B.—l

XXII

Some libraries supplied with the proper forms failed to send in formal claims by the 31st January, the date fixed by the Gazette notice, and did not therefore participate in the vote. The number of libraries aided in February, 1887, was 361; those aided this year were 285 in number; possibly the cessation of the grant between 1887 and 1898 led to a loss of interest in the case of some of the smaller libraries, resulting in their extinction. In another paper (E.-13) a list is given showing the distribution of the subsidy in detail. The following table shows the distribution according to education districts : —

Summary of Distribution of Public Libraries Subsidy.

Civil Sebvice Examinations. As usual the Civil Service examinations were conducted this year (in January) by the Education Department simultaneously with the examination for teachers' certificates. There were 468 candidates for the Junior Civil Service examination, and the names of 261 were published in order of merit in the Gazette of the 23rd February. For the Senior Civil Service examination there were 94 candidates, of whom 44 passed. Further particulars are given in the report of the examination (E.-1a). The late Secbetaby to the Depabtment. It would not be fitting that this report should close without some reference to the late Secretary for Education and Inspector-General of Schools. The Bey. W. J. Habens, who at the time of his death was sixty years of age, graduated at the London University in 1862, as 8.A., with honours in Animal Physiology, Logic, and Moral Philosophy. He came to New Zealand in 1864, and took from the first a prominent part in educational matters. He occupied a place on the first Board of Governors of Canterbury College ; in 1873, was Chairman of the East Christchurch School Committee ; and in 1876 he became Secretary of the North Canterbury Education Board. After the passing of the present Education Act, Mr. Habens was appointed Inspector-General of Schools, and in that capacity he framed the regulations necessary for administering the Act, drew up the standards of instruction, and devised the scheme for the classification of teachers now in operation. The amount of work involved in all this was enormous; but, in addition, in 1879 and 1880 Mr. Habens acted as Secretary to the Boyal Commission on Higher Education, and drew up the report issued by it in 1881. In 1880 he became a member of the Senate of the University of New Zealand, and assiduously took part in its deliberations. In 1886, on the retirement of Dr. Hislop from the post of Secretary for Education, the Bey. W. J. Habens was appointed to the position, holding it in conjunction with the Inspector-General-ship of Schools. His duties brought him into contact with every branch of the educational system of the colony; and his thoroughness in method and detail, his perspicacity, and his untiring energy and faithfulness of service have rendered lasting benefits to the State.

Education Districts. Number of Libraries. Income on which » e M i ,. * o u :. T Subsidy is calculated. Am ° unt ol.BubiWy. Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough .. Kelson 70 7 15 16 22 4 24 4 5 49 11 41 17 & b. a. 1,837 1 11 227 11 7 1,192 17 9 2,403 17 9 453 0 0 128 5 9 325 0 7 109 11 6 81 19 6 1,544 13 7 371 18 5 777 13 8 193 16 5 & S. d. 453 1 1 55 14 2 133 18 11 158 7 8 163 1 8 37 7 11 148 0 0 34 6 6 33 18 0 321 7 3 89 7 9 270 2 1 101 7 3 Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago .. Southland Totals 285 9,647 8 S 2,000 0 0