EDUCATION. STATEMENT RELATIVE TO AMOUNT EXPENDED UPON SCHOOL BUILDINGS SINCE THE COMING INTO OPERATION OF "THE EDUCATION ACT, 1877."

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1888 Session I, E-01c

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1888. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION. STATEMENT RELATIVE TO AMOUNT EXPENDED UPON SCHOOL BUILDINGS SINCE THE COMING INTO OPERATION OF "THE EDUCATION ACT, 1877."

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The following tables have been prepared expressly to demonstrate the exact basis upon which our education system rests, speaking of the system only in relation to the number of children to be educated, and the future financial provision necessary to be made for providing building accommodation for all children of school-age. Eor this purpose, and for the present for this purpose only, I have subjected the system to a searching analysis, in order to discover (1) how far in that, respect the system has met the requirements of the past; and (2) what financial provision is required to meet future building requirements. The figures relating to the number of children of school-age, and their distribution, are furnished by the Eegistrar-General's Department. The figures relating to the distribution of the building grant are furnished by the Education Department. Office of the Department of Education, GEO. FISHEE. Wellington, May, 1888.

I. As to the Building Eequirements of the Past. The tables themselves explain the extremely satisfactory development of the education system since the coming into operation of " The Education Act, 1877." Notwithstanding the great financial strain which the general increase of population has imposed upon the building resources of the Education Department since the year 1877, it is gratifying to learn, from a perusal of the statistics bearing upon the subject, that the department has well kept pace with the steady demand for increased building accommodation, and has built up a State-school system (speaking of it purely in the building sense) which, if it has not as yet reached the point of perfect and sufficient equipment, is at least sufficiently so to justify the reasonable and natural pride with which the people of the colony regard it. 11. What Financial Provision is required to meet future Building Requirements. To discuss this, the only branch of the question necessary now to be considered, must be opened out the analysis to which reference has just been made. First had to be ascertained the proportion of natural increase, so as to determine the percentage of children of school-age for whom building accommodation must be annually provided as population increased ; for it should at this point be stated, by way of explanation, that the chief complaint of some of the Education Boards, if not all, was that there was not sufficient school accommodatien for the children who were " coming on." Comment upon the tables is not intended to form part of this analysis. The facts are given as they stand. As bearing upon the supposed greatlyincreasing number of children who were expected to be ready annually to enter the education machine, the following table was prepared : —

Table A. Showing the Number of Children under Five Years of Age as on the 31st December of the Years 1877 to 1887; also the Numerical and Centesimal Increases from Year to Year.

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Years. Number of Children under Five Years of Age on 31st Dec. Numerical Increase. Increase per cent. Years. Number ot Children Nl , mpr1 > n i under Five Years j™I aS e of Age on 31st Dec. increase. Increase per cent. 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 70,661 73,095 78,277 81,748 84,191 84,871 2,434 5,182 3,471 2,443 680 3-44 7-09 4-43 2-99 0-81 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 86,463 87,990 88,412 88,466 88,392 1,592 1,527 422 54 -74,* 1-87 1-77 0-48 0-06 -0-08*

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This table was a little surprising in its results, and regretfully so, as it showed that the natural increase had not for many years past been by any means so great as it had been generally supposed to be. It was desirable, then, to ascertain in which districts the child population had increased, and in which it had remained stationary, or nearly so, and for that purpose the figures were put into this form :—

Table B. Showing the estimated Numbers of Children under Five Years of Age in the different Provincial Districts of New Zealand as on the 31st December of the Years 1877 to 1887, inclusive.

The numerical increase since 1877, the date when the Education Act came into operation, is shown in a separate column, and in some districts the increase appears to be considerable; but it should be borne constantly in mind that the object of the tables is if possible to arrive at an accurate estimate of the present school-building requirements of the colony ; and if a period shorter than the whole range of the table be taken, say a five-years period, from 1883 to 1887, or a seven-years period, from 1881 to 1887, it will be observed that only in one or two districts has there been any considerable increase. It becomes clear, then, that the cause of any extensive demand for increased school-accommodation does not take its rise in this direction. The extreme urgency, however, with which the building claims of the Wellington Education District were presented led to an annual test, ranging over seven years, of the number of children of five years and under in that district. The comparison stands thus : —•

Table C. Showing the Approximate Distribution of the Estimated Population under Five Years of Age of the Wellington Provincial District for the Years 1881 to 1887, inclusive.

It will thus be seen that in the Wairarapa and in the Borough of Wellington, the school districts to which the representations of the Wellington Education Board specifically referred, the increase in the number of children of five years old and under for the past seven years has been,—

Provincial Districts. 1877. 1878. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. Numeric. Increase since 1877. Auckland Paranaki Wellington 3awke's Bay Marlborough .. kelson /Vestland Canterbury .. )tago 13,708 1,696 8,974 2,614 1,201 4,169 2,897 16,182 19,220 14,107 1,900 9,429 2,705 1,389 4,093 •■ 2,705 16,958 19,809 15,029 2,192 10,255 2,896 1,643 4,149 2,583 18,395 121,135 15,613 2,534 10,872 3,024 1,798 4,087 2,370 19,455 21,995 15,996 2,694 11,449 3,115 1,852 4,043 2,188 20,374 22,480 16,549 2,800 11,627 3,309 1,867 4,073 2,121 20,114 22,411 17,292 2,940 11,932 3,545 1,902 4,150 1,988 20,148 22,566 18,038 3,080 12,230 3,696 1,848 4,223 1,936 20,238 22,701 18,567 3,183 12,378 3,801 1,857 4,244 1,945 19,981 22,456 19,108 3,184 12,473 3,980 1,857 4,246 1,946 19,462 22,210 19,534 3,270 12,551 4,154 1,856 4,244 1,856 19,092 21,835 5,826 1,574 3,577 1,540 655 75 -1,011* 2,910 2,615 Total children under 5 years 70,661 73,095 ,78,277 81,748 84,191 84,871 86,463 87,990 88,412 88,466 88,392 17,731

1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. Patea County (part) ... \ Waitotara ... ... I Wanganui ... ... J Borough of Wanganui Eangitikei County Borough of Marton ... Oroua County ... \ (Including Borough of Feilding) Manawatu County ... Horowhenua County... J Borough of Palmerston North... Hutt County Borough of Wellington Wairarapa East County ) Wairarapa West County ) Borough of Masterton Borough of Greytown 823 824 589 124 1,579 796 803 580 129 1,616 768 782 572 134 1,653 740 761 565 139 1,715 712 740 558 144 1,750 684 716 551 148 1,766 650 690 542 152 1,780 285 1,516 3,660 327 1,586 3,704 369 1,656 3,875 446 1,756 3,923 455 1,826 3,989 495 1,865 4,014 532 1,911 4,040 1,344 1,374 1,404 1,459 1,471 1,491 1,501 517 188 528 184 539 180 550 176 561 172 574 169 587 166 Totals 11,449 11,627 11,932 12,230 12,378 12,473 12,551

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Wairarapa Counties ... ... ... 157 Borough of Masterton ... ... ... 70 Wellington ... ... ... 380 607 Less decrease Greytown ... ... ... 22 "~585 net. The increase is not large. Table F and Appendix B show the financial provision made to meet it. It is desirable to remember that the foregoing tables relate solely to children five years old and under. The tables which follow open out a wider and a much more interesting and instructive view of the whole question. The number of children of five years and under being definitely ascertained, it was next desired to ascertain the total number of children of school-age (five to fifteen years old) in the colony, and to find how many of the total number of children of that age attended school. To avoid complication—that is, as between the provincial districts and the education districts —the figures contained in the following table are taken out for the provincial districts, so that, for purposes of comparison, the figures may be carried right through the table from 1877 to 1887. This is necessary, because additional education districts were created in 1882, and to have mixed the two sets of education districts—the new and the old —in one table would have tended to introduce confusion. A subsequent table (Appendix A) gives the corresponding figures for the education districts, dating from the year 1882, the year in which the new districts were created by Act, and Appendix F describes the boundaries of the " provincial " districts and the " education " districts. The following is

Table D. Showing the Number of Children of Five to Fifteen Years of Age attending Superior Schools and Public Schools in each Provincial District, and the Number of all Ages at Private Schools, for the Years 1877 to 1887, inclusive; also the Estimated Population at Five to Fifteen Years for the same Years.

