E.—lb

8

great superiority of these as compared with those worked by the candidates of the previous years. The majority of the candidates have acquitted themselves with credit, and a considerable number of them have passed an excellent examination. The tuition in domestic economy, the laws of health, and animal physiology has been well imparted. But the papers worked in algebra disclosed inaccuracies in the knowledge of algebraical rules, and want of care in answering simple questions. No real apprehension of the first principles of algebra was apparent, and all future attempts to gain knowledge of the more advanced portions will consequently be fruitless. The general standard of the papers in Euclid was not of average merit. Only one paper bore signs of facility in working out a proposition. Teaching.—The teaching power of the candidates was quite satisfactory, and above the average of former years. Some rise considerably above the average, while others fall somewhat below it. Still the general aptitude to teach is very encouraging, and gives earnest of good things for the future. Needlewobk.—Mrs. A. A. Browne, the examiner, reports; " I have great pleasure in testifying to the neatness of most of the specimens of plain needlework which I examiued. The darning was not so good. In the majority of cases the darns were not extended far enough from the holes, the cotton was drawn too tightly, and no attention had been paid to the threads of the material." Music. —Mr. 8,. W. Pownall, the examiner, reports : "As a whole the result of the examination was exceedingly satisfactory. I should like, however, to suggest the use of Taylor's or the Oxford Manual of Music, for the use of pupil-teachers, as being concise and free from confusing technicalities. And I shall be glad to explain the theory to the pupil-teachers of the district, if they can at any time be got together." Pbesentation fob a Fobmal Pass. —In this matter of presentation I have in all instances carried out your Board's resolution bearing upon it. All children who had made 250 attendances were presented for examination in the standards. The examination schedules were made out as usual, containing the names of all that were presented for a formal pass. Exception schedules were filled in with the names of those children not eligible for presentation. The exceptions were —(1) Infants who had not been two years at school; (2) children who had been a long time absent from illness or other causes ; and (3) children ineligible for presentation on account of physical or mental weakness. The schedules were certified by the Chairman of the School Committee, and delivered to me on the day of examination. Statistics of Individual Examination.—To continue the practice adopted in former reports, I have drawn out the subjoined tables,* which embrace the following particulars : (1) The number of children on the roll in each school and in each county on the days of examination ; (2) the number of children present on the days of examination ; (3) the number of infants who had been less than two years at school; (4) the number of children who had been a long time absent from illness or other caus'es ; (5) the number of children ineligible for presentation owing to physical or mental weakness ; (6) the total exceptions ; (7) the number of scholars examined for a formal pass ; (8) the number of children presented in the several standards; (9) the number that rose to a pass; (10) the number that failed to rise; (11) the percentage of the total number presented for a pass; (L2) the number of scholars that rose from a lower to a higher standard in the course of the year; (13) the number that passed in reading, spelling and dictation, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, history, and sewing; (14) the average age of the children in the several standards; (15) the strict working average for the past year ; and (16) the total number of children individually examined. The exact number of schools under inspection in the five counties is 61, and the staff employed in these schools—Certificated teachers, 49; uncertificated teachers, 32 ; pupil-teachers, 33 ; unpaid cadets, 14 : total, 128. On the days of examination the roll number was 2,558 boys and 2,366 girls : total, 4,924. The gross number present was 2,200 boys and 1,972 girls: total, 4,172. The number of infants who had been less than two years at school was 793 boys and 702 girls: total, 1,495. The number of children who had been a long time absent from illness or other causes was 201 boys and 301 girls: total, 505. The number of children ineligible for presentation on account of physical or mental weakness was 20 boys and 10 girls: total, 30. The total number of allowances was 2,030. The number of children preseuted for a formal pass was 2,640. Of these scholars. 702 were presented in Standard 1., 643 in 11., 611 in 111., 425 in IV., 196 in V., 63 in VI. Of these, 569 rose to a pass in Standard 1., 513 in 11., 366 in 111, 288 in IV., 136 in V., 49 in VI.: total, 1,921. And there failed to rise in Standard I, 133 ; in 11., 130; in 111., 245 ; in IV., 139 ; in V., 60; in VI., 14 : total, 719. The percentage of passes on the total number examined for a formal pass was 76'8. The number that rose from a lower to a higher standard in the course of the year was 630 boys and 685 girls : total, 1,315. There passed in reading 2,479, in spelling and dictation 2,111, in writing 2,478, in arithmetic 1,912, in grammar 979, in geography 1,219, in history 857, and in sewing BG3. The total number of passes in these subjects was 12,898. The average age of the scholars presented for a formal pass in Standard I. was B'4 years ; in 11., 97 years ; in 111., 11 years ; in IV., 12'5 years ; in V., 13'6 years ; in VI., 14 5 years. The strict working average for the past year was 1,893 boys and 1,731 girls: total, 3,624. The total number of scholars individually examined was 4,172. The number of certificated teachers has increased from 40 to 49 (or 22'5 per cent.) ; the number ofscholars on the registers from 4,462 to 4,924 (or 10'3 per cent.) ; those present at inspection, from 3,918 to 4,172 (or 6'4 per cent.) ; the strict working average, from 3,386 to 3,624 (or 7 per cent.) ; those presented for a pass, from 2,376 to 2,640 (or ll'l per cent.) ; those who passed fell from 1,926 to 1,925 (or '2 per cent.) ; those who failed have risen from 450 to 719 (or 57 5 per cent.) ; those who rose from a lower to a higher standard, from 1,315 to 1,315 (or equal to last year) ; while the whole number of children individually examined has increased from 3,820 to 4,172 (or 92 per cent.). Remaeks on the Fourth Sjtandaed and those abote it. — Fourth: The number of candidates has increased this year to from 306 to 425 (or 38'8 per cent.). Unfortunately this large increase is caused by children being put up for examination in schools where many of them stood on the border line between failure and success when examined the previous year for a pass in the Third Standard. Had it not been for the influx of these incapables, and other unfortunate circumstances

* Not reprinted.