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and tone; "these to be studied largely at home and discussed at school. Examination to be held as to their contents, themes set upon them, different passages pavaphrased, and choice passages committed to memory." Drill. —We have again to record our satisfaction with the attention given to the subjects of military drill and physical training, both of which receive full recognition in all the larger schools. In districts where the number of pupils is too small for profitable instruction in military drill, physical exercises of suitable types are practically universal. The teaching of military drill has received a strong stimulus through the formation and equipment of cadet corps, whose neat uniforms (generally provided from the proceeds of concerts and from private subscriptions) lend effect to massed displays, and form an attraction which, appealing to the tastes of boys, goes far to popularise the cadet movement. Nine city and suburban schools, together with those in the larger provincial centres, including Kaiapoi, Rangiora with Southbrook, Ashburton, and Hampstead, have furnished numbers sufficient for the formation of two battalions. The public appearance of these young people on parade for inspection by Colonel Loveday, and at the annual gathering of the Public Schools Athletic Association in Lancaster Park, where some six hundred of them were assembled on the 29th November, not only furnished a striking testimony to the efficiency of their training, but also provided unquestionable evidence of the excellent discipline maintained by their teachers. Exercises more appropriate for girls include practice with wands, clubs, and dumb-bells, and are carried out with commendable enthusiasm on the part of both mistresses and pupils. The displays given by the girls at the annual meetings in November always form a specially attractive feature in the day's programme, and are warmly appreciated by the public. We have, &c, L. B. Wood, M.A., \ W. J. Anderson, L.L.D., I Inspectors. Thos. Ritchie, 8.A., j The Chairman, North Canterbury Education Board

Summary of Results for the Whole District.

SOUTH CANTERBURY. Sir,— Timaru, 28th March, 1904. We have the honour to present our annual report on the schools of the South Canterbury District for the year 1903. During the year seventy schools were in operation, and towards the close of the year a new school was opened at Kohika. All the schools were duly inspected and examined. The Roman Catholic schools were examined as usual in the middle of the year. There are five of these in our district, with a total roll number of 644 pupils, of whom 560 were present at our annual visit, and 348 passed in one or other of the standards, being a percentage of 87 of the number present in Standards I. to VI., and of 53 in Standard VI., the only class in which the passes are wholly determined by the Inspector. The examination of pupil-teachers was held in the beginning of July, and the examination for scholarships in December. In December also a pupil-teacher's entrance examination was conducted for the first time. The names of those that pass this examination are placed in order of merit, and as vacancies occur the Board will make appointments from the list, those young persons who stand highest being given the preference. The higher work of the Waimate, Temuka, and Geraldine District High Schools was examined at the time of our annual visit to these schools, and special reports on the work were submitted to the Board.

Glasses. Number on Roll. Present at Inspector's Annual Visit. Passed. Average Age of Pupils in each Class. I itandardVII. VI. V. IV. III. II. I. 'repa ratory Totals ... 309 1,462 2,167 ... I 2,472 ... : 2,503 2,297 2,193 6,204 19,607 219 1,401 2,012 2,311 2,344 2,154 2,039 5,281 i S 1,103 1,494 1,809 1,885 1,925 1,932 Yrs. mos. 13 9 12 10 11 11 10 11 9 10 8 9 17,761 10,148 11 4.* * Mean of average ai ze.