E.—l.

TABLE D3.—Average Age of Pupils in 1907 at the Time of Annual Visit.

The average age for the colony of the pupils in Standard VI at the time of the annual visit of the Inspector was 13 years 10 months, which is 1 month above the average for the four preceding years. In range, the ages returned by the several districts differ by 4 months, the lowest age being 13 years 8 months, and the highest 14 years 0 months. As to the age at which pupils in this standard obtained certificates of competency and certificates of proficiency respectively, no precise information is available; but the information deduced from Table D2 that 8298 per cent. (82-45 in 1906) received one or other class of certificate — tends to show that of the pupils obtaining such a certificate the number over the age of fourteen years must be comparatively small. In Table D4 are given the numbers of children receiving instruction in the several subjects. For the purpose of this return reading, spelling, writing, and composition are grouped together under the heading " English," and some other alterations are made which are rendered necessary by alterations in the programme prescribed. " Object-lessons," for instance, disappears, as it has disappeared from the syllabus of instruction, and its place is taken by " naturestudy," which is here grouped with " elementary science," from which in general it is not to be distinguished.

TABLE D4.—Number of Pupils instructed in Separate Subjects, December, 1907.

ii—E. 1.

ix

Education Districts. Average A{ ;es of the 'upils in ei bch Class. Mean if Ages. Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson P. Yrs. mos. 7 3 7 6 7 0 6 10 7 2 7 1 6 11 7 0 6 9 7 0 7 0 6 10 7 0 I. Yrs. mos. 9 4 8 10 8 11 8 9 9 7 8 10 8 11 9 0 9 4 9 0 8 10 8 11 8 10 II. Yrs. mos. 10 4 10 9 9 11 9 10 10 1 9 11 9 10 9 8 10 1 10 1 9 11 9 11 9 11 III. Yrs. mos. 11 4 11 3 11 2 10 10 11 1 10 11 10 11 11 3 11 2 11 1 11 0 11 2 10 11 IV. Yrs. mos. 12 3 12 2 12 1 11 10 12 3 11 11 11 11 11 8 12 1 12 2 12 0 12 0 12 1 V. Yrs. mos. 13 1 13 3 13 0 12 10 13 0 12 8 12 10 12 11 12 7 13 0 12 11 12 11 12 10 VI. Yrs. mos. 14 0 13 8 13 11 13 8 13 9 13 10 13 9 13 11 13 11 13 9 13 8 13 9 13 8 VII. Yrs. mos. 15 1 14 5 14 11 14 9 15 0 15 2 14 11 14 3 15 5 14 9 15 1 15 1 14 10 1907. Yrs. mos. 11 7 11 6 11 4 11 2 11 6 11 4 11 3 11 2 11 5 11 4 11 4 11 4 11 3 1906. Yrs. mos. 11 6 11 6 11 4 11 2 11 4 11 3 11 2 11 1 11 5 11 4 11 4 11 2 11 3 Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland Average for Dominion 7 1 9 1 10 1 11 1 12 1 13 0 13 10 14 11 11 5 Range (difference between highest and lowest) Aveiage for Dominion, 1906 Riige (difference between highest and lowest) 0 6 9 9 0 10 9 0 1 10 1 0 0 11 1 6 0 12 7 0 0 12 11 8 0 4 13 9 1 2 15 1 0 5 11 4 0 9 0 7 0 6 0 11 0 8 0 11 0 7 1 4 0 5

Education Districts. i\n A a H 2-r-3 9 „ • »ae r - 9 A ca a a a d G Q I a 'So a in a I* >>rM £1 oo ft S G QE O C5 rH O m 3 i--j, M a . 53 9 9 I ' — .£ i ®S ! i- w en DA U O & -o a ce a O S* -3 CD Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland 33,174 5,081 13,046 16,470 9,363 2,095 5,473 1,784 1,019 19,282 5,285 19,183 9,816 33,174 5,081 13,046 16,470 9,363 2,095 5,473 1,784 1,019 19,282 . 5,285 19,183 9,816 33,131 32,880 5,081 5,081 12,768) 12,679 16,304 15,996 9,363 9,330 2,095 2,090 5,473 5,154 1,768 1,700 984 883 19,277 16,889 5,285 5,172 19,183 19,183 9,816 9,598 140,528138,635' 139,155137,549 1,373 1,086 31,221 5,081 11,631 15,681 9,138 1,967 5,164 1,713 694 18,195 4,946 19,183 9,475 32,179 5,08! 12,412 16,066 8,767 2,080 5,206 1,691 928 18,858 5,250 19,183 9,703 15,749 2,844 7,132 9,212 5,278 1,202 2,980 893 524 10,918 2,575 10,621 5,605 14,073 2,048 4,678 7,572 3,684 1,007 2,212 709 310 8,443 839 8,982 4,521 26,650 4,299 12,119 15,190 8,228 1,687 4,278 1,543 902 18,445 4,309 16,511 8,499 122,660' 120,833 23,959 3,971 11,376 13,832 6,219 1,703 3,738 881 505 13,255 3,878 13,823 8,374 10,263 1,990 4,323 6,681 4,164 729 2,399 607 319 8,770 1,981 7,684 3,874 Totals for 1907 Totals for 1906 141,071 139,302 141,071 139,302 '134,089 131,885 2,204 137,404 135,363 75,533 78,212 59,078 59,873 '105,514 ! 98,465 53,789 53,901 Difference .. 1,769 1,769 2,041 -2,679 -795 ! 1,8271 I j 7,049 -112