1877. 1878. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 18S4. 1885. 1886. 1887. Auckland. luperior schools, 5 to 15 years 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years 'rivate schools, all ages .. 255 11,532 3,191 366 12,037 2,391 212 H.OOli 2,464 385 15,118 2,412 309 260 15,999 16,338 2,022 2,3*92 393 448 17,415 18,756 2,458 2,817 371 20,341 2,645 225 172 20,888 21,382 2,618 3,354 23,731 24,908 9,507 9,118 Total at above schools.. Not accounted for 14,978 6,555 14,794 7,947 22,741 16,677 7,272 17,915 7,242 18,330 8,035 18,990 8,749 20,260 8,847 22,021 8,4661 23,357 8,504 No. living at 5 to 15 years 21,533 23,945 25,157 26,365 27,739 29,113 30,487 31,861! 33,238 34,206 Taranaki. luperior schools, 5 to 15 years 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years 'rivate schools, all ages 1*014 270 1*387 220 1*707 313 2,108 391 47 41 2,365 2,737 2,903 301 217 153 2,666 3,001 3,097 1,040 998 1,189 3,712 3,999 4,286 17 3,051 451 35 3,289 240 29 3,492i 295 26 3,504 273 Total at above schools.. Not accounted for 1,284 847 1,607 919 2,526 2,020 901 2,499 817 3,519 1,054 3,564 1,296 3,816 1,332 3,803 1,467 No. living at 5 to 15 years 2,131 2,921 3,316 4,280 4,860 5,148 5,270 4,573 Wellington. Superior schools, 5 to 15 years 'ublio schools, 5 to 15 years 'rivate schools, all ages 63 4,277 1,049 83 6,604 1,177 95; 8,1581 1,383 75 9,135 1,500 87 9,763 1,673 146 10,287 1,485 253 11,188 1,604 294 11,816 1,929 277 12,624 1,859 245 13,555 2,018 260 14,860 2,097 Total at above schools.. Not accounted for 5,389 6,752 7,864 5,2091 9,636 4,369 10,710 4,227 11,523 4,347 11,918 4,887 16,805 13,045 4,095 14,039 4,6361 14,760 4,850 15,818 4,727 17,217 3,815 No. living at 5 to 15 years 12,141 13,073 14,005 14,9371 15,870 17,740 18,075 19,610 20,545 21,032 Hawkb's Bay. luperior schools, 5 to 15 years 'ublio schools, 5 to 15 years 'rivate schools, all ages 1*220 565 1,642 637 38 2,102 430 37 2,466 365 45 2,633 478 39 2,708 430 51 2,950 532 65 3,249 254 62 3,697 538 118 4,028 589 88 4,436 530 Total at above schools.. Not accounted for 1,785 1,891 2,279 1,566 2,576 1,438 2,868 1,315 3,156 1,196 3,177 1,526 3,533 1,521 3,568 1,837 4,297 1,459 4,735 1,371 5,054 1,197 No. living at 5 to 15 years 3,676 3,845 4,014 4,183 4,352 4,7031 5,054 5,405 5,756 6,106 6,251 Mablbobough. Superior schools, 5 to 15 years 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years 'rivate schools, all ages *985 209 1*074 190 1*126 244 1,295 168 1*467 224 1,550 156 1*620 198 1*650 232 1,*738 287 1*823 274 1*907 308 Total at above schools.. Not accounted for 1,194 778 1,264 823 1,371 83: 1,468 854 1,681 751i 1,700 830 1,824 816 1,882 802 2,040 808 2,097 855 2,215 807 No. living at 5 to 15 years 1,972 2,087 2,20! 2,317 2,432 2,536 2,640 2,744 2,848 2,952 3,022

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Table D — continued.

Included in the numbers not accounted for are—(l) Children at industrial schools and orphanages (831 in 1887); (2) European children attending Native village schools (416 in 1887); (3) children receiving tuition at home (7,567 at the census of 1886, and 9,706 at the census of 1881, the number decreasing gradually). Note.—The returns for private schools do not state the ages of the pupils. For the purposes of this table all have been treated as between five and fifteen years of age. Denominational schools, such as Soman Catholic and Anglican, are included as private schools. A statement of the attendance at the Soman Catholic schools in December, 1887, is appended:— Statement of the Number of Pupils attending Roman Catholic Schools in each Provincial District in December, 1887. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,805 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. .. 146 Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,312 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. .. .. 425 Marlborough .. .. .. .. .. .. 234 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. .. 731 Westland .. .. .. .. .. .. 657 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,958 Otago .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,641 Total .. .. .. .. .. 8,909 From the totals " not accounted for " shown in the table above (Table D) it will be observed that in 1877, when the Education Act came into operation, 38,687 out of a total of 103,818 children of school-age (five to fifteen) were not attending school, or were not accounted for. In 1887, the total number of children living, of age from five to fifteen, having increased from 103,818 in 1877 to 158,261 in 1887, 35,072 only are returned as not attending school, and (as explained in the note

1877. 1878. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 18S3. 1884. 1885. 188G. 1887. Nelson. luperior schools, 5 to 15 years 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years 'rivate schools, all ages 4*279 411 75 3,967 470 100 4,009 522 100 4,290 450 01 4,495 426 61 4,065 525 114 5,020 728 117 5,308 656 83 5,473 768 61 5,702 961 7: 5,94; 97; Total at above schools.. Not accounted for 4,690 1,092 4,512 1,970 4,091 1,891 4,840 1,842 4,982 1,801 5,251 1,783 5,862 1,423 6,081 1,455 6,324 1,463 6,724 1,314 0,99! 1,25! No. living at 5 to 15 years 6,382 6,482 0,582! 0,682 G,783j 7,034 7,285 7,530 7,787 8,038 8,24, WE STL AND. Superior schools, 5 to 15 years 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years 'rivate schools, all ages 2*245 296 2," 048 426 2,'il3 871 2,336 790 2J40S 790 2,384 890 2,487 866 2,510 876 2^644 865 2^683 883 2181 761 Total at above schools.. Not accounted for 2,541 1,304 2,474 1,371 2,984 859 3,126 715 3,198 642 3,274 629 3,353 613 3,386j 643 3,509 583 3,566 592 3,57 681 No. living at 5 to 15 years 3,840 3,845 3,845 3,843, 3,841 3,903 3,900 4,029' 4,092 4,158 4,25' Cantebbuey. luperior schools, 5 to 15 years 'ublie schools, 5 to 15 years 'rivate schools, all ages 14,804 1,083 173 15,347 1,912 184 17,223 2,017 228 18,649 3,274 336 19,102 2,363 325 20,317 2,144 352 21,175 2,885 359 21,849 3,273 381 22,640 2,775 322 23,151 2,769 351 23,92! 3,00! Total at above schools.. ■ Not accounted for 16,487 6,513 17,432 7,177 19,424 6,794 22,151 5,676 21,801 7,036 22,786 7,590 24,412 6,903 25,481 6,773 25,796 7,397 26,242 7,892 27,28! 7,651 No. living at 5 to 15 years 23,000 24,609 26,218 27,827 29,437 30,370 31,315 33,193 34,134 34,94. 32,254 Otago. luperior schools, 5 to 15 years 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years 'rivate schools, all ages 262 14,203 2,318 16,783 12,353 224 18,405 1,783 20,472 10,179 296 21,088 1,984 276 22,975 1,888 349 23,776 1,710 354! 24,546 1,703 330 25,902 1,831 330 27,209 1,715 320 27,950 2,012 274 28,810 2,090 30i 29,7ft 2,13: Total at above schools.. Not accounted for 23,308 8,798 25,139 8,542 25,835 9,361 20,GG3 9,549 28,003 9,105 29,254 8,970 30,282 8,978 31,180 9,097 32,141 9,07' No. living at 5 to 15 years 29,136 30,651 32,106 33,681 35,196 30,212; 37,228 38,224 39,260 40,277. 41,21 Totals. luperior schools, 5 to 15 years 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years 'rivate schools, all ages 580 54,559 9,992 05,131 38,687 921 62,571 9,200 72,098 37,161 925 71,587 10,234 82,740 33,154 1,101 1,187 78,372 81,998 11,238 9,987 90,711 93,172 31,230 34,815 1,232 85,532 10,002 90,700 36,541 1,534 1,630 90,666 95,398 11,255 12,203 103,455109,231 35,172 34,096 138,627143,927 1,529 100,411 11,989 113,929 35,338 1,274 104,138 12,497 117,909 36,687 1,274 108,476 13,437 123,18E 35,075 Total at above schools.. Not accounted for No. living at 5 to 15 years 121,941127,987 133,307 149,207 154,590 158,261 103,818 109,859 115,900

