E.—l.

The term " assistant teacher " includes twenty-seven probationers in attendance at schools for purposes of training. These probationers learn to take part in the work of teaching, and receive special instruction to qualify them for appointment to country schools as vacancies occur. For that purpose the Board has found it necessary to continue their employment, in addition to the more fully methodized plan of training pursued in the Training College. The number of head-teachers and assistant teachers was 304. Of these 205 (67 per cent.) are either fully certificated or classified for certificates. The percentage of certificated teachers shows a gradual increase in each succeeding year; but there is still a large proportion of uncertificated persons employed. The Board has bestowed much attention to the question of their employment. Section 45 of the Act provides that "No person not duly certificated shall be eligible for appointment as teacher; but, in case a certificated teacher cannot be obtained for any school, a person not duly certificated may be temporarily appointed until a certificated teacher can be obtained." In compliance with this provision the Board has endeavoured, as far as possible, to replace uncertificated with certificated teachers. This can only be done gradually and with caution. Seventy-six schools in this district have an average attendance of less than thirty scholars, and ninety schools are unprovided with dwellings. For these it is impossible to provide certificated teachers in every case, but pains arc taken to employ none but suitable persons. It sometimes happens that a teacher may exhibit the fullest competency in other respects, and yet fail to reach the required standard in an examination. Pupil-Teacheiis.—The number of pupil-teachers employed at the end of the year was 20 males and 116 females : total, 136. Male pupil-teachers are wanted: the supply of female candidates is fairly adequate. The first annual examination of pupil-teachers was held in April, with the following results :—

All the candidates who passed have since obtained employment under the Board. The time for the annual examination has been altered to June, that being a more convenient season of the year. The rules of the Board require that candidates shall have passed the Sixth Standard or an equivalent examination. The minimum age is fifteen, but as a rule employment is given to those who have reached, or nearly reached, the age of sixteen years. The term of service is three years, secured by agreement, but subject to termination by three months'" notice on either side. Attendances. —The following table shows comparatively the roll number and the average attendance of scholars throughout the education district for the last quarters of 1882 and 1881 :—

These figures indicate a slight increase in the number of scholars, and a considerable increase in the average attendance. It must, however, be explained that the percentage for the whole year 1882 is 75, as compared with 77 for the year 1881. During the June and September quarters tlfere was an extraordinary falling-off in the attendance owing to the prevalence of measles and other epidemics. The 13oard made several appeals to the Government on the subject, but failed to obtain a variation of the Order in Council under which the attendances are calculated for purposes of payments to Boards. The existing regulation was specially framed " in order that the capitation allowance may not be unduly affected by epidemic or any unusual occurrence/ The Board feels bound to repeat its conviction that the regulation fails to reach the object for which it was framed, and that further provision ought to be made to meet such contingencies. Under present circumstances, a Board which is careful to study the interests of public health may in consequence suffer a sudden and arbitrary curtailment of its income to the extent of, say, £2,000. The burden of this loss should be more equitably divided. Ages.—The number of children over school age attending school during the last quarter of

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ixami nei 'assei ail First-year pupil-teachers <!econd-year pupil-teachers Candidates for employment M. 12 3 2 F. 57 33 26 Total. 69 36 28 M. I F. 10 30 3 22 1 15 Total. I M. 40 2 25 1G 1 F. 27 11 II Total. 29 11 12 Totals 17 116 133 14 67 81 3 49 52

kill Numbo Average Attend; nice. 'ecember quarter, 1882. . 'ecember quarter, 1881. . Males. 8,304 8,258 Females. 7,797 7,572 Total. 16,101 15,830 Males. 6,595 6,457 Females. 6,046 5 ; 818 Total. 12,641 12,275 Increase 46 225 271 138 228 466