E.—l.

66

Inspection.—All the schools under the Board have been examined strictly in accordance with the regulations issued by Order in Council relating to the inspection of schools. As remarked a year ago, it would appear that the difficulties to be surmounted by standard pupils under the new regulations are much greater than they were under the old. It is hoped, however, that these will be overcome in some measure by the improvement which is taking place in the work of the preparatory classes in the lower departments. The Inspector speaks in terms of commendation of the lady teachers who are engaged in the instruction of the junior pupils attending the schools, and he points out that some of the most valuable and permanent training is being done by the teachers who have charge of these classes. The presentations in standards numbered 67 per cent, of the pupils attending the schools, and the actual passes exceeded those of the previous year by 367. A fair proportion of this increase took place in the upper standards. The summary of results for each school, which is appended to the Inspector's report, points to the encouraging fact that some of the smaller schools are doing very good work, and maintain a high position, even when their results are compared with those of the larger schools in the district. It is satisfactory to notice that few schools are to be found which are really defective in order and discipline; and the improvement reported a year ago as being perceptible in the tone of the schools and in the manners and behaviour of the pupils still continues, and offers evidence that these phases of school keeping, if not as yet quite satisfactory, are receiving careful attention from the teachers. Eeports continue to be received as to the improving character of the standard work, and much attention is being given to instruction in what are known as " class " and "additional" subjects. But the Board cannot refrain from expressing the opinion so often expressed before that too many subjects tend to retard the progress of the children, and that it would be well if the instruction in the schools could be arranged and adapted to the special needs of districts. The standard passes for the year will be found in the following table, which contains the number of passes in each standard for each year since 1878 : —

The final examinations of Standards V. and VI. took place on the 2nd November. Two supervisors for each of the larger schools were appointed on the recommendation of the School Committees, and, as far as it is possible to judge, they carried out their duties with care and efficiency. The competition in these standards is very severe between the pupils of the different schools, and the results in many instances display much intelligence and careful training. On the result of Standard VI. examination the Board grants its scholarships, to enable pupils who distinguish themselves to proceed to the high schools for one or more years. Each scholarship is sufficient to provide for the fees charged at the high school; but in the case of country pupils an additional £20 is allowed

.verage Weekly Number on Boll. Average .ttenda: ,ce. Year. March. June. Sept. Dec. Average for four Quarters. U bO Qj OJ c3 co J>h S cd to CD fH pi O O O s.g-p f4 g ft March. June. Sept. Dec. Average for four Quarters. P. DO (D O fl J) 2 0J 3 s ft .878 ... .879 ... .880 ... .881 ... .882 ... .883 ... .884 ... .885 ... .886 ... .887 ... .888 ... 1,520 2,019 2,893 3,224 3,351 3,467 3,995 4,516 4,839 5,319 5,902 1,797 2.082 2,979 3,172 3,184 3,505 4,109 4,669 5,011 5,615 5,968 1,854 2,510 3,003 3,092 3,243 3,609 4,102 4,549 5,027 5,574 5,841 1,985 2,676 3,046 3,170 3,320 3,697 4 170 4,660 5,059 5,549 5,758 1,789 2,322 2,980 3,164 ; 5 3,274-9 3,569-5 4,094 4,598-5 4,984 5,514-25 5,867-25 29-9 28-8 6-1 3-22 9-0 14-7 12-3 8-3 10-6 6-4 1,259 1,689 2,244 2,481 2,459 2,649 3,228 3,559 3,845 4,144 *4,686 1,612 1,650 2,220 2,386 2,239 2,603 3,176 3,573 3,863 4,266 *4,733 1,580 1,871 2,204 2,326 2,457 2,826 3,180 3,620 3,978 4,414 *4,673 1,649 2,020 2,334 2,199 2,633 2,940 3,281 3,733 3,941 4,453 *4,627 1,525 1,807 2,250-5 2,348 2,447 2,754-5 3,216-25 3,621-15 3,906-75 4,319-25 *4,679-75 18-4 24-5 4-3 4-3 12-5 16-8 12-6 7-9 105 *8-8 * Strict average attendance.

Year. St! ,ndan I. Stai Ldard II. Star idard III. Standardly. I St: i ,ndar< -.,. Stand V - VI. iard Total Passes. i M. 272 228 199 225 213 298 396 332 368 324 428 F. 277 201 174 161 177 264 360 361 357 329 386 Total 549 429 373 386 390 562 754 693 725 653 814 M. 61 224 176 202 184 225 234 294 240 290 318 F. 39 166 158 172 166 196 215 279 277 294 299 Total 100 390 334 374 350 421 451 573 517 584 617 M. 57 95 104 154 171 159 200 198 224 209 255 F. 45 94 103 117 156 140 175 177 178 211 255 Total 102 189 207 271 327 299 375 375 402 420 510 M. 7 43 53 69 86 121 94 140 134 149 167 F. 4 22 40 66 70 89 98 136 124 121 168 Total M. 11... 65... 93;19 135,22 156 44 21044 192:49 27635 258.90 27075 335 97 F. Total M. F. Total 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 6 15 26 28 49 51 61 100 77 25 37 70 72 98 86 141 175 174 L0 12 22 17 34 32 54 42 9 13 14 29 27 |38 ;69 10 21 35 31 63 59 92 111 762 1,073 1,032 1,213 1,314 1,599 1,906 2,066 2,102 2,194 2,561