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which follows the table) this total is still further reduced by the 7,567 who were at the end of 1886 receiving home tuition, the 831 children in the industrial schools, and the 416 European children attending Native village schools. So that the actual number of children not known to be attending any school is 26,258. But, in referring to this 26,258, care must be taken to guard against the assumption that 26,258 children remain neglected in the educational sense, or that they have never received any education. In analysing this total, two elements come into play. First has to be considered the number of children whose parents object to send them to school before they have reached the age of six or seven. It would be difficult to estimate the number of these children. The number of course is an indeterminate number, but it should be understood that, whatever the number, they are included in the 26,258. Next has to be taken into account the very large number of children who, having passed the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Standards, leave the public schools from the age of eleven and upwards, having probably received all the school education they will ever receive. The number of these can be estimated. For instance, last year (vide Education Eeport, 1887), out of a total of 12,302 children who were preparing for the Fourth Standard (12-5 being the average age at which the standard is passed), 3,523 either left the public schools finally, or continued in the class preparing for such standard. It is a fact that the great bulk of the children of the working-classes leave school at about that age, themselves to go to work. To a close observer then it will become apparent that in the Eegistrar-General's figures the same 3,523 children who left school at the Fourth Standard, as just stated, will be made to do duty for possibly three, but certainly for at least two, succeeding years amongst the "not accounted for;" for, leaving school at twelve and a half years, they will be classed as "not at school" at thirteen, so at fourteen, and possibly so at fifteen, the fact being that they have finished their school-days although they are still within the range of school-age (five to fifteen). And the same process will take place in regard to a number of children of other standards, who finish their education (all they will get) and leave school before they reach fifteen, and are consequently returned by the Begistrar - General as being within the school-age, but are "not accounted for" because they are not in actual attendance at school. To illustrate this point, which is one of considerable importance, I am enabled, through the kindness of Mr. J. 11. Eichardson, Associate of the Institute of Actuaries (England), to submit a table which shows the proportion of children who leave school, presumably to go to work, but who will be returned as " not accounted for " although they have attended school. The table is as follows :—

Table showing the Approximate Number of Children who have left School between, say, the Ages of Eleven and Fifteen, and who are not yet Fifteen.

Note.—l, The figures against the standards represent the children who are preparing for such standards in the respective years with which the columns are headed. 2. It has been assumed that the children go up for examination once a year; also that the ages at which they leave school are not materially different from the ages at which children pass the various standards ; also that, of the children who (e.g.) are preparing for Standard 111. in 1884, viz., 15,083, only 4,501 are left in 1887 preparing for Standard VI., and that those representing the difference have either left school or died in the interim. Thus, of the 26,258 (35,072) returned as not accounted for in the Begistrar-General's figures, we have 17,000 accounted for in Mr. Eichardson's table. The principle of Mr. Eichardson's table must next be applied to the 13,437 children found to be attending private schools, and, as the principle accounts for two-thirds of the " not accounted for " in the case of the public schools, it may te taken roughly to account for one-third in the case of the private schools. These two numbers, the 4,479 (one-third of 13,437) and the 17,000 shown in Mr. Eichardson's table, form a total of 21,479, which, deducted from the 26,258, leaves a residuum of 4,779 children who in reality may be said to be " not accounted for." To this explanation it is only necessary to add a statement the truth of which is known to all who have travelled New Zealand extensively, that in this colony population frequently finds its way to almost inaccessible places, quite beyond the reach of schools or of the schoolmaster. Notably is this shown to be the case in the Districts of Auckland and Taranaki. There are other causes, of a minute character, which would satisfactorily account for a portion of this residuum of 4,779, although it is not disputed that the bulk of them, through parental neglect, are not attending school. Whether it be viewed favourably or unfavourably, the fact stands that, out of a total of 158,261 children of school-age, we have 4,779 not accounted for, in the absolute sense, a number which may be regarded as remarkably small, taking into account the geographical and topographical features of New Zealand; for we are not a compact, level, easily-worked colony like the Colony of Victoria. Without doubt the enforcement of the compulsory clauses and the assistance of a truant staff would be necessary to ensure the attendance at school of this residuum, speaking of it as a whole, for the experience of the world is that there will always be in every community a certain proportion of children whose attendance at school can only be ensured by compulsory measures. From all this reasoning two things appear clear—l, that we educate a larger number of children in proportion to population than any adjoining colony, except Victoria; and (it follows as a natural consequence) 2, that the colony is well provided with school-buildings. As to school-buildings, in answer to representations that children in various parts of the colony

1881. 1885. 1886. 1887. Assumed to have left School lor Work or otherwise. III. .. 15,083 IV. III. .. 11,398 .. 15,887 V. IV. III. .. 7,524 VI. .. 12,302 V. .. 16,467 IV. .. 4,501 .. 8,779 .. 13,487 10,582 7,108 2,980 20,670 "Less 3,670 * To approximately account for deaths, emigration, immigration, and for children "plucked" atone examination who go up for the subsequent one. Net 17,000

