JE.—lβ

33

GBEY. Sib, — ' I have the honour to submit my annual general report on the schools subject to inspection in this district for the year ending 31st December, 1898. Thirty schools were in active operation at the close of the year, and all of them were duly visited and examined. In addition to these, I both inspected and examined the four Boman Catholic schools in the district. The number of schools which are under the direct control of the Board has increased by one during the year—viz., a school at Poerua —another small and comparatively expensive school added to an already long list of similar ones in so small a district. The increase of these small and nonpaying schools must eventually do serious injury to the whole district: vide my remarks on this point in last year's annual report. Inspection reports were laid before you during the year. These show that although the schoolbuildings are in a fairly satisfactory state, yet many repairs and improvements are necessary. In many cases there are no fences or playgrounds, whilst shelter-sheds are almost unknown luxuries ; here and there, too, is a building which has never been painted since it was erected. The building vote granted to this Board is apparently quite insufficient to carry out improvements and to overtake repairs, which, owing to climatic influences, are rendered more frequently necessary, and which, owing to difficulty of access of places, scattered population, &c, are also more costly to effect, than in most educational districts. The general result of my inspection visits to the schools was encouraging. I almost invariably found the rooms clean and tidy, time-tables nicely drawn out, children orderly, and the teachers working with diligence and energy. Many difficulties experienced, especially by our younger teachers, are explained at this time, and advice is given with reference to methods and the general working of the schools. During the latter half of the year school work was considerably interfered with by a visitation of measles, which attacked both old and young—teachers and pupils—without respect of persons, not once, but sometimes twice and even three times. In consequence, several schools were closed for short periods. Those schools suffered most, so far as results are concerned, where the outbreak occurred just prior to the date fixed for the examination. The following table gives a summary of results for this and the four previous years : — v 1 f r ° Presented for Presented Present in p , Percentage years> bcnooisin Exam j n ation.* in Standards. Standards. rasseQ - of Passes. Operation. 1894 ... ... 24 1,644 1,024 995 696 69-9 1895 ... ... 25 1,684 1,066 1,007 829 82-3 1896 28 1,650 1,068 1,040 862 82-8 1897 29 1,698 1,085 1,041 898 85-3 1898 ... ... 30 1,619 1,091 1,059 920 88-7 * Including infants and class above Standard VI. It will be noticed in the above table that the number of schools has increased from twentyfour in 1894 to thirty in 1898. I have again to record a most satisfactory improvement in the percentage of passes, these being numerically represented by nearly 3£ per cent. The total number of infants is 481, and the total number of infants over eight years of age not presented for Standard I. is eighty-seven, being slightly over 5 per cent, of total roll-number. The number returned under the latter heading in 1896 was 133 ; so that a very satisfactory reduction has been made. The following table gives a summary of results for each class : —

5-E. 1b.

Classes. Presented. Examined in Standards. Passed. Average Age of those that passed. Average Age of passing for New Zealand in 1897. Secondary class Above Standard VI. Standard VI. V. „ IV. „ III. II. I. Preparatory Yrs. mos. Yrs. mos. 19 28 100 174 218 234 191 174 481 95 169 206 230 187 172 77 138 166 205 175 159 14 3 13 4 12 4 11 5 10 0 8 11 14 1 13 2 12 3 11 2 10 0 8 10 Totals 1,619 1,059 920 11 8* 11 7* * Mean of average age.