E.—2.

[Appendix A.

that the regularity of attendance must be regarded as very satisfactory, and the appointment of the Attendance Officer, Mr. F. Bull, fully justified. During the year informations have been laid against the parents of fifty-four of the most irregular attenders. Convictions were recorded in every case, and fines and expenses totalling £28 19s. inflicted. It is anticipated that in 1913 further improvement in the attendance will be shown. Teachers. —The following table, giving particulars in respect of the teaching staff employed on the 31st December, 1912, may be of interest:—

Of the adult teachers (including thirteen employed in household schools) 26-5 per cent, were uncertificated. Instruction of Teachers. —During the year teachers' classes were held at Woodville, Dannevirke, Napier, and Gisborne. At Dannevirke, Napier, and Gisborne special classes in art and science were conducted throughout the year, primarily for the benefit of pupil-teachers and probationers ; and classes in agriculture were conducted at Woodville and Hastings. The number of teachers who received instruction was 154. A class in physical culture, and extending over ten weeks, was held at Hastings, the instructor being Sergeant-major Just. Thirty-eight teachers (including eighteen females) were enrolled. The average attendance was thirty-two. In June a camp of instruction in drill and physical exercises was held at Hastings, and was attended by fifty-one male teachers from this district. The camp was under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Hislop, the instructors being Captain Stevens and Sergeant-major Just, who gave the campers a strenuous week. The excellent results obtained were most gratifying to the Board and to the teachers who took part. District High Schools. —The science (rural) course was introduced into the district high schools in 1910, so that the year just completed is the second since its inception. At the beginning of the year the number of pupils taking the course were : Woodville —Seniors 8, juniors 8 ; Waipawa—Juniors 30 ; Hastings —Seniors 19, juniors 33. At the end of the year there were at Woodville 5 seniors and 6 juniors, at Waipawa 26 juniors, and at Hastings 16 seniors and 26 juniors. The pupils taking the course now take one or two science subjects for examination purposes. The following examination results clearly show that the instruction given in the district high schools is thorough : Hastings— Matriculation, 4 entered, 2 passed ; Civil Service Junior, 11 entered, 10 passed ; Civil Service Senior, 2 entered, 1 passed (the other passed in four subjects); teachers' D, 2 entered, 2 partials. Waipawa —Matriculation, 6 entered, 3 passed ; Civil Service Junior, 18 entered, 15 passed (3 with credit) ; Woodville —Matriculation, 1 entered. I passed ; Civil Service Junior, 5 entered, 5 passed. Manual and Technical Instruction. —The following table shows the subjects of instruction, the number of schools in which such instruct ion was »iven, and the number of children receiving instruction in each subject: — No. of Roll Schools. Numbers. Handwork .. .. .. .. .. ..77 7,512 Needlework .. .. .. .. ..11 122 Elementary agriculture (primary) . . ... .. 63 I . 157 Agriculture (secondary) .. .. . . .. .. 3 98 Elementary agriculture and dairying (primary) .. .. 23 619 „ .. (secondary) .. .. 1 30 Dairy-work (secondary) .. . . .. .. 2 68 Elementary chemistry (primary) . . .. .. .. 1 135 Chemistry (secondary) .. .. .. .. .. 3 98 Physical- measurements (primary) .. .. .. .. 3 269 ~ (secondary) .. .. 3 98 Swimming and life-saving .. .. .. .. 4 751 Woodwork .. .. .. 16 615 Cookery .. .. .. .. .. ..15 590 Dressmaking .. .. . . . . . . 15 456 Total .. .. .. 12,611 In addition to the eighty-six schools shown as taking agriculture and agriculture and dairying, there are over twenty schools in which the subject is taken, but not in accordance with the regulations. Special evening classes were held at Hastings and Woodville. At Hastings instruction was given in wood-carving, wool-classing, and plumbing. The attendance and work were so satisfactory that additional subjects will be offered in 1913. At Woodville classes in shorthand, book-keeping, and

XII

Head teachers . . Sole teachers Assistants Pupil-teachers . . Probationers . Male. 52 19 27 10 3 r~ '•'"- 1 '- T 2£?: "— d - u cXT 6 58 56 2 54 73 31 I 38 113 140 105 I 34 31 11 13 16 _i i i Totals 111 217 328 192 7 72 i