7

E.-l

Aces of Scholars. The school age according to section 83 of the Education Act is between five and fifteen years, but, as the payment of capitation grants was not limited by the Act to the average attendance of children within the years mentioned, the Boards were informed in 1878 that Government would pay capitation grants on account of all bond fide scholars attending public schools, although of ages outside the limits of the school age mentioned in section 83. It has now been resolved that no grants will be paid after the 30th of June, 1881, in respect of the attendance of children under five years, and an intimation to that effect has been given to the Boards. Table No. 5 of the Appendix shows the ages of the scholars of both sexes who belonged to the schools of the different education districts during the quarter ending 31st December, 1880. The following is a summary of the ages for the whole of the schools :—

TABLE E.—Ages of Scholars.

Last year the proportion of scholars under five years of age to the total number of scholars was 3-18 per cent., as compared with 3"68 in 1879. By the positive direction of the Board no children under five years of age were admitted to the Auckland schools last year. Taking the attendance for all the schools, the proportion of scholars over ten years of age has slightly increased, while the proportion of those under that age is somewhat less. Subjects of Instruction. The following table shows the number of scholars returned by the different Boards as learning the several subjects of instruction specified in section 84 of the Act during the last quarter of 1880 :—

TABLE F.—Subjects of Instruction.

Income and Expenditure of Education Boards. In addition to the statutory grant of £3 15s. for every child in average daily attendance at the public schools, the General Assembly last session made provision for the following purposes : —

Ages. Boys. Girls. Total. Percei itage. [Jnder five years ... B'ive and under seven years ... .even and under ten years ... Cen and under thirteen years thirteen and under fifteen years _>ver fifteen years ... 1,312 9,302 14,998 12,516 3,924 682 1,309 8,513 13,716 11,620 3,783 726 2,621 17,815 28,714 24,136 7,707 1,408 1880. 318 21-62 34-84 29-30 9-35 1-71 1879. 3-68 21-75 35-29 28-74 897 1-57 Totals for 1880 ... Totals for 1879 ... 42,734 39,427 39,667 36,129 82,401 75,566 10000 100-00 Increase 3,307 3,538 6,835

Education Districts. 6.1 a p ._ a a _ t_i> .9 "G Is a n_ . a a - c3 O $0 .A rH ft Ho o <_> Ph O w S- ___! o 2 a a I bi_ 3 P o a _ o o 3 o > o . t=-_T .■_ r% .2 r\ SB (U o a 9 o g AN Auckland 1'aranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay ... Marlborough ... kelson North Canterbury South Canterbury Westland Dtago Southland 14,939 1,559 4,394 6,082 3,085 1,212 3,950 16,437 3,506 3,143 19,203 4,891 I 14,939| 14,917 14,595 1,559 1,557 1,419 4,394' 4,317, 4,189 6,082: 5,887 5,695 3,085| 3,085 3,085 1,212! 1,018 1,008 3,950; 3,542 3,311 16,436! 15,865 15,313 3,506 3,456 3,014 3,143 3,106 2,986 19,203 16,797 16,461 4,891 4,771 4,617 82,400 78,318! 75,693 75,554 69,939 68,451 6,846 8,379 7,242 7,676 692 1,806 3,007 1,026 531 1,835 6,239 1,367 1,136 8,240 2,294 i 9,824| 5,008 ! 907| 518 I 2,415 1,566 3,478' 2,650 l,483j 868 681| 468 2,125' 1,625 8,152! 5,494 1,679] 1,143 1,468 889 9,896 6,853 2,925 1,702 45,033 28,784 39,501 24,147 5,532 4,637 3,957| 38S| 806 1,195 428 347 833 2,557 671 446 4,322 939 'I 10,805 1,127 1,731 4,244! 1,467| 37l! 721' 10,390 2,050 691 9,648 2,622 12,955 952 3,294 ■' 4,857 i 2,547 471 ' 1,070 13,280 2,542 1,944 13,192 3,301 60,405 51,784 . 10,469 ! 934 , 2,542 ' 3,919 ' 2,514 189 892 13,941 2,800 1,915 14,061 3,529 ) 5,734 401 ! 1,312 1 1,638 995 244 1,147 5,936 1,113 894 6,146 1,606 l 1,851 49 i 196 ! 427 \ 1 1 1 . 93 341 i 1,056 1 310 i "726 51 Totals for 1880 ... Totals for 1879 ... 82,401 75,566 35,849 32,750 16,889 14,807 45,867 36,999 47,705 49,179 -1,474 27,166 24,213 5,101 4,676 Increase 6,835 3,099 2,082 8,868 8,621 2,953 ■ - 425