ARRIVAL OF THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL. ANNUAL"REPORT GF THE INSPECTOR OF SGHQQLS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 13, 15 January 1880, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

ANNUAL"REPORT GF THE INSPECTOR OF SGHQQLS.

ADDITIONAL NEWS. The Mark Lane Express considers that as a rule the farmers' interests in England hare not suffered by the delay in their operations caused by the frosts, but in Scotland ploughing is much iaarrear. The imports of foreign wheat are large, but little depressing effect has been exercised on the market. Trade has increased, and some excitement is anticipated before the close of the year. The Master of the Bolls Has decided on technical grounds that Mr Labouchere, the editor of Truth, was wrongfully expelled from the Beefsteak Club. He has made an order entitling him to restoration, with costs. The stewards, indignant with that decision, appealed against it, and expelled him again, avoiding the mistake made in the first instance. Labouchere has been committed for trial for libelling Lawson, the proprietor o the Daily Telegraph. At an Irish anti-rent meeting at Castle reagh, Martin T. M'Connell presided, and asked the crowd, in the uame of God, not to let the O'Connor Don represent them again in Parliament. Great stress was laid on this point by all the speakers. Daring the chairman's speech, Nailley, a Fenian, from Balla, cried out to the crowd, " Shove these reporters away, shut them up." In response there was a yell, followed by a rush. The police constables present raised their guns, levelling them at the crowd, who' fell back in confusion. Mr Parnell tried to quell the tumult, but yells of "Curse the spies." " Kill the Saxon bastards," rent the air. Patrick Degan in an effective speech claimed that the rents which the landlords got for the past year or two did not come from the soil, but from America. Information from Masaowab represents

King John marching. forward with the main body/of the Abyssinian army and, 40. guns. He is said to be determined to. occupy Sen- , mar, Galabot district, Blue Nile territory. He declares that European intervention will not prevent him from enforcing his just claim, including indemnities for past Egyptian wrongs, St. Petersburg. One luggage van was blown to pieces in the attempt to kill the Czar of Russia. Nobody was injured. The explosion occurred on the passage of the train, half an hour after the Emperor had passed. The house froni whence the mine was exploded was discovered. Deputations congratulated him at the Kremlin, and cheered loudly on hearing of Ma escape. The Czar, in replying, said that sedition in Russia must be extirpated^ and he appealed to all right-minded people to aid him in the eradication of the evil which had taken root in the country. He urged parents to train their children in those paths which were calculated to tnake them become useful men and good citizens. The houfie from whence the mine was ex ploded was bought recently by a young man professing to be a citizen of Samaria He had dug a passage-way from the cellar, in which a train of powder was laid, connecting with the mine under the railway Singapore. Intelligence lias been received at Singapore that Prapeccha, a son-in-law of Thomas Kuox, late British Political Agent and Con- . sul-General at Bangbok, has been barbarously beheaded at Pechini, Siarn, and that Prapeccha's father and brothers have been imprisoned.

LATEST. San Francisco. An Alsatian exile, seeking to visit _bis parents clandestinely at Dannemere, has been killed by a German gendarme. The village! s tried to lynch the German., . During the recent cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, a storm wave swept over Monkishal " Island, dtdwhing several persons. The Viceroy of India has refused to receive the Burmese Embassy, because it was not empowered to treat in regard to outrages committed on a British resident at Mandalay. A junction of two galleries in the St. Gothard tunnel will be effected in one month. Two English travellers have been captured by brigands in Epirus, who demand £4000 for their ransom. A tremendous south-east gale has wrought great destruction of property and some loss oic life in San Francisco. A clergyman named Rev A. G. Veale has been expelled from the Masonic Order by a lodge in Texas, for attempting to seduce a brother Mason's wifa. The managers of theatres in Cincinnati are endeavoring to introduce Sunday performances. They were all arrested for infraction of the law. The stables of the Eighth Avenue Horse,car Railway, at New York, have been burned, together with the plant and a hundred horses. The building was brick, four storeys high. 800 horses were stalled upstairs. The hay ignited, bursting the bars of the building and causing an explosion, which dashed the side walls into the streets, killing a fireman. „ 40 Btreama of water were ineffectual to stop the fire. The Toronto Grand Opera House has been burned, and the janitor, and wife -«nd daughter were also burned Ttt6"~building was one of , the. finest in North America. Lo«Sj .