; Mks Kittson ; on roll, 24 ; present, 22.—. This well conducted little school continues to deserve the gcod reputation that it has won foi itself. As usual, every scholar was successful with the work attempted ; and, as usual, the order was perfect. The needlework again merits special notice. 84. Inangahua : (Aided School, examined October sth) ; Mr Beirne ; on roll, 16 5 present, 16.— 1 can only regret that several children of school age within easy reach of this school do not avail themselves of the excellent teaching given there. The children, in addition to being carefully instructed in the ordinary school subjects, are trained to habits of order and neatness. No scholar was unequal to the work taken up. 85. Waingaro : (Aided School, examined October 12th) ; Mies Gibbs ; on roll, 19, present, 19.— The contrast between the limp handling if this school, of which I have had good reason to complain during the two past years, and the present vigorous management is refreshing. The children are now able to do their work satisfactorily, and now also clearly understand *

that they must hold thair tonghes when afc work, and do exactly as they are hidden. 86. Forest : (Aided Sohool ; examined November 12th ; Miss Jane Scott ; on roll, 7 ; present, 7). — This little school, which had been at work only a few months when I examined it, has begun well, the young mistress having bee. brought up in one ©f our Public schools, and therefore, knowing well what is required of her. i 87. Upper Takaka : (Aided school ; examined November 12th ; Miss Bainett ; on roll, 16; present, 7.) — It was hard upon*the energetic and promising young teacher of this little school that no more than seven of her sixteen scholars were permitted to accompany her to the neighbouring school, in order that they might be examined. The weather was fine, the roads good, and the distance less than children elsewhere habitually accomplish on foot. The few scholars who gave me the opportunity of testing their knowledge did remarkably well. 88 Pariwhakaho : (Aided school ; examined Nov. 14th ; Miss Salmond : on roll 16 ; present 16). —The children here had been carefully taught, :

—^— ———»——^——— CM— , ______M_W<___|_l____M__>_________| especial pains having evidently been bestowed on their Heading, which was of more thau average mmt. A few of the scholars were not quite equal to the tests applied to them in Grammar and Arithmetic, but, on the whole the result was satisfactory/ 89. Aniseed Valley : (Household school : examined November 29th ; Miss K Hounsell ; on roll, 3 ; present, 3). — No fault could reasonably be found with the way in which the children had been taught. c O. French Pass : (Household school ; examined November 29th ; Miss Lammas ; on roll, 3 ; present, 3) — I found that the children had been fairly well taught. 91. West Takaka : (Household school ; examined November Ilth ; Miss Sparrow ; oi roll 11, present 11).— It is becoming increasingly difficult for amateur teachers who have had no training in onr own, or in any other school. , to show decently passable work on examination- day. Two thirds of the little group of children who have attended West Takaka school were poor Arithmeticians, slovenly writers, and ill-trained readers.