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had been refused admittance to the public schools in consequence of an insufficiency of school accommodation, the Education Boards were asked by circular to say how many children had been refused admittance from this cause at the opening of the school term in January last (1888). To that circular the following answers were returned:— Auckland.— Town and suburbs : 1886, 200; 1887, 390; 1888, 112. Thames Goldfields : 1886, 112 ; 1887, 100 ; 1888, 40. In Auckland town and suburbs the Board has been and is making provision for increased accommodation. Taranaki. —None refused. Waipuku and Midhurst with 90 on the roll, only fit for 40. Schools wanted at Kura Eoad, Eltham Eoad, and Waihi. Wanganui. —No information in office. Has asked Committees. Eequirements mostly in respect of new schools. Wellington. —Te Aro School reports 100; Tory Street, 45 ; Newtown, 30 (150 children in a room 30ft. by 22ft.). But no definite record has been kept. Hawke's Bay. —Debit balance of £1,000 on Building Account, yet schools overcrowded, and districts where schools are wanted cannot be provided for. Marlborough.- —None. Nelson. —None. Grey. —None refused; the securing of capitation too vitally necessary. Several schools overcrowded ; Dobson very much so. Westland. —None. Has written to two schools that were at one time overcrowded. North Canterbury. —At Sydenham many have been refused, and quite 100 waiting. This is the only case. South Canterbury. —Several schools have only Bft. of space per child. Besidents refuse to send children to Hakateramea, where school is held in a kitchen. Otago. —No definite information. Southland. —Board has not been informed of any refusal to admit. Note. —The following figures relate to the City of Wellington : — Children from five to fifteen years— 1887. At Board schools .. .. .. .. .. 4,568 At private schools, estimate ahout .. .. .. .. 1,400 At superior schools .. .. .. .. .. 159 Receiving tuition at home .. .. .. .. .. 256 6,383 Total children living, from five to fifteen years .. .. .. 7,059 Total number not accounted for.. .. .. .. .. 676* From the answers furnished by the Boards, it does not appear that there is any serious deficiency of school accommodation, if we except the isolated cases which some of the Boards have brought prominently under notice. The collective answers of the Boards go to show that accommodation is urgently required for 500 more children who have presented themselves, and it is not an extravagant assumption that the £31,678 just distributed amongst the Boards (vide Table F) will provide building accommodation for eight times 500. In explanation of the distribution of the building vote for the present year it should be stated that a sum of £40,000 was placed upon the Public Works estimates for building purposes. Against that vote there were outstanding liabilities amounting to £8,893, leaving £31,107 for distribution. A circular was sent to the Boards calling attention to the amount at the disposal of the Government for building purposes, and requesting them to furnish an estimate which would cover no more than the actual requirements of each for the year, it being the intention of the Government to spend the money where it was found to be most urgently needed. The estimates sent in amounted to £90,877 16s. 10d., and under these circumstances the Government had no alternative but to distribute the amount at their disposal upon the population basis. The following table shows the amount applied for by each Board and the manner in which the vote was distributed: —

Table E.

Board. Boards' Estimates of Expenditure required. Population. Amount at Is. per Head of Population. Auckland... Taranaki ... Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson Greymouth Westland... Canterbury North ... Canterbury South ... Otago Southland £ s. d. 1-8,000 0 0 2,390 0 0 7,661 14 1 20,984 0 0 15,209 0 0 No return. 2,558 0 0 2,285 0 0 914 0 0 12,438 0 0 4,838 2 9 11,750 0 0 11,850 0 0 121,828 11,559 32,505 50,841 29,888 9,587 25,993 • 8,728 10,168 100,409 23,044 109,240 39,150 £ s. 6,091 8 577 19 1,625 5 2,542 1 1,494 8 479 7 1,299 13 436 8 508 8 5,020 9 1,152 4 5,462 0 1,957 10 d. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 £90,877 16 10 §28,647 0 0 * Accounted for in the manner already explained has been distributed since this table was mac {see page 5). le. t Also £5,000 next session. J Including £2,400 overdraft.

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The ordinary estimate of the amount required for the erection of a school-building (wood) is £4 per pupil. It is not difficult therefore to estimate the amount of school accommodation which £31,678 judiciously expended would provide. It would indeed be strange if there were any serious deficiency of school accommodation, for the colony has spent no less a sum than £852,778 3s. 2d. upon the erection of school-buildings since the coming into operation of " The Education Act, 1877." Previous to the coming into operation of that Act, many of the Provincial Governments had spent very large sums in the erection of school-buildings; and it is admitted by every educational expert who visits the colony that in the matter of building equipment we have an educational system which is not surpassed in any other country. It is desirable to show in what manner the £852,778 has been distributed, and for that purpose this table is provided :—

Table F. Grants to Education Boards for School-buildings, Teachers' Residences, and Sites, from 1877 to 31st March, 1888.

Note.— This table includes payments for rebuilding schools destroyed by fire, as follows: Auckland, £95; Taranaki, £469; Hawke's Bay, £199 45.; Nelson, £620 Westland, £5,337 2s. lid.; North Canterbury, £505; South Canterbury, £353; Otago, £470; Southland, £460; total, £8,514 os. lid.

Year. Auckland. Taranaki. Wanganui. Wellington. Hawke's Bay. Marlborough. Nelson. Grey. Westland. North Canterbury. South Canterbury. Otago. Southland. Total for Twelve Years. £ s. d. 9,579 0 0 £ s. d. 568 16 5 £ s. d. *1,854 16 0 £ s. d. 7,399 5 11 £ s. a. 302 2 9 £ s. a. 1,310 14 5 £ s. a. 1,896 12 2 £ s. d. I £ s. a. 6,906 9 2 £ s. a. 8,655 16 4 £ s. d. £ s. a. 8,338 14 4 £ s. a. £ s. a. 46,812 7 6 1877 I 1878 19,000 0 0 1,400 0 0 5,000 0 0 8,000 0 0 7,500 0 0 2,305 16 5 5,003 12 0 10,100 0 0 18,194 3 1 6,805 16 11 14,656 9 6 3,291 5 0 101,257 2 11 1879 25,690 0 0 3,600 0 0 11,000 0 0 11,800 0 0 9,730 0 0 2,594 3 7 4,925 10 2 6,000 0 0 25,000 0 0 13,330 0 0 27,546 10 10 9,365 0 0 150,581 4 7 1880 28,825 0 0 3,800 0 0 5,500 0 0 13,200 0 0 5,770 0 0 1,250 0 0 5,470 17 10 6,200 0 0 14,500 0 0 3,000 0 0 12,720 18 10 4,200 0 0 104,430 16 8 1881 21,200 0 0 1,650 0 0 1,500 0 0 4,750 0 0 2,000 0 0 750 0 0 3,300 0 0 ... t 5,698 0 0 11,000 0 0 2,250 0 0 7,220 0 0 3,000 0 0 64,318 0 0 1882 5,540 0 0 542 0 0 3,649 0 0 2,182 0 0 1,709 0 0 1,252 0 0 1,313 0 0 480 0 0 9,447 10 9 2,050 0 0 14,511 0 0 2,590 0 0 45,265 10 9 1883 17,951 19 0 1,666 15 0 4,376 19 0 6,412 12 0 3,453 5 0 1,353 9 0 3,790 0 0 2,437 1 0 15,508 10 9 3,567 15 6 17,605 17 0 5,198 7 6 83,322 10 9 1884 9,682 0 0 1,542 0 0 2,736 0 0 5,016 0 0 2,519 0 0 846 0 0 2,307 0 0 9,439 0 0 2,230 0 0 10,828 0 0 3,330 0 0 50,475 0 0 1885 10,927 0 0 1,561 0 0 2,736 0 0 5,007 0 0 3,159 0 0 1,146 0 0 2,857 0 0 823 0 1 ' 2,448 8 7 1,147 6 5 I 9,439 0 0 2,830 0 0 11,428 0 0 3,500 0 0 59,008 15 0 1886 11,150 J4 0 1,145 17 9 3,259 3 3 4,808 13 0 3,493 6 6 930 10 3 2,756 18 a 1,046 0 0 I 2,761 0 0 10,542 12 0 2,452 17 0 12,161 10 0 3,661 12 9 60,170 14 6 1887 10,062 15 3 1,491 5 0 2,979 11 0 4,583 16 0 3,305 12 0 1,083 9 7 2,395 19 3] jl,014 15 6 4,875 9 9 8,694 5 0 2,160 1 0 9,355 13 0 3,448 10 5 55,451 2 9 1888 6,091 8 0 577 19 0 2,085 5 0 3,542 1 0 2,494 8 01 479 7 0 1,299 13 0 436 8 0 727 5 9 5,020 9 0 1,505 4 0 5,462 0 0 1,957 10 0 31,678 17 9 175,699 16 3 19,545 13 2 46,676 14 3 76,701 7 11 45,435 14 3 15,301 10 3 37,316 2 5 j3,320 3 6 149,781 0 8 145,441 6 11 42,181 14 5 151,834 13 6 43,542 5 8 852,778 3 * £1,854 16s. ;ranted to Patea Education Board in 1877. t Old district, which included Westland and Gre;

