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the four quarters of the year the mean average weekly roll-number was 10,269-7, showing an increase for the year of only 143-2. The various quarters showed as follows: First, or March quarter, 10,348; second, or June quarter, 10,217; third, or September quarter, 10,231; fourth, or December quarter, 10,283. Average Attendance. —Por the last quarter of the year the strict average daily attendances were : Males, 4,319 ; females, 4,033 : total, 8,352. The working-average for the same quarter was 8,459 —that is, 107 higher than the strict average. For the four quarters of the year the strict average daily attendance was 8,257 - 5, and the working-average 8,368-2. The strict average attendance expressed as a percentage of the roll-number is 80-4. We are pleased to note an improvement year by year in the regularity of the attendance. For the past year there has been a gain of 0-9, and since 1880 a gain of 6-6. The percentages for the several quarters were : March, 78-3 ; June, 80-8; September, 81-3 ; December, 81-2. The percentage in the first quarter is always the lowest, and this, no doubt, is accounted for by potato-lifting and grass-seeding operations, coupled with dilatoriness on the part of the pupils in returning to school after the long midsummer holidays. Truant officers were appointed by the Board during the latter half of the year, and we are in hopes that they will be the means of still further improving the attendance. Roman Catholic Schools. —The four Boman Catholic schools in the district were duly examined, but we were unable to find time to inspect them. The following are the examination results : —

Inspection. —Nearly all the schools open for twelve months when we were in their respective districts we managed to visit for purposes of inspection, and in each case full reports were laid before the Board, and duplicate copies sent to the teacher. Altogether 109 schools were inspected. Several newly established schools were visited for the first time, the majority of them being towards the interior, as Parapara, Raetihi, Oakune, Moawhango, Taihape, Utiku, Euahine, and Mangawhero. We firmly believe in the importance of thorough inspection, and therefore regret all the more our inability to visit every school. That we cannot do so is due not so much to the increase of late years in the number of schools as to the time it takes in mere travelling from one school to another of those recently established. For example, here is how one Inspector's time was taken up during the five school-days of one week: Monday and Tuesday, riding 78 miles to Eaetihi, most of the journey being over a very dangerous bridle-track (save the mark); Wednesday, inspection of Eaetihi, and 18 miles ride to Karioi; Thursday, 30 miles ride to Moawhango; Friday, inspection of Moawhango, and 28 miles ride to Mangaweka. Thus, to inspect two schools with a combined roll-number of 71 pupils five days of over twelve hours each were consumed, and 154 miles were covered on horseback ! But in a fairly closely-settled part of the district eight to ten schools can be visited by one Inspector in a week. Then, again, the scholarships examination and the pupilteachers' examination are a much heavier tax on our time than they were a few years ago, and it was only by excessive night-work that we were able to have our examination papers drawn out in time. Again, our clerical work in the office has much increased, and our correspondence in consequence is generally behindhand. Taking all these circumstances into consideration, we can clearly see that it is quite impossible for us to overtake both the inspection and the examination of all the schools. We presume both the Board and the Committees would prefer some of the inspections should lapse rather than some of the examinations. Examination of Schools. —The following table summarises the examination results for each standard, and for all standards, in the district, and also shows che average age of those that passed in each standard. Another table, of which the one here is a summary, and which gives every information with regard to individual schools, may be seen in manuscript at the office.

School. Number on Roll. Presented in Standards. Present in Standards. Failed in Standards. Passed in Standards. Marist Brothers', Wanganui Wanganui Girls' ... Palmerston North 73 105 87 95 72 51 51 55 71 46 51 53 20 15 10 17 51 31 41 36 Hawera... Totals ... 360 229 221 62 159

Number of Schools examined in each Class. Glasses. Presented. Examined in Standards. Absent. Failed Pas Percent. if Passes on Average Age of those that passed. No. presented No. examined. Yrs. mos. 83 98 107 112 111 112 114 Above Standard VI. Standard VI. V. IV. III. II. I. 83 388 763 1,280 1,514 1,421 1,283 3,095 373 739 1,216 1,469 1,377 1,253 15 24 64 45 44 30 88 183 352 316 119 81 285 556 864 1,153 1,258 1,172 73-5 72-9 67-5 76-2 88-5 91-3 76-4 75-2 71-1 78'5 91-4 93-5 14 6 13 9 12 7 11 7 10 5 9 1 Preparatory Totals 9,827 6,427 222 1,139 5,288 ! 79-5 82-3 Mean— 12 yrs.