E.—l.

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

Office of the Department of Education, Sib, — Wellington, 14th June, 1883. I have the honour, 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, 1882. I have, &c, Thomas Dick. His Excellency Sir William E. Drummond Jervois, G.C.M.G., &c, Governor of New Zealand.

KEIPOKT. The main purpose of this report is to furnish full information respecting the " public schools" established and maintained under the provisions of " The Education Act, 1877," and the administration of the reserves appropriated by Parliament for the partial maintenance of primary and secondary schools. It is deemed convenient, however, to give also a brief summary of the work of certain educational institutions of a public character which do not come under the operation of the Education Act; fuller information regarding them being supplied in separate parliamentary papers. These papers contain reports on Native schools (E.-2), industrial schools and orphanages (E.-3), and the institution for deaf mutes (E.-4), all of which (except some of the industrial schools and orphanages) are under the direct management of the Education Department; on the University of New Zealand (E.-5), the University of Otago (E.-6), and Canterbury College (E.-7); on secondary schools (E.-8), nearly all of which are required by law to make annual reports to the Minister of Education ; and on the distribution of the vote of £6,000 for public libraries (E.-9). The Boards' reports and those of the School Commissioners who manage the education reserves are contained in the Appendix. The- Inspector-General's report on the annual examination for teachers' certificates, and the reports of the Boards' Inspectors of Schools are printed in separate papers, (E.-]a and E.-1b respectively), i—E. 1.

EDUCATION. SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OE EDUCATION. [In Continuation of E.-l, 1882.]

1883. NEW ZEALAND.