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I have, &c, William L. F. Fetch, M.A., Inspector. The Chairman, Education Board, Greymouth.

WBSTLAND. Sic, — Education Office, Hokitika, sth February, 1902. I have the honour to present the following report on the primary schools of the district for the year 1901: All the schools were examined* with the exception of a household school that was opened during the year. In addition the examination of five Catholic schools, the secondary class of the Hokitika District High School, the pupil-teachers, and the candidates for scholarships was duly conducted. Owing to my absence from the district for three months the inspection was not so complete as usual, but nearly all schools with an average attendance over twenty and several smaller schools were visited at least once. The following table supplies information regarding the number of pupils and of promotions in connection with the examinations held during the year : —

Pass-subjects.

It may be noted that of 1,153 pupils on the rolls 100, or nearly 9 per cent., were absent at the Inspector's examination. In standards there were fifty-one absences, as compared with twelve in the preceding year. This increase is apparently due to indifference, induced by the fact that in the larger schools the promotions are practically based on a previous examination by the headmaster. It must be regarded, however, as evidence of a lack of interest or control on the part of the parents or the teachers when such absences are numerous. If a true estimate is to be made of the school year it is essential that at the examination every pupil should be present. The following information may be found of value : The percentage of pupils in the various classes compared with the total roll is—Above Standard VI., 39; Standard VI., 95 ; Standard V., 11 ; Standard IV., 12-9; Standard 111., 12-4 ; Standard 11., 11-1; Standard 1., 104 ; Preparatory Class, 288. The percentage of failures in Standards I. to VI. is 18, an increase of six on that of the previous year. The number of pupils presented in a lower class in arithmetic is twenty and in a higher class three, no other instances occurring of the exercise of freedom of classification. Of the 332 pupils in the preparatory classes fifty were over eight years of age, and the reasons stated for their presence in the class were in general satisfactory. The work of the schools of the district has been carried on under conditions somewhat adverse. The chief of these is a diminution of the number of half-days on which the majority of the schools have been open. The reduction is due to the large number of holidays occasioned by special events and to the prevalence of sickness. Few schools have maintained the normal rate of from 420 to 430 half-days, while in connection with fourteen, including some of the larger schools, that number has been reduced by fifty or more half-days. The result, as already stated, was an increase

Classes. Presented. Present. Passed. \ Secondary class and class above Standard VI. Standard VI. . . V. ... IV. ... „ III. ... ... II I. ... 9 19 33 23 31 39 24 92 19 30 23 28 37 24 19 29 23 28 37 24 'reparatory Totals 161 160

Classes. Total Roll. Present at,Inspector's Examinations. Passed. Average Age of Pupils in each Class. Above Standard VI. ... Standard VI. V. „ IV. „ III. II. I. 45 109 127 149 143 128 120 332 42 99 121 136 133 121 115 286 85 104 108 125 112 104 Yrs. mos. 14 11 13 9 12 11 12 4 10 11 9 9 8 9 6 9 Preparatory Totals ... 1,153 1,053 638 11 3* * Mean of average age.