E.-l

1881. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Office of the Department of Education, Sib,— Wellington, 25th June, 1881. I have the honor, in accordance with the provisions of "The Education Act, 1877," to submit to your Excellency the following report upon the progress and condition of public education in New Zealand during the year ending the 31st day of December, 1880. I have, &c, Thomas Dick. His Excellency the Hon. Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon, G.C.M.G., &c, Governor of New Zealand.

EEPOET. The Education Department was organised in the beginning of the year 1878 for the administration of the Education Act and the Education Reserves Act of 1877 ; but since then the charge of other branches of the public service has been added to its duties from time to time. The department is now intrusted with the management of the Native schools, formerly under the Native Department; the Industrial" and Reformatory Schools, transferred from the Department of Justice; the Kohimarama Naval Training School, till recently in charge of the Marine Department; and the Deaf-and-Dumb Institution ; besides being the medium of communication between the Government and the governing bodies of the several institutions established for the higher and the secondary education. The main purpose of this report is, however, to furnish full information respecting the public schools established and maintained under the provisions of the Education Act; the other matters being dealt with in separate Parliamentary papers. Education Boards. The reports of the twelve Education Boards constituted under the Act, and their general statements of accounts for the year, are appended. These reports contain particulars of the progress and condition of public-school education in the different districts, and merit careful perusal. Number of Public Schools. The number of public schools reported as being in operation during the last quarter of 1880 is 836. There were 44 half-time schools in charge of 22 teachers which have been reckoned as 22 schools, otherwise the total number of schools would have been shown to be 858. The numbers for the last quarter of 1879 were 807, reckoning every two half-time schools as one school, and 831 if the half-time schools be regarded as separate schools. I—E. 1.

EDUCATION. FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OE THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. [In continuation of H.-IA, 1880.]