£20,000 . Herr Bandmann lost his wardrobe and effects, valued at £5000. The building was insured for £8000. The United Stales Government have issued an order for the' protection of California big trees from destruction. , 1,000,000 cwt of steel blocks have been I sold by Krupp and other German manufacturers to America. Fifteen Texana went in pursuit of Apache Indians, who slaughtered them in the Canditarin mountains. The Indians are ravaging the country near Eol Pass. Details of fighting at Cabul show that the people of the city and villages vied with each other in murdering and mutilating stragglers aud wounded men of the British army, some being actually murdered within 200 yards of the walls of Shirpur. The Go\ ernment of India publishes an explanation of the military situation in Afghanistan stating that Gereral Roberts has ample transport and ammunition aud besides 22 cannon belonging to his force, he has' 3l 4 \ . captured, many of which are rifled. | General Stewart has directed Ayoub Khan to hold Herat in the name of the British Government, &nd threatens him with the consequences in case of refusal. Including forces at Candabar and Kurum Valley, the total British field force is 15,000 men with 160 guns, which is considered ample for the present requirements. The Russian Preas is very violent in its criticism on the Afghanistan war. The ■ Gazette dc St.- Petersburg . says we must candidly confess that ' Russia would not break ; her heart in the probable event of General Roberts' column sharing the fate of Cavagnari'a embassy. The' Viceroy of India has asked the Home Government for 5000 men as reinforcement. The Calcutta Pioneer asserts that an. immense man of correspondence bas been found and laid before the Government, including' instructions from the Russian Government to their agents in Central Asia, marking the course to pursue with tti« exAmeer, Shere Ali. These papers show that Russian intrigues against Afghanistan were active as far back as '73, and afford conclusive proof of the falsity of the excuse given for the Russian mission to Cabul last year.

We extract the following from an article which recently appeared in the New Zealand Times, on the working: of the railways in the Colony : — " A calm consideration of all the facts leads to the conclusion that no hard and fast rule of thumb can be named which could be successfully applied to all cases. The hon. Mr Waterhouae probably hit the right nail on the head when he said—' We are conducting a large traffic in utter ignor ancc of its commercial conditions. One part of the traffic is fairly lucrative ; the mixed traffic does not pay ; and one part of the traffic which, from its nature, could be carried cheaper by water, is carried by rail at a positive lobs. jWhat we requirejare thorough independent audited accounts ot the cost at which our railways are worked, fed, and maintained. It is not too late to know what we are doing. Should we delay doing so, the knowledge may be dearly bought.' In round numbers our railways hare cost the colony about eleven millions sterling altogether. The department has clearly a gigantic trust in its hands, and great care, wisdom, and prudence will be required to manage the estate to advantage. Such empirical quack remedies as simple increases or decreases of the freight charges are not in the least likely to solve the difficult problem of how 1,150 miles of railway are to be rendered most profitable when supported by only about 450,000 souls , viz., one mile of railway to every 200 adults. The Hon. Mr Bryce, we hear, ia about to make some sweeping retrenchments in the Napier Department, especially in the land purchase offices, ' several of the clerks in which have received notice that their services will be no longer required after a certain date. The Wairarapa Daily says : — " It is almost with regret people wilt hear that Rewi is recovering health rapidly. It was generally hoped the wily old nuisance would have * passed away to lhe happy hunting grounds,