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It is necessary now to combine in one table tbe joint results proved by Table D (wbicb deals with the -progressive increase in the number of children in attendance at the public schools from 1877, the date of the coming into operation of the Education Act, to 1887) and Table E (which shows the sums paid annually to the Education Boards for building purposes from 1877 to 1888); and it has again to be explained that, in order to bring, together in one table the numerical increase and the money grants for building purposes, the education districts [provincial districts] are shown as they existed previous to the creation of the new education districts in 1882. Eor the purpose of this table the question of boundaries is unimportant. Whether a pupil is on one or the other side of a boundary is immaterial. It is sufficient to show that he is accounted for, and that the colony has made sufficient monetary provision for his school accommodation. The table does this in the most conclusive and convincing manner. It needs no further introduction :—

Note.—1. The amount stated in the table as the standard cost of wood buildings is in excess of the amounts given by the architect of the Otago Education Board and the architect of the Auckland Education Board as the required amount of cost. The amount stated as the standard cost of brick or stone buildings is given on the authority of the architect of the Otago Education Board. 2. It will be seen that from the total classed as expenditure upon school-buildings (£852,778— Table P) has been deducted £66,400 spent since December, 1878, upon the erection of 332 teachers' residences (average cost, £200), and £43,781 spent from the year 1878 to the end of the year 1887 upon the purchase of school sites, these two sums making a total of £110,181. (See Appendix C for information regarding expenditure upon teachers' residences and school sites.)

Table G.

Greatest Number of Children (5 to 15) in Attendance at Public Schools in any Year. Amount required to provide School-build-ings erected in Wood, £i per Pupil being Gross Amount paid to Boards — 1877 to 1888, inclusive —for Amount spent by Boards upon Erection of School-buildings exclusively. Excess over Standard Estimate of Requirement for School-buildings in Wood. Amount required to provide School-buildings erected in Stone or Brick, £6 per Pupil being taken as the Standard Amount required. Excess over Standard Estimate of Requirement for School-buildings in Brick or Stone. ard Amount required. Residences, and Sites. Total. Per Pupil. Total Excess. Excess per Pupil. Total Excess. Excess per Pupil. 1887. £ £ £ £ s. a. £ £ s. d. £ £ £ s. d. Auckland 21,382 85,528 175,700 151,495 7 18 65,967 3 18 128,292 23,203 118 Taranaki 3,504 14,016 19,546 16,079 4 11 9 2,063 0 11 9 21,024 4,945* 18 3* Wellington-Wanganui 14,860 59,440 123,377 107,102 7 4 2 47,662 3 4 2 89,160 17,942 14 2 Hawke's Bay 4,436 17,744 45,436 38,026 8 11 5 20,282 4 11 5 26,616 11,410 2 11 5 Marlborough 1,907 7,628 15,301 12,855 6 14 10 5,227 2 14 10 11,442 1,413 0 14 10 Nelson 5,945 23,780 37,316 33,403 5 12 4 9,623 1 12 4 35,670 2,267* 0 7 8* Westland-Grey 2,811 11,244 53,101 46,364 16 9 11 33,120 12 9 11 10,866 29,498 10 9 11 Canterbury, North and South.. 23,929 95,716 187,624 169,273 7 16 73,557 3 16 143,574 25,699 116 Otago-Southland 29,704 118,816 195,377 168,000 5 13 1 49,184 1 13 1 178,224 10,224* 0 6 11* I 1 Totals £742,597 £308,685 £650,868 £91,729 108,478 £433,912 £852,778 * Deficienc;

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There stands disclosed this startling fact: that if the Provincial Governments, under THEIR EDUCATION SYSTEMS, HAD SPENT NO MONEY WHATEVER UPON THE ERECTION OF SCHOOLBUILDINGS, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONY, SINCE THE PASSING OF THE EDUCATION ACT, HAS PROVIDED £90,000 MORE THAN WAS NECESSARY TO ERECT BUILDINGS OF A LASTING AND DURABLE CHARACTER (iN BRICK OR STONE), AND SUFFICIENT IN NUMBER AND CAPACITY, TO ACCOMMODATE THE LARGEST ATTENDANCE OF CHILDREN YET RECORDED IN THE PUBLIC-SCHOOL HISTORY OF THIS country. It will be asked, What has been done with the money ? It forms no part of this analysis to furnish an answer to that question. All that is sought to be established is that the Government of the country has provided sufficient means to meet all the educational building requirements of the colony. That it has done so is indubitable. But it is not desired to apply the deduction with undue severity, or to subject these too-evident conclusions to an unnatural strain. As has been before stated, New Zealand is a country difficult to deal with educationally, just as it is difficult to deal with in regard to roads, railways, post-offices, and telegraph-offices. In addition to the difficulties which the physical features of the country present, prices of material and labour vary in different districts. But these are not the causes which account for the excessive waste in the administration of the building grants ; for that there has been excessive waste nobody will venture to deny. The causes are want of some general plan to govern the erection of school-buildings throughout the colony; want of system in the expenditure; want of general supervision over the erection of buildings by some competent and experienced person whose business it should be to see that school-buildings are placed where they are required, and only where they are required, and that they are erected upon a model plan to be furnished by the Central Department, so that the schools may be erected at a standard minimum cost. It is clear that the Central Department, which provides the finance, should possess more effective control. These figures for the past year (1887) illustrate the unsystematic manner in which schools have been erected: — Schools open, Number of Pupils, 1887. 1887. Auckland ... ... ... ... 221 17,219 Taranaki ... ... ... ... 35 1,800 ' Wa'nganui ... ... ... ... 76 5,265 Wellington ... ... ... ... 71 7,417 Hawke's Bay... ... ... ... 45 4,453 Marlborough ... ... ... ... 31 1,311 Nelson ... ... ... ... 88 4,186 Grey ... ... ... ... 20 1,241 Westland ... ... ... ... 24 1,532 North Canterbury ... ... ... 154 15,935 South Canterbury ... ... ... 49 3,632 Otago ... ... ... ... 183 19,479 Southland ... ... ... ... 96 6,119 1,093 89,589 Clearly, in the case of Auckland it must be a waste of money to erect so many small schools, to say nothing of the waste of teaching-power which the creation of so many schools must involve. And it must be equally clear that, loud as is the cry for more school accommodation in some districts, there is a vast amount of school space provided (taking the colony as a whole) which is not and cannot be utilised; for the square-foot measure of flooring in school- and class-rooms at the 31st December, 1887, is reported (according to the returns furnished to the department) as 1,270,614 square feet —sufficient floor-space to accommodate 127,061 children, with the liberal allowance of 10 square feet per child. Yet, according to the "working average" for the year (1887), the number to be accommodated was 89,589. Thus we have this extraordinary position : that, although there is in some districts a loud cry for increased accommodation, it is known to the department that there actually exists accommodation for 37,472 children more than there are children to be accommodated. But it is in the wrong place. It is not in the place where it is wanted. A system which permits this condition of things is seriously defective. It indicates a want of consecutive and consistent plan —a plan which means central building supervision, and central control over building expenditure. There has to be answered, then, the question originally asked, " What financial provision is required to meet future building requirements?" To that question I answer that by the adoption, as suggested, of a model plan or design for school-buildings of various sizes—such plan or design to be prepared by the Central Department—and allowing for an increase of 5,000 children, that being the normal rate of increase shown by both the " strict average" and the " working average," £20,000 to £30,000 a year should be sufficient to meet all ordinary building requirements. £20,000, with a building estimate of £4 per head, would provide wooden buildings for 5,000 children; and £30,000, with a building estimate of £6 per head, would provide brick and stone buildings for the same number. It is admitted that it would be impossible to apply any hard-and-fast rule of the kind to all districts; but by erecting brick buildings, where possible, upon an approved model design, and wooden buildings where wooden buildings only were possible, also upon a model design, it should be possible to keep pace with the building requirements of the education system upon an annual vote of £25,000. Of course there are districts whose educational requirements were sadly neglected in the days of Provincial Governments, and which never have reached anything like a perfect state of building equipment. In any future provision special regard must be had to the necessities of these districts. The question as to how this £25,000 or £30,000 should be provided has involved much deep and anxious consideration. lam clear upon the point that it ought not to be provided out of borrowed money. But to decide upon the means by which it should be provided was a matter not easy of settlement. The American State-school system is maintained throughout by direct taxa2—B. lc.

