65

E.—l

Standard I. than was the case a few years ago. The Inspector speaks hopefully of the work done during the year, and, although there are wide differences in the standard results between the good and poor schools, the average is satisfactory. The number of standard passes for the year shows a marked increase, and, what is of perhaps more importance, the increase is chiefly in the higher standards. The progress made in the class and additional subjects is not so apparent, although in some schools excellent work appears to have been done. Due attention also continues to be paid to the improvement of the schools in tone, manners, and discipline. The table appended to the Inspector's report contains an interesting summary of the results for each school for the past year, under the heads of " Standard Eesults," "Manners," " Discipline," &c. The standard passes for the year will be found in the following table, which contains the examination results for each year since 1878 : —

Although the total presentations in standards for the year were only six in excess of those for 1888, the passes show an increase of 306 compared with those for that year. The increase is general through the standards, but is more marked in Standard 11. and upwards, where the effects of a good Standard I. a c shown by the large proportion of pupils who pass on to a higher standard. In the year 1888 there were 1,132 presentations in Standard 1., whilst last year the presentations fell to 1,009, which shows that the demand for thoroughness in the elementary work is having its full effect upon the teaching in the lower departments. The synchronous examination of the pupils in Standards V. and VI. took place in November. As usual, supervisors were appointed for each school where there were pupils to be examined. On the results of Standard VI. scholarships are awarded, and the competition for them has become exceedingly keen between the different schools. Attention was called last year to the growing efficiency of the country schools, and the remarks then1 made have been more than sustained by the results of the past year. Gisbome and Napier formerly carried off all the prizes offered by the Board, but strong competitors are now found at the Waipawa, Hastings, Port Ahuriri, Woodville, Havelock, Waipukurau, Ormondville, and Te Arai Schools, from each of which successful pupils were sent in for examination in November, and several other schools are promising equally good results. Scholarships. —ln addition to the ordinary scholarships, which are limited to the amount of the capitation allowance received from the Government, the School Commissioners, out of the funds available from secondary reserves, have offered fifteen scholarships for competition to the pupils of the old provincial district, thirteen being non-resident scholarships, and limited to Napier and the surrounding district within a radius of fourteen miles, the other two being resident scholarships, and limited to pupils in the provincial district who are outside of the fifteenmiles radius. These scholarships, when they are in full working, will be tenable for two years ; but, being the first year of issue, seven were granted for two years and six for one year, so that in 1890 and in each succeeding year at least six Commissioners' scholarships will be open for competition, in addition to those ordinarily granted by the Board. On the Inspector's recommendation, it has been decided to discontinue the synchronous examinations, and for the future Standards V. and VI. will be examined at the same time as the other standard pupils. The scholarship examination will be held in December, at the same time as for pupil-teachers, and new regulations will shortly be submitted to the Minister, containing the rules, such as the Board may consider to be necessary. Two scholarships have also been instituted by the Caledonian Society, but they are offered for competition to pupils who have passed Standard IV. The same society offered a gold medal to the pupil who gained the highest marks in the scholarship examination, without limit as to school, and the prize was carried off by Hedley Thomson, of the Gisbome School. Gisbobne District High School.—Under regulations duly approved by the Minister this school was constituted a district high school at the beginning of 1888. That year the pupils numbered thirteen, whilst last year there were twenty-nine attending. The fees amounted to £199 165., which, added to the annual subsidy of £150 given by the Board of Governors of the Gisborne High School, who have no school of their own, provided an income more than sufficient for the maintenance of the school.; In December those pupils who had not entered for the matriculation examination were examined by the Inspector, who was assisted by three other "gentlemen, and the results-were reported as being on the whole very satisfactory. Of the six pupils who entered for the matriculation examination, five passed the requirements — a result which reflects the highest credit upon the soundness of the teaching at this school. It might be further mentioned as one of the rules of the school that no pupil is permitted to take up the " secondary subjects " unless Standard VI. has been passed.

9—E. 1.

Year. Sti julan I. Sta: idard I. Stai idard III. Sta: idard IV. sianda: dV. Standard VI. Total Passes. I .878 .879 .880 881 .882 .883 .884 .885 .886 .887 .888 .889 I M. ... 272 . . 228 ... " 199 ... ! 225| ... ! 213 ... 298 ... 396 ... I 332 ... 368! ... ! 324j ... j 428i i F. 277 201 174 161 177 264 360 361 357 329 386 Total 549 429 373 386: 390; 562| 756! I 693 I 725 653: 814, 858! M. 61 224 176 202 184 225 234 294 240 290 318 F. 39 166 158 172 166 196 215 279 277 294 299 Total 100 390 334 374 350| 4211 449! 573j 517 584' 617 735 M. 57 95; 104! 154 17l! 159! 200i 198 224 209 255! F. 45 94 103 117 156 140 175 177 178 211! 255 Total 102 189 207 271 327 299 375 375 402 j 420! 510 550 M. 7 43 53 69 86 1211 94 140 134 149 167 F. 4 22 40 66| 70 89 98 136 124 121 168' Total 11 65 93 j 135 156 >■ 210 192 276 258 270 335 390 M. 19 22i 44 441 49 35 80 75 97 F. 6! 15 26 28: 49 51 61 100, 77 Total 25 37 70 72 98 86 141 175, 17* 208s M. loi 12 22 17 34 32 ,54 :42 1 F. ... 9 13 14 29 27 38 69 Total i ... 10 21 35 31 63 59 92 111 126 762 1,073 1,032 1,213 1,314 1,599 1,901 2,066 2,102 2,194 2,561 2,867 ... ... 1 " ;