B.—l.

TABLE A2.—Comparison of School Attendance, 1902 and 1903, North Island and South Island.

From the figures set out in Table A.2 it will be seen that, whereas in 1903 the number of pupils in average daily attendance at the schools in the North Island increased by 1,024 above that for 1902, in the South Island it decreased by 1,688 ; so that there was a decrease for the whole colony of 664, as already shown in Table Al. The greatest increase shown (443) was in Auckland, the next being in Wanganui (282), whilst the greatest decreases were in Otago (550) and North Canterbury (509). The attendance in the North Island has for many years shown an unbroken increase, while in the South Island there has been since 1896 a gradual decrease ; for that year the attendances were -North Island, 50,836; South Island, 59,681. Table A3 shows the average attendance for the year in each of the education districts of the colony, and also the regularity of attendance of the pupils on the school rolls.

TABLE A3.—School Attendance for 1903.

As regards regularity -of school attendance in the several parts of the colony, it will be seen that there has been a falling-off in all the districts except Auckland and Wellington. North Canterbury with 82T per cent, of the average weekly roll is the lowest. Otago, which stood at the head of the list in 1901 and 1902, has still maintained its position although with the diminished percentage of 86 - 8. Southland with 850 per cent, has ousted Westland from second place, and South Canterbury still remains third, with 84 - 9 per cent. The South Island shows a greater degree of regularity of attendance than the North Island, the respective rates being 84-3 per cent, and 83 - 5 per cent, of the average weekly roll. In 1902 the figures were 86"1 per cent, and 83 5 per cent, respectively.

III

Average Attendance. Districts. 1903. 1902. Difference. Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay ■ 24,919 3,957 9,867 12,801 7,081 24,476 3,914 9,585 12,580 7,046 443 43 282 221 35 Totals, North Island . . 58,625 57,601 1,024 Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury .. S uith Canterbury Otago Southland 1,642 4,604 1,352 938 16,172 4,280 17,234 8,200 1,745 4,809 1,380 1,015 16,681 4,455 17,784 8,241 103 205 28 77 509 175 550 41 Totals, South Island .. 54,422 56,110 - 1,688 Totals for colony 113,047 113,711 664

Roll-numi Averai ;e Attendai Vhole Yeai ice for rers. Percentage of the Mean of Average Weekly Roll of Four Quarters. Education Districts. Pupils at Beginning of Year. Admittod during the Year. Left during the Year. Pupils belonging at End of Year. Mean of Average Weekly Boll of Four Quarters. Boys. Girls. Total. 1903. 1902. luckland .. 7 aranaki Vanganui Vellington lawke's Bay larlborough kelson Irey Vestland .. lorth Canterbury .. South Canterbury .. )r,ago iouthland 26,691 4,377 10,613 13,893 7,735 1,863 5,126 1,602 1,053 18,475 4,899 18,681 9,085 13,428 2,126 5,579 7,878 3,568 671 2,329 570 310 6,983 1,463 6,540 3,102 10,861 1,785 4,390 6,263 2,877 572 1,841 571 276 5,879 1,372 5,717 2,673 29,258 4,718 11,802 15,508 8,426 1,962 5,614 1,601 1,087 19,579 4,995 19,504 9,514 29,518 4,784 11,889 15,505 8,506 1,988 5,588 1,610 1,110 19,701 5,057 19,850 9,642 13,243 2,120 5,172 6,757 3,741 853 2,428 651 483 8,477 2,244 8,960 4,298 11,676 1,837 4,695 6,044 3,340 789 2,176 701 455 7,695 2,036 8,274 3,902 24,919 3,957 9,867 12,801 7,081 1,642 4,604 1,352 938 16,172 4,230 17,234 8,200 84-4 827 830 826 83'2 826 824 84-0 84-5 82-1 84-9 86-8 85-0 84-0 83-6 84 4 825 84-5 85 0 844 85 0 87-9 84-4 86-9 88-1 85-9 Totals for 1903 .. Totals for 1902 .. 124,093 123,456 54,552 50,204 45,077 41,398 133,568 132,262 134,748 133,952 59,427 59,541 53,620 54,170 113,047 113,711 83 9 84-9 Difference 3,679 1,306 796 - 114 - 664 - 1-0 637 4,348 - 550