UoclowatV Ointment —Tarn which is ay yon will, go whe-e you please, perron* will be found who have a ready word of praise for this Ointment, for chaps, chares, acaWs, bruises, and eprahis, it is an invaluable remedy j for bad legs caused by accident or cold it tnay be coofl lently telied upon for effecting a found and permanent cure. In cased of swelled aaclts, erys'pelas, gout, and rbeumatiau, Hollo way 'u Ointment gives the greaipat comfort t-y reducing the inflammation, coolirg the blood, soothing the neryas, adjusting the circulation, and expelling the impurities. This Ointment should have a pUce in every nursery. It will cure the long list of skia affection j, which, originati g in chil Jhood, gain strength with the child 1 * growth

y~_~ . The net sum realised from the tax on land " .. and tenements in Eriglari'd was, in the , last . t ; : r financial year, £1,015,511 J2s G^d. ■■.-•'."-■ s A. iion-tamer, M. Karoly, who has recently .'';.'.! !. been exhibiting before the public of Madrid '.£> " his powers oTer the brute creation, had . 1 ' frequently performed with a boa-constribtor, 7 s the huge snake enveloping him in its folds, '-, but neyer doing him. any injury. On a recent occasionthe boa had, as Usual, wound r itself round th« performers body, when suddenly it tightened its folds. The : spectators applauded, thinking it was seme : ' new trick, but Karoly simply uttered a groan, - and in one or two seconds was a dead man. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Sydney Herald writes :— There are seme rumours afloat of late about, a schism having _-, occured in the ranks of the Nihilists ; the version current may be mentioned without - incurring any responsibility as to the truth .of it" It is said that a large party among -* the Nihilists acquired at last the conviction that their socialistic programme has entirely - failed to gain the sympathies of the Russian people, and serves only to estrange the wblrking elapses from the Nihilists, who preach the destruction of all -property and the dissolution of all society. These Nihiliats . ■ deserted the the camp headed by the ', "Executive Committee" of the Secret .V. Society, and declared themselves to be ' ' . henceforward ''ordinary Republicans,'* whose chief object is to fight for the a'tainment of constitutional liberty for the nation, the \ Government being forced to submit to the . control of the nation. A revolution and Ihe s " institution of a Republic are to be the most -. extreme limits of this section of Nihilists; whilst the Nihilist, pur sang, who originated s from the Russian political exiles in Geueva, equally abhors the Constitution and tho Republic as he does the absolute form of : Government. Valuable Discovert fob the Bair. — I . yeuc Hair is turning grey'or white, or lalliap - v off, use " The Mexican Hair Renewer," for it = : will positively restore in every case Grey or , - White hair to its origins' colour, without leav-,,-Jng the disagreeable smell of most 'Restorers.' , It makes the hair charmingly beautiful, as „. x well as promoting tbe,growth* cf .tbe hair on , '■_ hald-Bpots where the gland are tint decayed. Ask your nearest chemist for " The Mexic m -Hair Kenewer," prepared by Henry C. -; . : -\ Gallop, Oxford-street, London, and sold everywhere at Ss. 6d. per bottle. '■>':' .FlorililNß l—For the /Teeth and Breath. — ■•' * &' few drops of the liquid, "Floriline" v- V-,--! Ftinkled' on a wet tooth-brush-p roduce a - . pleasant lather, which thoroughly cleanses the teeth from all parasites and impuitries / hardens the gums, prevents tartar, stops \ decay, 'gives to the teeth a peculiar pearly ■ ,- -whiteness, and s. delightful fragrance to the „,,'b reath. -. It removes all unpleasant odpur '" -'-.'". arising from decayed teeth or tobaccc smoke. : . - . " Tha Fragrant Floriliie." being composed in. part of honey and sweet herbs, is delic ; ou» to the taste, arid the greatest toilet discovery : _..: of the age. Sold everywhere at 9e. 6d. Prepared by Henry C. Gallup, 493 Oxford-street, '■' London. Adviob to Mothebs I-^Are you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the ', pain of cutting teeth? Go at once to a Chemist, and get abottle of Mrs Winslow'a Soothing Syrup. It -will relieve the poor ' eufferer immediately. 'It is. perfectly harra,leaa and p'lea«ant to taste. It produces . ' natural qtiiet sleep,' by relieving the child from pain/and'the little cherub awakes "as -.., , bright as a button. It soothes the child, it '. isoltens the gums, allays all pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best . .. , known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea, . whether .arising from teething or 'other ■ ■>■ . can3Pß....'t*old everywhere at is. ljd. per bottle. Manufactory 493, Oxford-street, -London.