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tion upon the people for all requirements of the " school fund." (See Appendix E.) Colonel Templeton, Chairman of the Public Service Board of Victoria, who gave evidence before the Victorian Education Commission, ably advocated the payment of the bulk of the educational expenses out of local rates, because " the persons who had to bear the rate would be the very persons who would have to manage the schools, and they would take very good care in their management that there should be no extravagance." Judge Eogers, Chairman of the Commission, sent in a separate minority report, in which he says that, "by the introduction of a sounder system of local control, and by throwing some part of the expense of the system upon the local rates, greater economy would be secured, and a practical interest would be awakened in the minds of parents." All this, in the abstract, is perfectly true ; but it appears to be equally certain that, unless there were some overshadowing restriction of a stringent and unmistakable kind, there would be great risk that the adoption of the principle would lead to the imposition of school-fees by the municipal or local body, as in the case of the German communes, where fees are charged, except for children whose parents are paupers, although the Prussian Constitution declares that " in the public popular school the instruction shall be given gratuitously." The same violation of the constitutional principle by the municipalities has taken place throughout the German States. That is the risk. It is easy to say that no such risk exists in this country; but let us endeavour to think of a time when in New Zealand the municipalities or Education Committees will be compelled to provide, out of rates specially imposed, a portion of the cost of education, and it will not be difficult to imagine a time when their combined political influence will wring from the Legislature a corresponding power enabling them to impose a tax in the form of school-fees. A system of national primary education ought to be a system without fees. The primary-school curriculum should be free throughout to all. This is the true statesman's view. Prince Bismarck "considers free schooling a particularly safe and useful form of public aid to the working-classes;" and when it is considered that in New Zealand the State contributes £12 per head per annum toward the education of every pupil in attendance at the High Schools, and that it pays £7 2s. per head for the education of Maori children, surely we shall not consent to run any risk of bringing about the adoption of a system which may involve a possibility, however remote, of imposing school-fees under the public-school system upon the children of the working-classes, for whose education the State pays only £3 15s. Free education and enlightenment go together, and, as we spend only £3 15s. per head upon that " safe and useful form of public aid. to the working-classes," we should, while making the free-education system economic and effective, strive to strengthen and perfect it in every possible way. How was the public-school system of France strengthened, and the very objection removed which is the blot of the German municipal system ? In Germany, to receive free education is to belong to the pauper class. There are two classes of children in the schools —■ those who pay and those who do not pay. When M. Ferry, Minister of Public Instruction in France, passed the law of the 16th June, 1881, which removed the payment of fees in the public primary schools, a great writer said, — " If the creators of this great gratuitous system are asked what moved them to establish it, they will reply, with entire frankness, Videe democratique —the democratic idea. In a democratic society, they will say, the distinction between the school-child who can afford to pay fees for his schooling, and who pays them, and the school-child who cannot and does not, is wounding and improper." It is because I fear the tendency and ultimate effect of a system of local taxation that I conceive it better to charge the cost of school-buildings upon the Consolidated Fund. To the Consolidated Fund every citizen contributes, and to the erection and maintenance of the school-buildings of the country, therefore, every citizen will contribute. To the municipal revenue (in New Zealand) only about one person in six contributes, the rates falling wholly on owners of property, and, as it would be manifestly unjust to throw the whole cost of erecting school-buildings upon a section of the people, the necessary alternative, if this additional burden were cast upon the municipalities, would be to adopt the American poll-tax, the "elector " tax, or the house-tax, all of which, I take leave to think, are repugnant to English feeling. The effect or defect to which I have referred (the school-fees and the taxes) is exemplified notaL'y in the English, American, and German systems. Besides, as already remarked, New Zealand is a country geographically and topographically peculiar. Under a system of local taxation the evils of the provincial days would be revived and perpetuated. Some districts are rich; some are poor. The children of one district would be highly educated, while the children of another would be very poorly educated; and surely that is an inequality and a disadvantage to be avoided. Our aim should be, as it now is, to educate our people as a whole. I cannot help thinking, upon mature reflection, that local taxation would be a retrogressive step. And, as with the fees, so with the standards—l. to VI. I think they should remain untouched. But there is still another evil to be apprehended and guarded against; and I desire to conclude all I have to say by calling attention to this danger, and by citing a passage bearing upon it from the writings of that great friend of education, Matthew Arnold, who, in his report (1886) upon the Continental systems of education, says, — " But we must remember that there are some questions which it is peculiarly undesirable to make matters of continued public discussion, questions peculiarly lending themselves to the mischievous declamation and arts of demagogues, and that this question of gratuitous popular schooling is one of them. How often, if the question becomes a political one, will declaimers be repeating that the popular school ought to be made free, because the wealthier classes have robbed the poor of endowments intended to educate them ! The assertion is not true; indeed, what we call ' popular education' is a quite modern conception; what the pious founder in general designed formerly was to catch all promising subjects and to make priests of them. But how surely will popular audiences believe that the popular school has been robbed ! And how bad for them to believe it! How will the confusion of our time be yet further thickened by their believing it! lam inclined to think, therefore, that, sooner than let free popular schooling become a burning political question in a country like ours, a wise statesman would do well to adopt and organize it." GEO. FISHEK.

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APPENDICES.

In an earlier part of this paper it was stated that the table showing the number of children between the ages of five and fifteen in the provincial districts was given in that form (showing the provincial districts) because it was desirable, for purposes of comparison, to obtain a continuous and unbroken record. The education districts were remodelled in 1882, when fresh districts were created. The following table shows the number of children from five to fifteen years of age in the education districts from the year 1882. To some extent one table is a duplicate of the other, but for purposes of accuracy it was thought better to furnish both :—

Appendix A. Showing the Number of Children of Five to Fifteen Years of Age attending Public Schools in each Education District, and the Number of all Ages at Private Schools, for the Years 1882 to 1887, inclusive; also the Estimated Population from Five to Fifteen Years of Age for those Years.

