E.—l

IV

The number of Maoris and half-castes attending the public schools is shown in the following table : —

TABLE B2.—Maoris and Half-castes attending Public Schools, December, 1900.

It will be seen that the total number of Maori and half-caste children attending public schools remains practically the same; but, whilst in 1899 there was a considerable increase in the number of Maoris and a falling-off in the number of half-castes living as Europeans, as compared with the year before, in the year 1900 there was an increase of 126 in the number of half-castes living as Europeans, and a falling-off of 125 in the number of Maoris. The apparent difference in the numbers may be due merely to a different method of classification. The proportion of boys to girls remains the same as in 1899 —51-9 per cent, to 481 per cent. The number of children below the age of ten is to the number above that age as 52-1 to 47 - 9. This statement expresses in another form the facts already commented upon in the remarks that follow Table A.

TABLE C. —Age and Sex of Pupils, December, 1900.

Table No. 2 in the Appendix shows the numbers in the several classes for the various districts, and Table D is a summary of the same figures for the whole colony. The proportion of pupils in the preparatory classes shows an increase for the year; the proportion in Standard classes V. and VI. has also increased; the other classes present a slight decrease. The percentages of pupils in the Standard classes I. to VI. for the years 1899 and 1900 were respectively 70-84 and 69-97. Table D might be expected to afford some evidence as to the effects of the new syllabus that came into force on the Ist January, 1900, upon the passing of children in the various Standards. The task of examining for passes in Standards 111. to V. was in general transferred from the Inspectors to the head teachers, who had already since 1894 had the duty of passing children in Standards I. and 11. placed in their hands. "From the reports of the Inspectors

Education Districts. ire Mao: •is. Mai iris. Half-Ci astes living as Maoris. Half-castes 1: as European iving is. Total. Number of Schools in which there were Children of Maori or Mixed Eace. Boys. Girls. Total. Boys. Girls. I Total. Boys. J I Girls. Total. Boys. Girls. Total. [' i I : Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland 270 33 107 70 218 215 14 54 49 124 2 5 485 47 161 119 342 2 10 38 7 5 12 23 38 76 3 10 17 ! 22 9 ; 21 21 44 307 17 17 34 53 16 10 285 12 18 34 62 11 8 592 29 35 68 115 27 18 615 j 57 129 i 116 294 16 15 538 29 89 92 207 13 13 1,158 86 218 208 501 29 28 162 19 32 29 35 5 9 5 7 13 3 18 4 I 13 11 20 5 31 1 1 1 13 2 46 40 1 13 3 38 45 2 26 5 84 85 8 26 5 66 48 5 21 5 55 60 13 47 10 121 108 3 8 4 16 16 "2 8 ' i I 6 15 J 23 Totals for 1900 .. Totals for 1899 .. - 744 775 489 534 1,233 1,309 95 139 108 j 203 113 I 252 -5 I -49 556 521 J 530 J 439 1,086 960 1,395 1,435 1,127 1,08 6 2,522 2,521 338 333 Difference -31 -45 -76 -44 35 91 126 -40 41

Ages. Boys. Girls. Total. Percentaj ;es for Five Tears. Five and under six years Six and under seven years Seven and under eight years Eight and under nine years Nine and under ten years Ten and under eleven years Eleven and under twelve years Twelve and under thirteen years ■Thirteen and under fourteen years .. Fourteen and under fifteen years Over fifteen years 5,163 6,933 7,684 7,650 7,769 7,727 7,687 7,337 5,613 i 2,963 j 1,322 4,864 6,451 7,054 7,299 7,176 7,249 6,978 6,839 5,028 2,595 1,343 10,027 13,384 14,738 14,949 14,945 14,976 14,665 14,176 10,641 5,558 2,665 1900. 7'8 10-2 11-3 11-4 11-4 11-5 11-2 10-8 8-1 4-3 2-0 1899. 7-8 10-1 11-1 11-3 11-S 11-4 11-6 10-6 8'0 4-5 2-1 1898. 7*7 10-1 11-2 11-4 11-4 11-7 11-2 10-5 8-1 4-5 2-2 1897. 7-6 10-0 11-2 11-2 11-6 11-5 11-1 10-7 8-3 4-5 2-3, 1896. 7-4 9-9 11-2 11-6 11-6 11-5 11-3 10-6 8-1 4-5 2-3 Totals .. 67,848 62,876 130,724 100-0 1000 100-0 100-0 100-0