December 31st, 1879. The Chairman of . the Nelsoi* Education ":/-■•■:■ .BoA&ifc-r- ■ Sib— l Have the honor to lay before you my report v on' the' Public Schools in the Nelson . District for the year ending December 31st, 1^79 :t-t-Numbers.-— The number of schools in^this distinct is now 60, three new schools — Waimangaroa, Black's . Point, and Toi-Toi > Valley — having ; been opened during the past year; four more — Brigh'twater, Rock- j ville, Central Buller, and Stanley Brooke — being ready ..for opening. , • The number on the rolls during the last quarter of 1878 was 3525 ; during. the corresponding quarter of 1879 it was 3737, the "working average" : for the • same periods being 2770 and 2935 respectively. .' Inspection and Examination.- — During the year all the schools,' with one exception, have been examined twice; the first being only a preliminary" examination, made with the object of familiarising \ teachers and scholars with the work of the new Standards. The results of the 1 final examination are recorded in the tabular statement appended to this report. Result of Examination under — No good purpose would be served by the reiteration of my opinion as to the relative merits and demerits of the ' . present $s compared with the former system of examination. The matter is settled, forborne time at least. Let it suffice to,say':that every requirement of the Regulations, however minute, has been fulfilled by me, so far as I am aware, with an almost Chinese fidelity. , . In Standard 1., for example, I have been careful not • to exceed the regulation . limit of three columns in setting addition sums ; and in Standard HI., while giving sums in compound long division, I have refrained (as admonished) from setting even the easiest sums in compound long multiplication^ and so on throughout. Although tbe px;escribed tests have been thus rigidly applied, the. percentage of -passes^ 78, is satisfactory. Conclusions drawn from the c tab.ujlated record of - passes will, however, be erroneous in many cases for . this "reason, if for no other,, that teachers' have necessarily been allowed, at the outset of the new scheme, to determine what scholars shall be presented, and under what Standards. Although sufficiently absurd ~ inferences may always be drawn from a mere inspection, of. the lists of passes an<| failures, the margin of ejror wilk undoubtedly be lessened at next examinaN tibia. As it is, seVeral schools, that have succeeded in passing less than 60 per cent, of those presented, are noi'oriously better taught than some that show 90 to itJOper ceat. For this result. Ido not hold myself in the least responsible. If .the shoe frequently pinches, I J did not manufacture it, my .duty now being simply to apply it' to all alike. ' The docility with which the bulk of bur teachers have adapted their style of inslruction to the requirements of the Standards should gratify the. mpst ardent admirer of uniformity. The paring down process is already almost completed, and the Jew. teachers, who have been imprudent enough to impart any instruction that does not tell directly on ' ths 'Standard w,ork, are not likjely to repeat such an - irregularity. .' / , ' ' Age' of Scholars 'presented for the Lower Stand-ards.—-It is impossible to pass unnoticed the startling fact that. a. quarter of a century after the establishment of a system. of frge education in this district, a con- - siderable. proportion of the scholars presented for the First Standard are; over nine, arid not a few over eleven years old;. The requirements for a pass in this Standard being merely the ability "to read common words of two syllables," and. to work Gorrectly three little'sums in addition and multiplication— a task that has, been accomplished; with ease by hundreds of children of seven years old— -the only possible conclusion is. I -that a large section of the population, is still practically untouched, by our school system. The ; school rolls fully acquit the teachers , of all, blame in the matter. Most of these overgrown, laggards, the torment of the schoolmaster^- .have not /entered a school^ it wilt be found, until the last nine months. And they are relatively quite as numerous in our, best as in our most backward schools In the country as in the town. I found,' for instance, ir^the 2nd division of Bridge-street, school 33 children over nine and 9 over eleven years '■ -, old presented for Standard I. In Haven Road there -were 37 over nine, and II 1 over eleven years. Mbtueka presented 25, ' Richmond boys 8 in' the Ist Standard, all over nine. It' is clear that few, if any, of these neglected children can now stay long; enough at school | to get an education of any re v al value. ''""■_' JHscipline and Moral Tone.