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Standard 111. Section. Max. Marks. I. —Reading—More difficult prose (say sth Reader) (30). Repetition of poetry (10) 40 ll.—Grammar and Writing—Abstract of a fable or other narrative, after hearing the same once read. Formation of sentences, and correct spelling indispensable (20). Parsing (10). Writing (10) ... ... ... ... ... 40 lll. —Geography and History—Outlines of English history, leading events (20). Outlines of the geography of New Zealand and Europe (20) ... ... ... 40 IV.—Arithmetic—Vulgar and decimal fractions, practice, and simple proportion ... 80 200 Standard IV. Section. Max. Marks. I. —Reading—Passages of difficult prose or easy poetry (30). Repetition of poetry (10) . 40 II. —Grammar and Writing —Paper on English syntax, analysis, word meaning, paraphrasing, and the accidence of grammar; including also the composition of a short essay (30). Writing (10) ... ... ... ... ... 40 111. —Geography and History—Paper on a period of history and section of geography, each named a year beforehand ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 IV. —Arithmetic—Paper on arithmetic generally, including some knowledge of mensuration ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 80 200

MARLBOROUGH. Sic,— Wellington, 24th May, 1877. I have the honor to present my third annual report on the schools of the Education District of Marlborough. I. Inceeased Interest in Education. Throughout my late travels in the Marlborough Education District, I have noticed the manifest increased public interest felt and being taken in education, and especially in the individual progress of the scholars as determined by examination. The " standards " are household words from the remote inlets of the Sounds to the plains of the Wairau, and even along the broken highway from Blenheim to Kaikoura. The people are beginning to know and comprehend the work of each standard, and to share the aspirations and successes of their children. I have frequently been pleased with the effect of this emulation on a whole school, in which the anxiety and determination to pass was simply intense on the part of every pupil. These remarks apply more or less to all the good schools which it is my duty to examine, but to none more particularly than to one or two schools under your Board. The establishment of a Board specially chosen for the administration of education within a district not too narrowly confined will lead in time to more uniformity of system, and generally to better management. Nothing, in my judgment, tends more to the advancement of national education than placing the immediate control of education in the hands of educated and competent men. 11. Peogeess made. During the past sixteen months there has been an increase of four schools in actual operation, and a very considerable increase in the numbers on the rolls. Last year I reported 611 as the number of children who actually attended school at all during the month previous to the examination; at my last visit the number so attending was 818, showing an increase of 207 pupils under instruction, or one-third as many more as last year. In the number of children examined the increase is still greater, the number last year being 504, this year 747 —an increase of 243, or nearly half as many more. The number of passes made in tho several standards, when well understood, will be admitted a true test of the efficiency of tho teaching power. Tho Standard I. passes have increased from 303 to 396, an increase of 93 ; Standard 11. passes have increased from 126 to 180, an increase of 54 ; Standard 111. passes have increased from 28 to 47, an increase of 19 ; and Standard IV. passes have increased from Ito6, an increase of 5. I beg to remind your Board, first, that in my last report I alluded to the fact that one or two very weak schools, whose returns were included in my first report, were closed at my second inspection, and that, as a consequence, the percentage returns in my last report were abnormally high; and, secondly, I would remind your Board that an increase of one-third as many more children attending the schools means a large influx of new material, and probably of children at a very low standard; whilst in some cases, as at Marlborough Town, there has been a migration out of the district of advanced children. When, therefore, I state that the results of the whole district in Standard 11. have increased from 20 per cent, to 22 per cent., and in Standard 111. from 46 to 57 per cent., whilst six pupils have passed Standard IV., but that the whole results in Standard I. have decreased from 50 per cent, last year to 48 per cent, this year, I consider, under the circumstances, the results are in every respect satisfactory. 111. DISPAEITY IN THE RESULTS OF THE SCHOOLS. In the Table of Results, which as an appendix (No. 1) to my reports is always iv itself a digest of the whole report, it will be seen that the work done in the best schools is very far in advance of the work done in other schools, and not only in, such other schools as have been lately opened, but in schools which have been some time established. I often wish the pupils and teacher of one school could see the better work done in another school. What a surprising contrast, for example, there is