E.— 2.

[Appendix C.

uncertificated teachers in outlying districts to obtain a "full qualification." As the Board was at liberty to expend this grant either in establishing correspondence classes, or in maintaining classes at a suitable training centre, it decided to give some teachers in the " backblocks " a month's instruction at the Training College. Ten teachers were selected, for this purpose, and classes for their instruction are now being held. As these teachers will have the opportunity of '-observing classes, not only at the Training College but at other schools in the city, this arrangement is preferable to the establishment of correspondence classes alone. Moreover, the instructors at the Training College will also arrange to give assistance by correspondence during the year. The practice of holding such classes at the Training College during either the summer or the winter months is one that will be of such great benefit to the small schools in the country that we strongly recommend its continuance. In concluding this report we would again express our appreciation of the whole-hearted and spontaneous support afforded to us in the performance of our ordinary duties by our teachers as a whole. We have every reason to know that the Board is fortunate in having in its service a body of men and women whose character and professional attainments are without question, and on our own part we feel we have every reason to congratulate ourselves on our association with fellow-workers whose loyal co-operation and strenuous endeavour have been the chief factors in maintaining the high educational efficiency of the district. We have, &c, T. R. Fleming, ) F. H. Bakewell, J. S. Tennant, j The Chairman, Education Board, Wellington.

APPENDIX. Summary of Roman Catholic, Schools.

HAWKE'S BAY. Sir, — Inspector's Office, Napier, 2nd February, 1912. The seven months that have elapsed since my return from England have barely sufficed for visiting all the large and small schools of this extensive district, but the majority of them have been visited, and previous to the commencement of the midsummer vacation Mr. Smith and I had finished the annual visit to all the schools, with four exceptions. These would have been duly examined but for circumstances over which the Inspectors had no control. One hundred and thirteen Board schools and twelve household schools were in operation at the end of the year. Excluding the household schools, all were visited either once or twice durinothe year, and, with the exception of four, were duly examined. In addition, nine Catholic and three private schools were examined and reported on in the usual way. For the year ended 31st December, 1911, the average school roll of attendance was 10,423, and the average attendance 9,223, which represents 88"4 per cent, of regularity of children at school for the year. No records are available to show the regularity of pupils attending other than Board schools, but it would be well if such were sent to the Inspectors for their information, as the same conditions as to attendance at school should operate for all children throughout the district. Regularity in the attendance of children at school has been hindered very much owing to the existence of sickness. In quite a number of schools children have suffered from measles, mumps, influenza, and fevers, yet the regularity of children in some of the schools has been unusually

XXII

Standard Classes. Number on Roll. Present at the Annual Examination. Average Age of Pupils in Each Class. Standard VII VI V IV III II I Preparatory 14 111 140 149 190 149 181 519 11 108 134 143 178 145 172 488 Yrs. mos. 14 6 14 4 13 4 12 7 11 4 10 5 9 2 Total 1,453 1,379