— -Frequent mention of these most important matters will be made in my detailed notice of each school, where, also, a general expression of approval' will be found-. In no respect, indeed, have pur schools improved more during thelast: two or three years than in their discipline. Orders are now obeyed with far more procaptitude than they .were formerly,: and ; although 'the absolute silence for which, the stricter sect of inspectors and examiners stickleshas not yet been attained, ' what noise is now heard is, for the most part, the noise of work. It is, , moreover, very questionable wlietlier the sevefe and - continuous repression, by means of which alone perfect stillness can be enforced, is not too high a price,to pay. As to the moral tone of our schu <ols, i shall do what I can to correct a very general mis conception. There seems to be a ' strange want of plain-speaking on this subject; To put it shortly--tue moral tone of our school children will be. just aa good, or 'just as bad, as that of the -homes from which they come. And yet it has got to be a generally accepted doctrine that the teachers of our primary schools are to be held solely responsible for the misdeeds of ifoeir scholars. And a portion :of, the Press, ; with a suspicious "readiness ,to write' what is sure to be populany is careful to point out, whenever, a lad is caught usinj; bad language, or robbing a, hen-roost, how defective the training in our public schools must beJ It wonld Jbe about: as reason- , able to fall foul of the clergy or .the police. '; It. is high time' that the blauie should, be 1 put 'on the right shoulders, and that. parents sh6r?ld be reminded that \ they cannot thus cast their responsibilities upon a body of public. servants ,who have a Iready quite enough to do, without bearing this addition iai burden. Do the ,-. fault-finders ever seriously consider how small is tbe .portion of each day during which th c scholar is under -'" the supervision of the teacher'? D^sducting, holidays, ' , the actual school hours amount to abi twenty a week throughout." the year, or less than an c flghth of the total number of hours in each week. Is it not clear that this fraction of time — mainly taken up >, as it ever must bVwith purely mechanical instruction — is far too little . . to enable the most skilful and zealous of teachers to '.undo, .the harm .that has been done els newhejre ? It-is not Jin piir schools, ov under the -watch ful supervision f d'f ourteachers, that boys Jearn. io swear, to smoke, |^ : /and-t9 pilfer., The sepiinaries, where i:hese and kin--00 dred. habits are. acquired, in our towns at least, are the ||5 street : ,c'prners, where grouj-js of lads, wh.o ought to be -sit home^inay be seen loujiigrng of an evening, uncared p fpr by those who add to the sin of aegloct of a. plain jj|; ; duty, the meanness of blaming the innocent teacher. Unless weU seconde^ by parents^ a- schocftmaßter caa

do but little towards effecting a permanent re forma- j tion. The blackguard who is sent to him to be cured is merely a suppressed blackguard while under the master's eye, and will speedily relapse when the check is withdrawn. Good conduct, like charity, should begin at home, and it is not too much to hope that a better feeling may hereafter prevail on this point, so that parents may habitually co-operate with teachers in their efforts to improve schoolboy morality, and may even be brought to that in. condemning the morals of school children they also stand self-condemned. Surely it is obvious that the" primary school is but one out of many humanising agencies, and tha,t it can Only perform its part effectively when working in conjunction with these. The .subjoined detailed notices of the several schools will render superfluous any general remarks as to the methods of teaching each subject, i 1. Ist Division Town Spys : — Mr Chepmell. Pre- ' sent 30 ; on roll 32. — Sound work has been done by the master of, this division, who did not take charge until the beginning of 1879. Many of the boys, having been recently promoted from the other town schools, had never worked together previously, and were . not easily classified. The tone and organisation of the school have, however, evidently improved since my inspection early in the year. The haud writing and spelling, are now creditable. The arithmetic is accurate, especially that of the first . class. The most numerous failures were in Grammar and History. The Geography" papers were very unequal. -The science papers showed a Very fair acquaintance with the portion of Stewart's physics prepared for examination.' 2. 3. Bridge Street Boys, Ist and second Divisions : — Mr Sadd; assistanjb, Mr Worley. Present 109; on roll 125. — The excellent discipline for which the upper part of this school jhas always been noted, has been extended by the present energetic assistant to the formerly turbulent second division. The strong point here is the reading,, especially that of the two upper classes, which, in point of distinctness and emphasis is just what it ought to be. • The handwriting is also neat. The scholars did fairly in arithmetic and dictation, the failures being for .the most, part in grammar, history, and English composition; The task of examining was lightened by the prompt^ ! ness with which the boys obeyed directions, the result of a careful training still njeglected in several schools. Although much good work has been done in the junior division during the past yjear, far too many boys of eleven and twelve years ojd are to he found in the First Standard ; another year's training should, and doubtless will, remedy this). The older boys did fairly in science. Some good Specimens of map drawing were shown. , . 4. Bridge Street, 3rd) Division:— Miss Snart • assistant, Miss Kitching. Present 1 03; on roll 130.