E.—l

public schools on account of antipathy based on difference of race. The numbers in Table B are included in Table A.

TABLE B.—Maoris and Children of Mixed Race Attending Public Schools at the End of 1881.

Ages op the Scholars. A detailed statement of the ages of the scholars is given in Table No. 5, Appendix, page 6. The following is a summary: —

TABLE C.—Ages of Scholars at the End of the Year.

In making a comparison between this year's statistics of the ages of the children at school and those of last year, the children under five years old are thrown out of account. It appears that 58- 14 per cent, at the end of 1881 were between five and ten, the corresponding number for the previous year (58*32) being practically the same. The census returns show that of the children of school-age rather more than 54 per cent, are under ten years old. It may be assumed that some of the children of the primary schools are sent to superior schools during the latter part of their school-life; but the early age at which boys and girls are able to obtain profitable employment probably constitutes the principal cause of the comparatively small attendance of the older children. Subjects op Instruction. The classification according to standards of examination has not rendered it altogether xmnecesary to make inquiry as to the number of pupils receiving instruction in each subject. The following table gives the numbers as returned by the several Boards :—

IV

Pure Maoris. Of Mixed Race. Total. Education Districts, Boys. Girls. Total. Boys. Girls. Total. Boys. Girls. Total. Luckland ?aranaki S1 2 29 80 2 25 3 72 7 5 5 "9 125 3 13 244 3 23 3 48 4 1 170 2 24 3 84 4 3 ■4 6 1 25 13 154 3 24 3 36 7 3 10 12 1 '7 »3 324 S 1 120 iVanganui Wellington lawke's Bay ilarlborough ... kelson ■forth Canterbury louth Canterbury .,, (Vestland )tago louthland '4 11 10 52 2 3 20 S 3 3 32 2 2 11 6 2 I 5 1 6 I 10 12 '9 18 24 18 2 42 26 1 2 6 19 '3 >7 13 36 26 Total for 1881 Total for 1880 I3S 123 72 81 207 204 214 "5 211 116 425 231 349 238 283 197 632 43S

Ages. Boys. Girls. Total. Percei (excluding unde ntage. I Children *5). five and under seven years ... leven and under ten years ... .'en and under thirteen years .'hirteen and under fifteen years )ver fifteen years ... 10,014 15.477 '3.214 4,089 674 8,983 14,111 12,179 3,9.31 888 i8,997 29,588 ■25.393 8,020 1,563 1881. 2273 35'4' 30'39 9'6o 1-87 1S80. 22-33 35"99 30-25 966 i'77 Totals for 1881 Totah for 1880 43.468 42.734 40,092 39,667 83.560 82,401 IOO'OO lOO'OO Increase .., 734 425 1.159