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Inspection Eesults. —The school examinations were all completed before the close of the school year, and the results show an increase in the number of those children who have satisfied the requirements. The Inspector, in his report, speaks highly of the work done by the teachers as a whole, but reference is again made by him to the desirability of more systematic work in teaching the different class-subjects. Eecently the Board has adopted regulations having this object in viewT, and teachers in the Board's service are now required to keep a " Standard Lesson Book " showing the sequence of each subject taught, with the notes prepared upon the subject. The Board hopes by this means to improve the teaching which is now imparted in the schools under its control. The following table shows the number of pupils who have passed in the standard examinations for each year since 1878: —

The examination of the pupils in Standards V. and VI., which is held on the same date throughout the district, took place on the 6th November, 1885. Each School Committee where there are pupils lor examination appoints two supervisors to give out the papers on the examinationday, and to carry out the instructions issued by the Board. On the results of this examination scholarships are awarded to the pupils in Standard VI. who stand highest on the lists, and who are not more than fifteen years of age. At the recent examination twelve scholarships were awarded; Pupil-teachees.—New regulations have recently been approved by the Board having reference to the better training and instruction of the pupil-teachers. Hitherto the annual examinations have been in July, but for the future they will be held in the month of December. This will enable ex-pupil-teachers who remain in the Board's service for a fifth year's course to take the Class E. certificate papers for their final examination. The regulations dealing with the instruction of the pupil-teachers require that " one hour before the ordinary school day begins must be set aside on four days in each school week for the instruction of the pupil-teachers;" and, further, " that there shall be kept a register of attendance, in which each teacher is required to enter the time when he or she arrived at the school for the purpose of giving or receiving lessons." These rules the Board has reason to believe will have the effect of improving still more the efficiency of the pupil-teachers in this district. The Board is pleased to state that the reports received from the Principals of the Wellington and Christchurch Colleges upon the students holding scholarships from the Board continue to be very satisfactory. Oscar Alpers, one of the scholarship holders at the Christchurch Training College, has been successful in obtaining a scholarship at the Canterbury College; and Miss Morgan, another scholarship holder, has received an appointment on the teaching staff of the Wellington Training College. As pointed out last year, the benefits to this district from the granting of Training College scholarships to the ex-pupil-teachers are beginning to be felt, as several of those who have been students are now employed as teachers under the Board. Sewing.—Sewing continues to receive special attention in most of the schools throughout the district. At the general examination in November twenty-five schools were represented, and 893 specimens of sewing were separately examined for marks by the lady examiners, who give so much care and attention to this important subject. The number of specimens examined in each standard was—Standard 1., 250; Standard 11., 229; Standard 111., 20.3; Standard IV., 116; Standard V., 74; Standard VI., 21 : total, 893. This year the competition for the three prizes annually given by Captain Eussell for the best specimens, first, of patching a pair of trousers ; second, of darning a pair of stockings ; third, of cutting out and making a night-shirt, has been much keener than in any previous year, and most of the competitors sent in excellent work. The suggestive report of the examiners will be found appended. The Board is pleased to state that at the recent Industrial Exhibition in Wellington the schools in Hawke's Bay gained eleven first prizes, nine seconds, four thirds, and five honourable mentions in this important subject. Savings-Banks and Evening-Classes.—No savings-banks or night-schools have yet been established in any of the Board schools. Several attempts have been made to start the latter, but as yet without success. With regard to the former, the Inspector points out " that most of the teachers do not care to attempt anything which does not minister directly to the success of the standard results." School Committees. —The Board again desires to recognise the efforts made by most of the School Committees to promote the well-being of the schools under their control. In this district the aim of the Board has always been to consult Committees as much as possible where the interests of their several districts are concerned, and the Board has found no cause to regret the adoption of this course. During the year.the sum of nearly £750 was collected by them over and above the grants voted by the Board for school purposes. This does not include the moneys collected towards the salaries of teachers in subsidised schools, and which, except in a single instance, do not pass through the Board's accounts.

St. lNDAED I. Standabd II. Sta: [DARJ III. Sta: [DAK] IV. Standard V. Sta: rDA: ID VI. ear. Total Passes. M. F. Total. M. F. I Total. M. F. Total. M. F. Total. M. JF. Total. M. F. Totl. 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 272 228 199 225 218 298 396 332 277 201 174 161 177 264 1 360 361 549 429 373 386 390 562 754 693 61 224 176 202 184; 225 234 294 39 100 166 390 158 334 172; 374 166' 350 196! 421 215: 451 279 1 573 57 95 104 154! mi 159j 200 198 45 94 1031 117| 156 140 175 177 102 189 207 271 327 299 375 375 7 43 53 69 86 121 94 140 I 4 22 40; 66! 70, 89 98 136: 11 65 93 135 156 210 192 276 19 22 44' 49| 35 6 15 26 28 49 51 25 37 70 72 98 86 io 12 22! 17! 34 9 13 14 29 10 21 35 31 63 762 1,073 1,032 1,213 1,314 1,599 1,906 2,066