E.—2.

the total number of schools opened during the year was 95, made up as follows :— Auckland .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 26 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 Wanganui .. . . .. .. .. .. ..11 Wellington .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 6 Hawke's Bay .. . . .. .. .. .. 11 Marlborough .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 Grey .. .. .. .. .. .. ..3 Westland .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 North Canterbury . . . . . . .. .. 5 South Canterbury . . .. . . .. .. 0 Otago .. . . . . . . .. .. .. 2 Southland .. . . . . . . . . .. .. 2 Total .. . . .. .. .. 95 The net increase in the number of schools open at the end of the year is thus 35.

TABLE A.—Number of Public Schools in each Grade, 1907 and 1908.

Roll Number. For each quarter of the year 1908 the average of the weekly roll-numbers showed an increase over that for the corresponding quarter of 1907. The mean of the average weekly roll for the four quarters was 145,974 for 1908, as against 141,946 for 1907 — an increase of 4,028, making the total roll greater than in any previous year. Although the additions to the roll were most marked in the North Island, every district showed at least some increase. The increase was most marked in the last quarter of the year : this is probably largely due to the fact that for the first time, generally speaking, the annual examinations were held in November or December. The effect has been to check the exodus, especially from the upper classes, which has taken place hitherto in the December quarter. Although the change is not likely to be so marked in future, it is probable that the new arrangement will keep most of the Standard VI class at school until the close of the school year, and to that extent will benefit both the pupils themselves and the efficient working of the schools. The number on the roll at the end of the year was 147,428, as against 141,071 for the previous year, an increase of 6,357. Table B shows the mean average roll-number for every fifth year from 1878 to 1898, and for each of the last ten years ; the table gives also the total average attendance for each year, the average attendance as a percentage of the roll, and the number of teachers employed in the public schools.

3

Number of Schools. Gradb. 1907. 1907. 1908. 1VU(. 0 (1-15) 1 (16-20) 2 (21-25) 3 "(26-32) 4 (33-40) 5 (41-50) 6 (51-60) 7 (61-75) 8 (76-90) 9 (91-120)3 10 (121-150) 11 (151-200) 12 (201-250) 13 (251-280) 14 (281-330) 15 (331-390) 16 (391-420) 17 (421-480) 18 (481-510) 19 (511-570) 20 (571-600) 21 (601-660) 22 (661-690) 23 (691-750) 24 (751-780) 25 (781-840) 26 (841-870) 27 (871-930) 28 (931-960) 29 (961-1,020) 30 (over 1,020) • • • ■ 477 238 218 195 141 163 102 72 54 82 39 43 30 16 11 21 8 12 5 11 2 :: ! 4 I 2 2 2 1 504 250 216 190 139 169 82 82 61 75 43 40 33 15 20 17 12 9 7 8 2 10 2 4 4 2 1 1 Totals .. . ._ 1,903 M98