Education Districts. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. Auckland. 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years .. 'rivate schools, all ages 15,725 2,382 18,107 8,754 16,702 2,413 17,943 2,781 19,428 2,627 19,923 2,602 20,417 3,341 Total at above schools Not accounted for 19,115 9,035 20,724 8,715 22,055 8,673 22,525 9,491 23,758 9,013 Total living, 5 to 15 years 26,861 28,150 29,439 30,728 32,016 32,771 Tabanaki. 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years .. 'rivate schools, all ages 1,962 126 2,029 70 2,078 170 2,217 166 2,321 192 3,338 175 Total at above schools Not accounted for 2,088 729 2,099 901 2,248 935 2,383 983 2,513 1,036 2,513 1,120 Total living, 5 to 15 years 2,817 3,000 3,183 3,366 3,549 3,633 Wanganui. 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years .. 'rivate schools, all ages 4,883 353 5,334 556 ■ 5,531 683 5,771 531 6,001 569 6,562 580 Total at above schools Not accounted for 5,236 2,317 5,890 2,114 6,214 2,241 6,302 2,604 6,570 2,788 7,142 2,440 Total living, 5 to 15 years 7,553 8,004 9,358 8,455 8,906 9,582 Wellington. 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years .. 'rivate schools, all ages 6,179 1,223 6,728 1,131 7,258 1,330 7,925 1,402 8,725* 1,552 9,464 1,615 Total at above schools Not accounted for 7,402 3,032 7,859 3,163 8,588 3,022 9,327 2,871 10,277 2,509 11,079 2,007 Total living, 5 to 15 years 13,086 10,434 11,022 11,610 12,198 12,786 Hawke's Bay. 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years .. 'rivate schools, all ages 3,321 440 3,663 577 4,062 487 4,610 556 4,993 605 5,401 543 Total at above schools Not accounted for 3,761 1,820 4,230 1,787 4,549 1,904 5,166 1,723 5,598 1,730 5,944 1,553 Total living, 5 to 15 years 5,581 6,017 6,453 6,889 7,328 7,497 Marlbobough. 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years .. 'rivate schools, all ages 1,387 156 1,453 198 1,468 232 1,561 287 1,622 274 1,706 308 Total at above schools Not accounted for 1,543 714 1,651 688 1,700 721 1,848 655 1,896 688 2,014 629 Total living, 5 to 15 years 2,257 2,339 2,421 2,503 2,584 2,643 mt; mai lan of the rellinj ;ton District, 30th Jul; 1886.

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Appendix A— continued.

Included in the numbers not accounted for are : (1) Boys and girls at superior schools (1,274 in 1887); (2) children at industrial schools and orphanages (831 in 1887); (3) European children attending Native village schools (416 in 1887); (4) children receiving tuition at home (7,567 at the census of 1886). As previously stated, the demand of the Wellington Education Board for money for building purposes was pressed with more than usual urgency. It was therefore interesting to ascertain what had been the increase in the number of children attending the public schools of that district for the past five years, and how much money had been granted to the Board for building purposes during the same period. The following table answers both questions :—

Education Districts. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. Nelson. 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years .. 'rivate schools, all ages 4,141 167 4,469 658 4,727 623 4,862 720 5,059 557 5,302 864 Total at above schools Not accounted for 4,611 1,861 5,127 1,557 5,350 1,546 5,582 1,520 5,616 1,703 6,166 1,318 Total living, 5 to 15 years 0,472 6,684 6,896 7,108 7,319 7,484 Geey. 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years 'rivate schools, all ages ) Public 2,875 Private J 948 Public 2,998 Public ( 3,041 Private 909 V 1,339 405 1,441 404 1,540 383 Westland. 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years 'rivate schools, all ages Private 936 1,856 508 1,816 510 1,845 488 Total at above schools (Grey and Westland) Not accounted for „ 3,823 567 3,934 547 3,950 622 4,108 554 4,171 583 4,256 626 Total living, 5 to 15 years 4,390 4,481 4,572 4,662 4,754 4,382 NOETH CANTEEBUBY. 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years .. 'rivate schools, all ages 10,712 1,779 17,536 2,325 18,069 2,741 18,762 2,249 19,118 2,241 19,703 2,409 Total at above schools Not accounted for 18,491 6,817 19,861 6,201 20,810 6,006 21,011 6,559 21,359 6,965 22,112 6,883 Total living, 5 to 15 years 25,308 26,062 26,816 27,570 28,324 28,995 South Oanteebuey. 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years .. 'rivate schools, all ages 3,798 365 3,852 560 4,012 532 4,130 526 4,303 528 4,496 600 Total at above schools Not accounted for 4,163 1,260 4,412 1,230 4,544 1,317 4,656 1,424 4,831 1,470 5,096 1,352 Total living, 5 to 15 years 5,423 5,642 5,861 0,080 6,301 6,448 Otago. 'ublic schools, 5 to 15 years .. 'rivate schools, all ages 19,218 1,458 20,082 1,360 20,981 1,301 21,235 1,559 21,751 1,574 22,117 1,673 Total at above schools Not accounted for 20,676 7,724 21,442 7,422 22,282 7,023 22,794 0,998 23,325 6,931 23,790 7,199 Total living, 5 to 15 years 28,400 28,864 29,305 29,792 30,256 30,989 Southland. Public schools, 5 to 15 years .. Private schools, all ages 5,328 305 5,820 471 6,228 414 6,715 453 7,005 516 7,587 458 Total at above schools Not accounted for 5,633 2,178 6,291 2,071 6,642 2,274 7,168 2,297 7,581 2,440 8,015 2,206 Total living, 5 to 15 years 7,811 8,362 8,916 9,165 10,021 10,251 Totals. Public schools, 5 to 15 years .. Private schools, all ages 85,532 10,002 90,666 11,255 95,398 12,203 100,111 11,989 104,138 12,497 108,478 13,137 Total at above schools Not accounted for 95,534 37,773 101,921 36,706 107,601 36,326 112,400 36,867 116,635 37,961 121,915 36,346 Total living, 5 to 15 years 133,307 138,627 143,927 149,267 154,596 158,261

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Appendix B. Table showing the Distribution of the Public-School Scholars at the Age Five to Fifteen on the Rolls of the Wellington Education District at the End of the Years 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, and 1887.

As before stated, the ordinary estimate of the amount required to provide school-building accommodation is £4 per pupil. It appears, from the figures in the above table, that for the past six years the increase has been 3,285 pupils, and to provide the accommodation required for this number the Wellington Board during that period has received building grants amounting to £8 10s. 6d. per pupil.

• ■ • Appendix C. Expenditure on Sites since 1878. £ s. a. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... 11,004 15 2 Taranaki ... ... ... ... 1,066 10 6 Wanganui ... ... ... ... ... ... 678 9 6 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... 6,797 3 8 Hawke'sßay ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,209 14 0 Marlborough ... , ... ... ... ... ... 646 2 3 Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,513 9 0 Westland (including Grey) ... ... ... ... 1,485 11 11 Westland (new district) ... ... ... ... ... 451 14 3 Grey (new district) ... ... ... . . ... Nil North Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... 3,522 0 2 South Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... 1,428 12 7 Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 11,285 15 0 Southland ... ... ... ... ... ... 691 4 9 £43,781 2 9 Excluding Wellington and Southland for 1887 (not yet reported). Expenditure on Teachers' (and Custodians') Besidences. The number of teachers' (and custodians') houses in December, 1878, was 458. There are now 790. 332, therefore, have been erected since 1878 in the following districts :— Erected since At £200 per 1878. Residence. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... 66 ... 13,200 Taranaki ... ... ... ... ... 12 ... 2,400 Wanganui ... ... ... ... ... 31 ... 6,200 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... 13 ... 2,600 Hawke'sßay ... ... ... ... ... 21 ... 4,200 Marlborough ... ... ... ... ... 9 ... 1,800 Nelson ... ... ... ... ... 12 ... 2,400 Grey I 94 4 sno Westland) - 4 'bUU North Canterbury ... ... ... ... 44 ... 8,800 South Canterbury ... ... ... ... 23 ... 4,600 Otago ... ... ... 56 ... 11,200 Southland ... ... ... ... ... 21 ... 4,200 Total ... ... ... 332 ... £66,400 The 790 teachers' residences now existing (1887) are distributed as follows : —Auckland, 124; Taranaki, 19; Wanganui, 56; Wellington, 35; Hawke's Bay, 31; Marlborough, 20; Nelson, 39; Grey and Westland, 27; North Canterbury, 148; South Canterbury, 41; Otago, 181; Southland, 69.

