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emulation in others, and benefiting the State by the increase of usefulness which is sure to accompany the highest education. I have, &c, T. Middlemas, Esq., Robert Lee, Chairman of Education Board, Patea. Inspector of Schools.

HAWKE'S BAT. Sic,— Napier, 30th June, 1877. I have the honor to submit the report of the schools of this provincial district, both common and denominational, receiving Government aid, for the year ending June 30, 1877. Number of Schools and Teachers. The total number of schools at present in active operation is 27 —viz., 2 boys', 2 girls', and 23 mixed. Of these, 6 are in the town of Napier (viz., 2 boys', 2 girls', and 2 mixed), and 21 in the country all mixed. One new common school has been opened during the year at Ashley-Clinton, on the west side of the Euataniwha Plains. Pour teachers resigned their situations during the year; one only being the teacher of a common school, at Meanee; and three being teachers of three several denominational schools —the United Methodist at Napier, the Soman Catholic at Central Meanee, and the Church of England at Taradale. The vacancies, however, were all quickly and well filled, so that those schools were each only for a very short time closed, and have been all benefited by the change of teachers. Those 27 schools are conducted by 27 paid teachers, who are also, in several of the larger schools, assisted by other teachers both male and female. In a few of the schools which are under female teachers they are ably assisted by their husbands. I would, however, that all the assistant female teachers were generally better qualified for their office than they are. Indeed, should no Education Act be passed by the General Assembly at this approaching session, I shall consider it to be my duty to bring before the Education Board the absolute necessity of not allowing of any assistant teacher being appointed by the teacher of any school without due examination and approval. Schoolhouses and Teachers' The schoolhouses and teachers' residences are, generally, in good condition ; but most of the schoolhouses both in town and country (although some have been during the year enlarged and improved by the addition of chimneys) are much too small for the number of scholars. Others still want chimneys ; a few, never having been lined, need lining sadly ; while some require painting, to preserve the woodwork ; and some greatly need curtains for the large windows to keep out the fierce glare of the sun on clear days. The gardens, too —or, rather, the space about the teacher's house which should have been made into a decent and tidy (if not a model) garden—would become all the better for a little attention and improvement; so, also, the pathways and frontages to the schoolhouses, which, being worn, are in wet weather extensive pools and watercourses. New schoolhouses, much required, are being erected at Woodville and at Wainui; while others (also greatly wanted) are talked of for "Wallingford, "West Tukituki (west side of the Euataniwha Plains), Te Aute, and Mohaka. From a petition recently sent to me by some residents at Te Aute (and by me forwarded to the Education Board), it appears that there are 72 children in that one locality available for school. And here I would suggest, for the information of the Board, —1. That, in all future building of schoolhouses, the plan of the building shall be first submitted to the Inspector, or to some one well acquainted with what is absolutely required, as by so doing much more suitable houses would be built, and, possibly, a great saving effected. 2. That, while the said schoolhouses may be used in country places as heretofore for divine worship on Sundays, nothing whatever be fixed or placed within the same for such purposes. 3. That, in the future enlargement of those of the present country schoolhouses which contain large ugly incommodious embarrassing rostrums (of great disadvantage to the working of the school), it be a first instruction to remove out of the schoolhouse those incommodious structures, before that any money for enlargement, &c, be granted. School Attendance and State of the Scholars. Tables, showing the total number of scholars on the books, their attendance at the different schools, and an abstract of their ages, together with a condensed tabular view of the branches of education taught, and the number of scholars of both sexes learning such branches, will be given with this report. The total number of scholars on the books is—Boys, 838 ; girls, 649 : total, 1,487. The total average attendance is 1,202, being 45 in excess of the average number of last year. Here, however,l should observe that the average attendance at several of our country schools is much less now than it was during the last quarter, owing to so many of our old settlers haviiig removed to Woodville and other new places, taking their children, who were at school, with them. In addition to the foregoing there are also several private schools for both sexes in town and country (some of which are newly opened), which are well attended. Beading, Writing, and Arithmetic. These primary studies are fairly followed by the scholars in nearly all the schools, and improvement and good progress has been generally made. Tet, in a few, where such advance is not so marked, it is partly the fault of the teacher, and partly that of the parents, who, too often, keep their children at home.