E.—2

A PPK N I)IX C. REPORTS OF THE INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS, 1910. AUCKLAND. Sin. Education Office, Auckland, 3rd April, 1911. We have the honour to submit our annual report on the public schools of the Auckland Education District for the year 1910. At the close of the year the number of schools in operation was o4.'i, being an increase of twenty-two since the end of 1910. Most of the new schools are small, and some of them arc household schools. With few except ions, the schools were visited twice, the pressure of work, especially that arising towards the close of the year, preventing our paying a second visit in all cases, notwithstanding the able assistance rendered bj Mr. 11. <!. Cousins, who came to our aid in September, and carried out his duties with an energy, enthusiasm, and thoroughness which won the approbation of all with whom he came it; contact. In addition to the above, twenty seven Roman Catholic diocesan schools and the Anglican Orphan Home School were inspected, in nearly all cases a visit with notice being paid, and five other private schools were visited. For the work in connection with the Roman Catholic schools, the services of Mr. John S. Goodwin were made available up to the time of his decease in November. Mr. Goodwin, prior t" his retirement in 1907, had been in the service of the Board for upwards of thirty-three years, during the greater part of the time as Inspector, and was greatly esteemed and respected for his ability, high s r nsc of duty, fair and impartial judgment, consideration for others, and genuine desire to further the cause of true education. The tidings of his sudden death was received throughout the service with very sincere regret. The following table is a summary of results for the whole district: —

This table shows an increase for the year of 1,850 on the roll-number and 2,095 on the number of pupils present at the annual examination. For years past the enrolment of pupils in this district has been steadily rising, until COW it is practically double that of any other education district in the Dominion. Indeed, one of the most difficult phases of our work has arisen from the constant stream of applications for new schools and for enlargements of existing buildings which poured in during ths year. This has been most pronounced in the King-country, where the lands thrown open have been eagerly competed for. and where settlement is making rapid strides. Towards the close of the year 2,122 candidates fr.im the public schools sat for Standard VI certificates. Of these, 1,548, or ~rl per cent., obtained certificates of proficiency, and -U"), or 15 per cent., obtained certificates of competency. The enrolment of pupils in the Roman Catholic schools was 2,924, and 2,829 were present at the annual examination. From these schools 1!)1 candidates sat for Standard VI certificates, anil «f these, 91, '>r is per cent., obtained certificates of proficiency, and 19, or 25 per cent., obtained certificates "f competency. The number of pupils on the rolls of the other private schools visited by us was 524. About the middle of the vr.yv Mr. 1). I'etrie. who occupied the position of Chief Inspector of Schools in this district for upwards of sixteen year's, retired from the service. Before coming to Auckland, Mr. Petrie, as Chief Inspector in the Otago District, had already made a name for himself as oik of the foremost educationists in the Dominion: and since his advent here his wide

i-—E. 2 (App. C).

Classes. Numbflr on I Pra8enl1 at the Average Age Number on Annual of Pupils Examination, in each Class. Standard. VII VI V IV 111 n t Preparatory Yrs. mos. ... i 170 130 14 11 2,222 2,066 14 1 3,338 3,212 13 8 4,018 3,889 12 5 4,441 4,335 11 6 4,735 4,600 10 5 4,898 4,731 l> 5 15,805 14,661 7 2 Totals ... I 39,627 37,624 11 7-7* • Mean of average age.