11.-SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR EACH SCHOOL. Schooi_ | J || || i$ § Order and Discipline. Manners. ____.„ .. n lr . w < 1. Bridge street 80y5... ... 247 126 16 61 ~~63 KfT"""^ I^_T" """ «__-_*«- w« 2. Brool street ... " ...105 39 2 37 22 ?i S do satisfactory 3. Hardy street Girls 271 149 12 54 63 67 do do 4. Haven road Boya ... ... 172 104 6 60 57 50 do do 5. Hampden street ... ... 180 95 4 51 69 51 do :jH e.Toi-foi Valley Girls ...347 192 8 H. 64 75. do do 7. Clifton Terrace ... ... 23 16 11 70 55 44 do S2 8. Hillsidd 21 11 35 52 47 S do do 0. Happy Valley 25 2 77 8 47 20 do do 10. Stole ... ._, ... 100 51 51 12 58 58 do do 11. Richmond Boys ... .., 67 28 20 41 60 57 do *£ 12. Richmond Girls 82 23 41 32 58 57 do do 13. Ran.au 59 21 43 36 46 42 do do 14. Hope ... ... ... 44 32 6 73 59 32 do do 15. River Terrace ... ... 47 27 57 58 42 do W 18. Spring Grove ~ ... 73 36 12 49 57 48 "d? «atisfectory 19. Lower Wakefield ... ... 94 59 2 62 64 63 do 2o« 20. Lower Wakefield Girls -. 23 18 10 80 57 53 do TA 21. Pigeon Valley 20 3 80 15 50 29 do ' d$ 22. Eighty-eight Valley ~. 25 6 66 24 42 27 do do' 23. Upper Wakefield ... ... 78 41 10 52 58 53 do do 24. Foxhill 73 40 7 55 62 48 d. * do 25. Motupiko 21 10 28 47 53 35 do do 26. Tadmor ... ... 51 23 14 45 54 37 do do 27. Stanley Brook ... ... 43 13 55 30 48 35 do do 28-govedale 41 24 58 57 24 ' do do 29. Ngatimoti ... ... 58' 36 5 64 49 35 do do 30. Appleby ... ... 30 21 4 67 46 32 do do 31. Red-rood's Valley ... ... 14 8 11 57 38 10 do do 32. Waimea West _.. ... 72 39 55 59 62 do do 33. Sarau ... ... ... 96 42 17 44 48 53 do do 34. Neudorf ... ... 19 11 58 49 20 do do 35. Lower Moutere ... ... 75 42 14 56 59 49 do do 36. Pangatotara ... ... 54 33 8 61 58 40 do do 37. Motueka Boys ... ... 81 42 2 52 62 36 do do 38. Motueka Girls ... ... 70 45 64 60 46 do r__ 39. Riwaka ... ... 66 42 4 63 62 47 do do 40. Brooklyn ... ... 50 27 27 54 62 52 do do 41. Takaka Lower .:. ... SO 48 20 53 50 51 do 5« 42. Long Plain ... ... 39 22 21 56 58 39 do do 43. Takaka East ... ... 61 33 26 54 57 40 do do 44. Motupipi ... ... 55 37 67 58 39 do do i 45. Collingwood ... ... 43 21 12 49 49 22 do do 46. Rockvllle 31 19 9 61 54 35 do do 47. Ferntown 25 7 56 28 53 25 do do 48. Pakawau ... ... 33 *14 33 42 57 25 do dn 49. Westport Boys ... ...241 140 8 58 60 53 do do i 50. Westport Girls ... ... 220 128 58 59 54 do do 51. Denmston ... .» 196 53 27 27 51 40 do v do 52. Waimangaroa ... ... 137 55 40 58 37 do ' do 53. Karamea ... ... ' ... .. „_.._._.„,__.„._ 54. Promised Land 39 22 56 41 32 do sttSXf 55. Addison's Flat 59 26 2fl 44 32 25 do 56. Cape Foulwind 89 27 41 31 41 45 indifferent urmtisfactory 57. Charleston Boys ... ... 84 45 8 53 60 30 cood _a.i_fa.tnrv 58. Charleston Girls ... ... 85 81 2 82 45 48 g do satisfactory 59. Brighton ... ... 24 13 23 55 33 34 do do 00. Lyell 63 32 11 50 57 35 do d£ 61. Fern Flat ... ... 30 14 17 56 36 42 do do £ SSSr ' ::: ::: S3 £ £ & S 2 m ±r mo Si BOOi 64. Black's Point 122 49 U 40 43 10 g do .atofaototy *^__&__»Z_ " U U " U m » * «*-&_»« £ g O pSrMo t „p ik o :::• zS & '.i'„ S 5 t hl^ 68. Sherry ... ... ... 23 16 , 69 58 36 do do 69. Woodstock ... ... 25 15 11 60 51 35 do do 70. Churchill ... ... 30 8 53 26 49 34 do An, 7,1. Pokororo . ... ... 22 12 7 54 58 20 do do 72. Marahau . ... ... 19 816 { 84 33 40 do do 73. Sandy Bay ... ... 8 4 33 75 30 20 do do 74. Baton ... ... ~. 18 11 21 61 41 40 do do 75. Waiwero ... ... 10 3 40 33 86 20 do do 76. Kaituna ... ... 18 II . 81 54 20 do do 77. Biverdale ... ... 16 9 , 56 20 20 do do 78. Rochfort Terrace- ... ... 20 7 ' 35 45 30 do do 79. Granity Creek ... ... 29 17 69 58 10 do do 80. Matiri ._. ... ... 22 10 45 37 20 do do 81. Matakitaki ... ... 12 7 58 43 20 do do 82. Murcbison ... ... 32 12 20 37 43 20 do do 83. Cronadun ... ... 24 15 62 49 35 do do 84. Inangahua ... «. 16 13 80 48 20 do do 85. Waingaro ... ... 19 14 73 38 35 do do 86. Forest ... ... ... 7 2 28 54 24 do do 87. Upper Takaka ... ... 16 6 14 37 55 39 do do 88. Pariwhakaho ... ... 16 7 36 43 35 37 do do 89. Aniseed Valley, Household ... 3 3 .100 30 25 do do 90. French Pass do ... 3 1 50 33 25 25 do do 91. Sunnyside do ... 11 3 62 27 ' 42 22 db <2o 5741 2906 15-.-""-$ """* *~" — ~— ~-* - --, *>~ StJMMARY OF RESULTS FOR THE WHOLE DISTRIOT. Standard Claasos. Presented. Absent. Excepted. " Failed. Passed. __ Av^aga ago of those thai passed. S 7 ... ... 12 0 *** Mths ' I 5 "• * :: 2! 2 "• « 253 13 ~ 4 I g " "■ 544 33 30 119 362 12 8 S3 SJ? I_ 93 479 11 U S2 ill fr 2 10 * 637 10 S p ;;; ;;; I f|| » 24 si 543 9 o Totak 5741 1« ~*159 514 ""29ChT~" Mean of average age. m ' 11 3