E.—lβ

50

An immediate fillip might be given to two very important branches of education in this district by the establishment of special classes for the instruction of teachers in physical exercises and in blackboard drawing. We understand that a portion of last year's grant yet remains. We cannot conceive of any better use to which the money could be put. The district high schools will presently be in full working order. While we express the hope that they will prove entirely successful, we cannot help feeling that the plan of giving any school not within easy distance of a secondary school a special grant for solid work in the more advanced subjects would have met the needs of this district better than the establishment of district high schools. This idea was mooted by the Otago Inspectors in their last year's report, and it has our warmest sympathy. As a final word, we'may say that we expect much from the Act embodying the new scale and staff, which, though bringing in its train cases of individual hardship, and cases, too, of questionable benefit to education, will, we are assured, be entirely beneficent in its general drift and tendency. Appended you will find a schedule giving a summary of results for the whole district. We are, &c, Jambs Hkndiiy, I r . ,-, -,-so r Inspectors. Geo. D. Bbaik, | The Chairman, Education Board, Invercargill.

Summary of Results for the Whole District (exclusive of Roman Catholic Schools).

Roman Catholic Schools. — Number on roll, 520; present in standard classes, 317; passed, 278. Approximate Cost nf Paper.— Preparation not given ; printing (3,375 copies), £41 14s.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government, Printer, We'ling'on. ]902. Price Is. 3d.]

Classes. Number on Roll. Preseut at Inspector's Annual Visit. Prtsseci. Average Age of those presented. ibove Standard VI. ... Standard VI. V. IV. III. II. I. 'reparatory 202 680 1,003 1,180 1,236 1,097 1,062 2,934 178 666 967 1,145 1,201 ],059 1,034 2,763 542 818 95."! 1,042 980 982 Yrs. mos. 14 6 13 10 12 9 1.1 10 10 11 9 10 8 9 6 9 Totals ... 9,394 9,013 5,316 11 1-75* * Mean of average a ■ge.