E.—l

The number of scholars that passed a standard each during the year was 41,309, or 403 per cent, of the number on the roll at the end of the year—a higher percentage than has been reached before —and 419 of the number on the rolls on examination days. For the several districts the totals of the numbers on the school rolls at the date of examination, of the numbers presented for examination in standards, and of the numbers that passed, are as follows:— District. Roll. Presentations. Passes. Auckland ... ... ... ... 17,911 ... 12,009 ... 7,933 Taranaki 2,226 ... 1,381 ... 819 Wanganui ... ... ... ... 5,634 ... 3,511 ... 2,066 Wellington ... ... ... ... 8,235 ... 4,949 ... 3,386 Hawke'sßay ... ... ... ... 4,401 ... 2,735 ... 2,066 Marlborough ... ... ... ... 1,535 ... 870 ... 805 Nelson ... ... ... ... 4,903 ... 2,928 ... 2,440 North Canterbury ... ... ... 18,770 ... 9,811 ... 7,247 South Canterbury ... ... ... 4,157 ... 2,641 ... 1,754 Westland ... ... ... ... 1,810 ... 999 ... 859 Grey... ... ... ... ... 1,383 ... 872 ... 579 Otago ...' ... ... ... 21,623 ... 11,724 ... 9,005 Southland ... ... ... ... 5,970 ... 3,436 ... 2,350 98,558 57,866 41,309 or 58-7 p.c. of the or 71-4 p.c. of the roll. presentations. The "percentage of passes" estimated in the manner prescribed by the new regulations (that is, as a percentage of the numbers on the school rolls at the time of examination), and the proportion sustained by the number of passes in each standard to the number of pupils whose names were entered for examination in each standard, are shown in the following table : —

TABLE G.—Proportions of Passes in Standards.

The figures in this table being calculated on a uniform principle will be found not always to agree with those stated in the reports of the Boards and their Inspectors. The new regulations (of June, 1885) will promote uniformity in the statistical part of the Inspectors' reports for the future. There is one important item of information which the Inspectors are not required by the regulations to furnish—the average age of children at the passing of each standard; it is hoped, however, that, notwithstanding the labour involved, they will continue to supply it. The Inspectors' reports in future years will furnish other statistics than such as relate to passes in standards. Under the new regulations marks will be given for class-subjects and for additional subjects. The "percentage on class-subjects" ought to be regarded as quite equal in value to the " percentage of passes." There seems to be some danger of misapprehension on this point. Even in the reports of some of the Inspectors there are indications of insufficient attention to the fact that all the class-subjects are absolutely compulsory. It is necessary, therefore, to say that it must be clearly understood that the "class-subjects" are to be studied as thoroughly, and examined as carefully, as the "pass-subjects ;"

VI

" Percentage of Passos." Passes as Percentage of Numbers presented in tho several Standards. Education Disteicts. t I. II. III. IV. V. VI. Total. II. III. IV. V. VI. All. iuekland .. Daranaki .. Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Sfelson [<.. North Canterbury South Canterbury Westland .. 3rey Dtago Southland 14-2 13-2 96 107 15-7 12-9 12-3 12-2 11-9 10-5 11-6 11-1 13-0 12-7 11-9 8-6 11-2 13-0 148 9-7 11-1 11-4 10-G 10-5 98 11-5 9-2 60 7-6 7-8 8-5 11-2 11-0 6-9 7-9 10-G 9-0 84 8-9 4-7 4-1 6-2 5-2 6-3 7-4 8-6 4-9 59 7-7 51 6-4 8-6 2-4 1-1 3-1 44 2-0 3-7 4-5 2-4 2-9 4-9 8-8 3-4 1G 1-0 0.4 1-6 2-0 1-4 2-5 3-6 11 2-2 8-1 1-9 2-G 0-7 44-3 3G-8 3G-7 41-1 4G-9 52-4 498 38-G 42-2 47-5 42-0 41-7 39-4 72-2 72-6 59-3 80-0 80-4 93-0 93-9 93-7 75-4 97-9 87-5 908 86-4 G8-7 56-6 59-7! 73-0 79-2! 95-7 I 81-5 80-8 57-5 I 85-71 74-4: 80-71 76-6 G3-5 46-5 ! 55-6 57-5 ! 74-0 j 93-0 1 80-6 ; 59-G ; 55-3 ■ 77-4 ■ 59-1 G8-4 59-6 59-2 60-2 59-6 620 74-0 85-0 76-8 G7-1 54-1 85-4 49-6 G7-0 45-0 54-8 43-8 57-5 GG-8 44-3 92-0 81-0 57-3 71-6 87-2 53-6 08-4 50-4 52-7 83-3 70-0 ! 66-4 I 85-1 95-0 85-0 74-4 82-5 83-7 60-5 82-9 55-0 G5-8 59-3 58-8 G8-4 75-5 92-5 83-3 73-9 i 6G-4 j 86-0 i GG-4 76-8 C8-4 For tho Colony.. 11-5 10-5 8-0 5-9 35 2-5 41-9 82-3 74-9 68-6 I 63-1 I 61-9 73-5 71-4 I