1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. a-" ft o ft a 3 to X o © '*-< a^ x 3*8 m Grants in Six Years to Wellington Education Board for distribution over Education District. lounty of Hutfc iorough of Wellington lounties of Wairarapa East and West (including Borough of Carterton) Iorough of Mastorton iorough of Greytown 'ounty of Horowhenua (added to district in 188C) 1,255 3,238 1,046 446 194 1,354 3,606 1,066 498 204 1,544 3,763 1,281 475 195 1,707 3,932 1,497 580 203 1,913 4,254 1,650 616 202 2,005 4,568 1,904 672 215 750 1,330 858 226 21 £ s. d. 1882—2,182 0 0 1883—6,412 12 0 1884—5,010 0 0 1885—5,007 0 0 1886—4,808 13 0 1887—4,583 16 0 90 100 100 Totals .. 6,179 6,728 7,258 7,925 8,725 9,464 3,285 £28,010 1 0

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Appendix D. Showing Percentage of Children educated in New Zealand, New South Wales, and Victoria. The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of the year 1887, aged five to fifteen, was 158,261. The number of children aged five to fifteen on the rolls of the public schools, for the fourth quarter of the same year, was 108,478. Thus, the proportion of children five to fifteen years of age in attendance at the public schools was 68'54 per cent. In New South Wales the estimated population aged four to fifteen at the end of 1886 was 280,461. The net enrolment for the year was 186,126 of children four to fifteen at State schools, giving a proportion of 66'36 per cent, of the number living. The estimated population of Victoria aged five to fifteen, in December, 1886, was 251,764. The number of distinct children under fifteen receiving instruction at State schools during the year, or net enrolment, was 180,835. (There may be a small number under five years included, which cannot be eliminated.) The proportion of children, five to fifteen, attending State schools, taken from the above figures, was 71'82 per cent.

Appendix E. American School Taxation. Neiv Jersey. —State tax of $4 per capita, supplemented by city, town, or district tax, in return for which, districts must provide and maintain schools at least nine months. State grants $3,000, and not less than $5,000, to any city or town raising a like sum for the establishment of industrial classes. Authorises poll-tax not exceeding $1. Neiu York allows, in addition to State tax of 1J mills* per dollar of taxable property, a local tax for schools, sites, &c. Ohio. —Schools supported by annual tax fixed by State Legislature; when not so fixed, it is 1 mill on $1 of all taxable property. School-providing and maintenance and all contingent expenses raised by local tax, not exceeding 7 mills on dollar. California has a State fund out of which teachers are paid; county and district taxes on amenable property, and poll-tax on every voter, not exceeding $2 per head. Illinois, besides large appropriations, authorises towns, &c, to levy a local rate on property, not exceeding 2 per cent, for educational and 3 per cent, for building purposes. Indiana has a State fand pl/us a State tax of 16 cents per $100; for building, repairs, and every charge except tuition, a local tax not exceeding 50 cents on each $100 of property, and $ 1 on each poll. lowa supplements the State fund with a local tax of not less than 1 mill nor more than 3 mills on the dollar, and for schools not exceeding 10 mills on the dollar. Maine has a State fund derivable from a variety of sources, a 1-mill tax on each dollar of taxable property, and a local tax of not less than 80 cents on each inhabitant; also authorises a local tax for school-books. Penalties for failure to raise the required taxation. In Massachusetts the school fund is voted out of a tax agreed to at the annual meeting specially convened. Levy peremptory; severe penalty for failure. Local tax supplemented by contribution from State fund. Michigan, in addition to State fund, allows local taxation up to 1 mill on every dollar, plus a district vote. Minnesota school fund is obtained from various sources, but has a local tax up to 8 mills on every dollar for buildings. Missouri has a similar school fund. Local taxes for schools not to exceed two-fifths of 1 per cent, on the taxable property of a district. Pennsylvania has a State appropriation of $1,000,000, and allows each school district to levy an annual tax not'exceeding 13 mills on the dollar for instruction, and as much more for buildings. The certified taxpayers fix the appropriations. Tennessee has a permanent State fund of $2,250,000, maintaining her schools from the interest thereof plus a poll-tax of $1 on every man living in the State and a property-tax of 1 mill on each dollar. If these sources are insufficient, the people may strike an additional rate. Texas supplements its State fund with a poll-tax of $1 a year on every male from twenty-one to sixty years, and if the ratepayers of towns so decide they can tax themselves up to 50 cents on 100 dollars' value of city property. Virginia, apart from a State fund and requisitions on Corporations, has a capitation-tax not exceeding $1 on all voters, and a property-tax of not less than 1 mill nor more than 5 mills on $1, as the State Legislature authorises. Cities are empowered to rate themselves 3 mills on a dollar for schools, and a capitation-tax of not more than 50 cents for school purposes. West Virginia, in addition to a State tax, has local taxation for salaries, and for building and maintaining schools, grounds, &c.

Appendix F. Explains how Education Districts lie within Provincial Districts. The total number of children at public schools, five to fifteen, is that given in the returns of the Education Office —which, however, are given for education districts. Hence, in preparing the provincialdistrict table, allowance has been made for the difference of boundaries, and the numbers of scholars

* A mill is the tenth part of a cent.

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given to or taken from those for the different education districts are obtained from tables showing schooling in counties or boroughs in the census volumes for 1878, 1881, and 1886, with proportional numbers for the intervening years : — Auckland Provincial District takes the scholars for the education district plus allowance for Cook County, Gisborne Borough, and north part of Wairoa County, as per census. Hawke's Bay Provincial District takes scholars for the education district minus allowance made as above given to Auckland. Taranaki Provincial District takes numbers for the education district plus allowance for Hawera County and Borough, also northern part of Patea County and Borough. Wellington Provincial District takes Wellington and Wanganui Education Districts minus allowance for Hawera County and Borough, also for northern part of Patea County and Borough, given to Taranaki, as above. Marlborough Provincial District takes Marlborough Education District plus allowance for Kaikoura County taken from North Canterbury Education District. Nelson Provincial District takes Nelson Education District plus allowance for Amuri County taken from North Canterbury Education District, and allowance for northern portion of Grey County taken from Grey Education District. Westland Provincial District takes Westland Education District and Grey Education District, minus allowance for northern part of Grey County given to Nelson Provincial District, as above. Canterbury Provincial District takes North and South Canterbury Education Districts minus allowance for Kaikoura County given to Marlborough Provincial District, and minus allowance for Amuri County given to Nelson Provincial District, as above. Otago Provincial District takes Otago and Southland Education Districts. [Approximate Cost of Papier.— Preparation, nil; printing (2,375 copies), £20 14sJ

Authority: Geoeqb Didsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBB.