E.-l.

TABLE B.-School Attendance For 1902.

Taking the several education districts of the 'colony, an examination of Table B will show that there has been an increase in the average attendance at the schools in 1902 as compared with 1901 in all districts except Wellington, Marlborough, and Westland, where there have been slight decreases. Ihe position is shown in tabular form below (Table Bl). The increase m the average or the North Island is 1,162, and that for the South Island is 752 the increase for the whole colony being thus 1,914. The greatest increase (498) is shown in Wanganui, the next being Taranaki, with an increase of 422. Ihe greatest increase for the South Island is in Southland (330).

TABLE B1.-Comparison of School Attendance, 1901-1902, North Island and South Island.

It will be seen that there has been an improvement in the regularity ot school attendance in all the districts of the colony except Auckland, Wellington and Grey. Wellington, with 82-5 per cent., is the lowest (It may or may not be a significant fact in this connection that the Wellington District ceased to employ the services of a truant officer.) Otago, South Canterbury, andWertland, which stood at the head of the list in 1901, have each improved Jhen percentage, Otago still remaining at the top with a percentage of 88 1, Westland being next with 87-9, and South Canterbury next with 86;9. The South Island shows a greater degree of regularity of attendance than the .North Island, the respective rates being 86"1 per cent, and 83"8 per cent, of the average weekly roll.

III

Education Districts. Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Maryborough Nelson ■. ■ • . Grey .. Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland' Average for the ■Average Attendance (or Year as Percentage Roll-numbers. Whole Year. o( the Mean of : Average Weekly : -— - - - Eollof Four Quarters— ., Au- Toft Pupils 133,952 (or 1902, and Pu P 1 mitted , ■ , belonging , 132,869 for 1901. atBe " during du ? m K at End : Boys. Girls. Total. - "inning \ +wf B the f of Year. ; Y f° r Year. Y f &1 . 190-2. ! 1001. ..26,469 11,697 I 9,582 I 28,584 12,902 11,574 ] 24,476 84'0 84-5 4 118 2 062 1,546 4,634 2,103 1,811 3,914 83-6 ! 82-0 " io'l97 a!032 3,972 ! 11.257 4,990, 4,595 9,585 84-4 821 I! Sires 6 770 5 657 14 895 6,646 5,934 12,580 82-5 . 83-7 . 7 670 3 487 | 2,891 ! 8,266 3,719 3,327 7,046 84-5 83'9 1 855 654 : 502 2,007 900 845 1,745 85-0 826 " VhO?. "000 1648 5 657 2,528 2,281 4,809 84-4 828 ■' ?'486 "498 382 1602 675 705; 1,380; 85-0 85'2 ■' 1 106 305 290 1121 509 506: 1,015 87-9 j 86-2 ■' lljll 6,533 5,847 19,451 8,736 7,945 16,681 84'4 83-2 5 075 1506 1,453 5,128 2,347; 2,108; 4,455 86-9 86'5 ■' 18 709' 6 541 ! 5 203,20,047 9,176; 8,608,17,784 88-1 86-7 " 8919 3 119 2 425 9 613 4 810 8,981 8,241! 85-9 83'1 Totals for 1902 Totals for 1901 123 456 50,204 41,398 132,262 j 59,541 54,170 113,711 84-9 .. : 122 725 49 634 41,008 131|851 i 58,436 53,361 111,797 84-1 84.1 ; ' 1 1 i i ; i i ! 1 _,.. ~,-~ nnn mi 1 mf; ftOQ 1 Q14- 0"8 Difference .. 731 570 390 911 1,105 809 1,»14 va 731 570 390 911 1,105 809 ' 1,914 0-8

Average Attenc danci e. Districts. 1901. 1902. Difference. Auokland .. Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay 24,379 3,492 9,097 12,622 6,849 24,476 3,914 9,585 12,580 7,046 97 422 498 [-42] 197 Totals, North Island .. 56,439 56,439 57,601 57,601 I 1 ,162 1 .162 Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago .. • • Southland 1,759 4,734 1,369 1,045 16,558 4,438 17,544 7,911 1,745 4,809 1,380 1,015 16,681 4,455 17,784 8,241 [- 14] 75 11 [- a0 123 17 240 330 Totals, South Island . . 55,358 55,358 56,110 752 Totals for colony 111,797 113,711 1,914