£.—iv

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Mere verbal descriptions will never fully awake the interest of the scholars. Marcus Ward's Historical Eeaders arc used with fair result. I believe the majority of elementary history-books to be uninteresting because they are too full. Under a feeling of compulsion to include the whole subject, the matter is so attenuated that everything of interest is eliminated, and nothing but bare unadorned fact remains. Is it so essential that scholars should know the whole subject ? Would it not be better that a book for any standard should contain only carefully-chosen extracts from the history of the period treated fully and graphically ; and of course preferring those in which the details are most interesting ? I am of opinion that it would, and that more benefit would result from a taste and liking for historical reading being created, than from the possession by the scholar of a large stock of facts, very few of which would be retained by the memory for any length of time. Standard 111. should certainly read nothing but short historical stories. The classes below Standard I. are generally well taught, even by some of the teachers who have to do the whole work of their school unaided. In the three largest schools these divisions are very much crowded, which causes the labour and difficulty of teaching to be greater than ib should be. If funds were procurable I should like to see some expenditure upon material for the- teaching of these classes. Improved objectcards, diagrams of geography, cabinets of objects, sets of weights and measures, geometrical models, apparatus for teaching numeration, a large ground plan of the school: these things would be most useful in lightening the labour of teaching, and making school work more attractive. For the upper classes there should be sots of geological and botanical specimens, material and apparatus for simple scientific experiments, models for drawing, good pictures illustrating the habitations, armour, modes of warfare, social peculiarities, and architecture of bygone days; a few good books of reference, such as a dictionary, encyclopcedia, atlas, &c, and a microscope ; also for geography lessons specimens of the productions of the various countries. I regret very much to have to draw attention to the generally unsatisfactory condition of the school buildings. At every visit I find proof of the further progress of decay in the school buildings and their surroundings. The condition of affairs is very serious, and in some cases not without the element of danger to the scholars. The discipline Is generally good, and the behaviour of the scholars at examination deserving of praise. In a few schools a noisy entrance to and departure from the schoolroom are tolerated by the teachers to the annoyance of other scholars and of the examiner. The thumping of heavy boots on the floor of a verandah, with an occasional loud shout, is not calculated to promote comfort or composure. I should like to see the practice of saluting the teacher, on entering and leaving the room, generally adopted. In the best schools it is never omitted. Attacks have been made upon the present system, principally by those who possess very imperfect and erroneous information upon the subject. The alterations suggested are numerous and various. I believe the system to be working well in this district. The extent to which a programme such as ours can be observed must depend very much upon circumstances, and perhaps a weakness in some direction is inevitable ; but schools with a sufficient and capable staff should find no difficulty in giving a good account of themselves, and generally do so. Some desire has been expressed for uniformity in the direction of having the examination papers the same for all districts. It is a mistake to suppose that the remedy for defects is to reduce the Inspector to a sort of recording machine. If any change occur it should be in the direction of giving the Inspectors more liberty of action and choice with reference to the syllabus. Ido not assert that the present system is faultless, but changes should be made very gradually and with great caution. Much has been said as to over-pressure in our public schools. I find very little evidence of its existence. One occasionally meets with an exceptionally nervous child who requires careful management to prevent a breakdown. The cause is often traceable to the anxiety of parents for their children to present a good appearance at the examination. This anxiety sometimes leads to indiscretion, as when children are strongly urged to effort, or, as I have in one or two cases discovered, threatened with pains and penalties if not successful. There is one subject altogether omitted in our schools which I think should receive attention. I refer to domestic economy. Some training in the practical duties of life would be of inestimable benefit to the majority of girls attending our public schools. lam sure that the phrase "domestic servant" wouid not be so generally synonymous with "domestic plague " if this subject were thoroughly and practically taught. The class for higher subjects at the Greyinouth District High School, conducted by Mr Craddock, is still doing exceedingly good work. The average number of scholars for the year was eighteen. Two scholars matriculated, and two passed the Junior Civil Service Examination very satisfactorily. A word of praise is due to the teachers generally for the efforts they must have made to secure so good a result. I have, &c, Edward T. Eobinson. The Chairman, Education Board, Greymouth.

WE STL AND. g IK) Blenheim, 30th January, 1891. I have the honour to submit my sixteenth annual report on the primary schools in the Westland District. Thirty-two schools have been in operation duiing the year ending the 31st December, 1890, and all but those in the southern part of the district have received at least one visit of inspection, besides the visit for the purpose of examination. The total number of children on the school-rolls on the examination day was 1,685,"0r twenty-two less than the roll-number of the twenty-six schools examined last year ; so that, notwithstanding there is an increase of six in the number of schools, there is still a falling-off in the total attendance. This year, however, the decrease is much less than in the year before, when the roll-number was eighty-three less, with two schools more, than