E.—lb

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schools. They Contained altogether 597 pupils, so that altogether the Inspectors dealt with 10,062 pupils who were returned on the schedules as receiving instruction in accordance with departmental regulations. The number oi teachers in the service of the Board in December was 253. One hundred and fifty of them held certificates of competency from the Department in Wellington, five held a license to teach, forty-five held no certificate, and fifty-three were pupil-teachers who were receiving definite training and instruction in the schools to which they were severally attached. The school attendance for the year shows only a fair increase. Sickness has been rife in many districts, and a number of the schools were compulsorily closed in consequence of measles, whoopingcough, and other forms of children's ailments. The losses in salary to teachers by the appearance of an epidemic oi' sickness or by a run of bad weather cause murmurings which, if not loud, are deep, and it would be a good thing to recognise the principle in the payment of teachers' salaries that no deductions would be made in cases where the falling-ofi in attendance is the outcome of causes over which the teachers have no control. A regulation having this end in view would be hailed by teachers with much satisfaction. In the large majority of schools the accommodation is ample for the requirements, and the buildings are in fair repair. The demand for additions and new buildings are few, and a comparatively small expenditure would satisfy the full school needs of the district. It is surprising why no heed has been paid to the frequent applications for accommodation at Mangapapa and Mahora, where the rooms have been overflowing for a long time. It is useless to urge the claims of these districts any longer. Tipapakuku School is full, but the claims are not pressing as at Mangapapa, although the teaching can hardly be effective, as there is a single room in which ninety children are instructed under several teachers. The schools at Woodlands Road, Ngapaeruru, and Rissington are conducted in buildings that are unfitted as places for the instruction of young children, and I would again urge the claims of these districts to consideration. The growing tendency among settlers to ask for the establishment of a school, and this without a corresponding increase in the school attendance in the district, is to be regretted. One's sympathy must always go out to the settlers in remote places, where, perhaps, three or four children of school age are calling for instruction. As much help as possible should be rendered, but the help will best be given by providing a good school at a reasonable distance, and making a grant towards the maintenance of a horse in cases where riding to school is necessary. The small school is too often the inefficient school, and, although it provides something for the children, it certainly does not provide what can be better provided in other ways. The condition of the school buildings calls for some notice. The arrangements for painting the buildings are barely keeping pace with the requirements. Perhaps it would be well to employ an additional painter for a time, so that the buildings in the Poverty Bay district could be painted without the withdrawal of the painters from the schools in the southern portion of the district. Whenever the painter visits a school it would be well to arrange for painting the inside and outside of all buildings, and definite tones of colouring should be selected for all inside work. A cheerful schoolroom is the stepping-stone to a cheerful home in the case of many children. Much of the school furniture is now old, and but few appliances have been supplied for many years. Under the present syllabus of instruction modern appliances are necessary. In some of the older schools the desks are worn out, or are unsuitable for use by senior pupils. Applications have already been made by the Napier North and Hastings Committees for new desks for the upper classes, and, if they art; to be supplied, it is advisable that a definite type of single desk be approved for use in schools where refurnishing may be necessary, and in all new buildings. A thousand pounds expended in school apparatus and appliances would barely provide for actual wants in the schools at this time, and no account whatever is taken of the estimated cost of apparatus that is necessary for instruction in elementary physics and chemistry in tRe larger schools. The classification of pupils at the date of the annual examination for promotions will be seen in the accompanying table, which gives the roll-number for each standard class, the number present at examination, and the corresponding numbers for 1900.

* Mean of average age. It is now two years since the Board agreed to hold a synchronous examination for all Sixth Standard pupils. Teachers were then instructed to make their annual class promotions in December, instead of at the time of the Inspector's annual visit to a school. These changes were of great

Classes. Classes. Number on Boll. Present at Inspector's Annual Visit. Average Age of Pupils in each Class. Standard VII VI v IV III II I Preparatory J 101 574 831 1,090 1,125 1,253 1,106 3,385 98 555 787 1,022 1,046 1,171 1,039 2,965 Yrs. mos. 15 0 13 9 13 0 12 3 11 1 10 1 9 7 7 2 Totals 9,465 8,683 11 6*