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Chatham Islands. During the year 1909 there were four schools in operation in the Chatham Islands—viz., those at Te One, Te Koto, and Matarakau, on the mainland, and a school on Pitt Island. At the end of 1909 the total number of children under instruction was ninety-two, as compared with eighty-live at the end of the previous year, while the average attendance for the year was ninety-one. The total expenditure on the schools for the year 1909 was £731 18s. 3d., made up as follows : Salaries and allowances of teachers, £652 16s. Bd.; scholarships, £43 10s.; inspection, £20 3s. 3d.; other expenses, £15 Bs. 4d. The schools at Te One, Matarakau, and Te Roto were examined in the month of December, according to the regulations for the inspection of public schools in New Zealand. The results generally were fair. Pitt Island school was not visited, as time did not permit of any inspection or examination. One candidate presented himself for an examination in December in connection with the Chatham Islands Scholarship. This candidate satisfied the pass conditions of the regulations, and was accordingly awarded the scholarship.

A. Further Details of Staffs, Salaries, and Attendance.

11. EEPOET OF THE INSPECTOE-GENEEAL OF SCHOOLS TO THE MINISTEE OF EDUCATION. The Inspectob-General of Schools to the Hon. the Ministeb of Education. If we examine the Eduoation Iteports of the last five years we find certain facts, which may lie exhibited us follows :— Percentage of the roll of public schools in I<jo(>. 11)07. 11)08. 11)08. 1909. the P. classes ... .. ... 28"3 294 'ill 343 364 Percentage of roll of age over ■"> l> tit not over 8 ... ... ... ... 29"8 30"0 301 305 311 The figures in the first line are somewhat startling: very definite causes must have contributed t<> the marked increase in the proportion of pupils in the preparatory classes. The following possible causes immediately suggest themselves: — (1.) There may have been an increase in the proportion of young children, say, between live and eight years of age in the population of the Dominion during the period in question. The Registrar-General's figures, however, give no indication of any such increase: in each of the years 1905 and 1909 the proportion of children between live and eight years of age is 6*184 of the European population of the Dominion. (2.) A larger proportion of children may Ix; entering the schools between ages 5 and 7 than formerly. That this is the fact appears from Table A : this table shows a general increase, averaging .'! percent, in the proportion of young children on the rolls, an increase which is largest for boys between five and six years of age. (■!.i A certain proportion of children may Ik. , leaving scl 1 from (he upper classes at an earlier age to go to secondary schools or technical day-schools, oi to go to work : this would make the numbers in the lower classes appear relatively larger.

School. Names of TewjheiB. Attendance. <„].,,;„. „, n_j Allowaucc for „ Km,, Conveyance of Mean of Average Mean of Weekly 01 lww, (i(«ids. ! Attendance for Knll Number for Four Quarters of Four Quarters of 1909. 1909. IV i toe l'ilt Island Tβ Roto .. Malarakau Quest, J. J. Quest, .Mrs. L K. Ritohie, Miss F. Lanauzc, Miss (!. Hutohinson, .). Connor, J. Hough, iMiss K. £ s. a. H.M. 200 0 0 L , :. 47 54 S. 12 10 0 I'l. 4 o3 0 (I Pt. 1 25 0 0 M. 90 0 0 15 II 11 M. 108 0 0 15 24 26 P. 'Ml 0 0 .. !» 10 Total 580 10 0 55 !)1 101 ;,;, 91 101