E.—l.

V

TABLE A2. —Comparison of School Attendance, &c.—continued.

It will be seen from this table that there has been a very marked increase in average attendance in the Auckland District, placing it well ahead of other districts in this respect. The next largest increases shown are in the Wellington, Wanganui, Hawke's Bay and North Canterbury Districts, in none of which, however, is the rate of increase noted in the previous year fully maintained. The calculation of the daily attendance according to the working average came into force in 1894. In that year the attendance for the North Island was 46,830, and that for the South Island was 58,166. During the next five years there was an unbroken (but gradually diminishing) increase each year in the North Island, amounting altogether to 7,000. In the South Island, after an increase in the first two years of 1,515, there was a net falling-off of 1,670. During the subsequent five years the increase in the North Island was 7,193 and the falling-off in the South Island 1,003. For the whole period (1895-1905) the increase in the North Island has amounted to 30 per cent., and the decrease in the South Island to 4J per cent., of the numbers in 1894. Table A3 shows the average attendance for the year in each' of the education districts of the colony, and also the regularity of attendance of the pupils on the school-rolls.

TABLE A3. —School Attendance for 1905.

As regards regularity of school attendance in the several parts of the colony, it is a very gratifying fact that there has been a marked improvement in every district in the colony. Otago, which ever since 1901 has stood at the head of the list, still maintains that position with the fine percentage of 89*7, I*l per cent, higher even than last year. Westland, with a percentage of 89 "3, and South Canterbury with 88 "2 hold second and third places. Auckland, Wellington, and Wanganui have the highest percentages in the North Island. As a whole the South

Average Attendance. Districts. 1905. 1904. Difference. Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland .. North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland 1,633 4,831 1,381 901 16,871 4,501 17,438 8,476 1,629 4,712 1,384 927 16,671 4,444 17,397 8,319 4 119 - 3 - 26 200 57 41 157 Totals, South Island .. 56,032 55,483 549 Totals for colony 120,265 116,506 3,759

loll-num] Avera{ ;e Attenda Vhole Yeai for lers. Percentage of the Mean of Average Weekly Roll of Four Quarters. Education Districts Pupils at Beginning ■of Year, Admitted during the Year. Left during the Year. Pupils belonging at End of Year. Mean of Average Weekly Boll of Four Quarters. Boys. Girls. j Total. 1905. 1904. mckland .. taranaki Vanganui Vellington lawke's Bay larlborough kelson 29,008 4,532 11,448 13,665 8,285 1,803 5,310 1,509 962 18,058 4,888 18,121 9,064 14,325 2,090 5,765 7,542 3,625 654 2,000 553 322 7,238 1,524 6,502 3,145 11,694 1,670 4,727 4,952 3,040 561 1,736 470 260 5,911 1,266 5,417 2,611 31,639 4,952 12,486 16,255 8,870 1,896 5,574 1,592 1,024 19,385 5,146 19,206 9,598 31,673 4,977 12,583 16,235 8,986 1,923 5,639 1,633 1,009 19,568 5,104 19,436 9,705 14,645 2,289 5,692 7,453 4,026 864 2,495 682 459 8,789 2,360 9,040 4,439 12,862 1,963 5,082 6,618 3,603 769 2,336 699 442 8,082 2,141 8,398 4,037 27,507 4,252 10,774 14,071 7,629 1,633 4,831 1,381 901 16,871 4,501 17,438 8,476 86-8 85-4 85-6 86-7 84-9 84-9 85-7 84-6 89-3 86-2 88-2 89-7 87-3 84-9 83 9 84-2 84-7 84-5 839 84-2 83-1 87-4 85-1 87-5 886 866 >rey Vestland .. >torth Canterbury .. South Canterbury .. )tago Southland Totals for 1905 .. Totals for 1904 .'. 126,653 125,150 55,285 53,298 44,315 42,977 137,623 135,475 138,471 136,282 63,233 61,297 57,032 55,209 120,265 116,506 869 85-5 Difference 1,503 1,987 1,338 2,148 2,189 1,936 1,823 3,759 1-4