— The present mistress found, and keeps her young scholars in perfect order/ Nothing can exceed the smartness and precision wiib'whicli every order is carried out. A large draft had also been well prepared for promotion to the 2nd division of the boys' school, the 38 children presented in Standard 1. all passing creditably. The copy-books showed every mark of careful supervision. Singipg is taught oh the Tonic Sol-fa system. Object- lessons form a. prominent and valuable part of the school course. 5. Hardy Street Girls, - Ist Division : — Mrs Sait. Present 49 ;on roll 59.— 1-I fouiid. the reading and writing here, as usual, uniformly good. The arithmetic was better than a^ last examination. The papers on geography and grammar, taken altogether, were the best- 1 have seen, this ye^r. None but the first class did very well in history, or in spelling, the dictation of many of * the' girls .being, very faulty. Sewing is well taught. The papers on, science given in by the two upper classes were, on the whole,/ creditable. The girls have! yet "to learu the valuable arir of working independently/ and in silence. 6. Hardy Street Girls,\ 2nd Division : — Miss Dement; assistant, Miss Hoult. Present 75.; on roll 95.-^ Although? the mark' aimed at here is not hijjh, wliateverns attempted is done thorough ly, there being . few failures in any subject, and the work being, very even throughout. Next year it may be fairly expected that no children will be presented itf the lir^t $ta)idard, so that there, will no longer be any over-lapping of, the work of the third division, of this group "of schools. Sewing is taught successfully. Fair order is maintained. . ' ' 7. Hardy Street Girls, 3rd Division .—-Miss Cother; assistant. Miss Leach. Present 141 1 ; on roll 150. — My suggestions as to improving the school-fittings and shortening the school-hours,' have been carried out, to the manifest advantage of the children. The teaching and discipline are as good as they have hitherto been, a 'large and well prepared draft having been sent to the second division. 8. Haven. Rbad:—Mx J. Is. Hodgson ; assistants, Mr Veysey, and Miss Frank. Present 160 ; on roll 176. Although' the teachers of this school have had to contend with a series of disheartening difficulties during the'past year, they have nevertheless achieved an unhoped ior success. At thfe beginning of the year several of the most forward boys were promoted to the Ist division of the town schools, while the girls, who had hitherto made up a large portion, and that the most advanced portion of the school, were transferred to the new girls' school in ■ Toi toi Valley, whither, also, the experienced assistant who had been trained at Haven road was removed. Yet, whatever test be adopted, the result of my late examination cannob but appear most creditable. To 1 take the Standard test, — the master and his young assistant contrived to pass 90 out of the 93 scholars present in the upper diyi- ; sion — a fair proportion in the 4th and sth Standards. In arithmetic 3 only out of the 23 who passed in these standards failed to get full marks ; the dictation, geography, and mental arithmetic being equally correct. This work was plso done very quickly. English composition is the strongest poiut of the school ; technical grammar the weakest. The older boys did a good paper iv science. The younger childreu were so well prepared by the second assistant, Miss Frank, that all the 23 scholai'S whom she presented in Standard I passed. The discipline, of her division is excellent, less talking being tolerated there than I heard tiinong the somewhat garrulous boys in the upper classes. 9. Rampden Street : — Mr Sunley; assistants, Miss Buckeridge aud Miss G. Sunley. Present 180;. on roll 192. — It is clearly beyoud the power of the present small teaching staff to do justice to the throng of children who are now packed into two not very large rooms. Nor can the staff be strengthened without also adding to the building. , Notwithstanding these drawbacks a large proportion of the older scholars acquitted themselves fairly, the yojinger ones, as might have been expected, suffering most from want of attention. Fully half, indeed, of the children iv the lower division knew next to nothing. The slate arithmetic of the'upper classes, was, as usual, very good, all in the first class gaining full marks. They did worse in mental arithmetic and * dictation. The geography, grammar, and history papers were creditable, especially the latter. Thereading throughout was hurried, and wanting in expression. The first class did very fairly, iv science, and the girls produced some good

specimens of needle-work. The school is very noisy, I as all overcrowded schools must be. ', 10. Toi-toi Valley Girls' ScKoo} :— : Miss, Witney j assistants, -Miss Sunley, Miss Rose, Miss Blyth.' Present 170 ; on roll 182.— 1 was quite prepared to make a liberal allowance to the scholars here on account of the serious disadvantages <to which they had, been subjected since the opening of tb,e school less than a year ago, after which resignation^ illness, and change of j teachers have followed in quick succession ; but n6 such allowance was needed. It is, therefore, all the more creditable to the young teachers, who carried on the school for the last half-year, that their; pupils, 04 the whole, should have done so well. The reading^ ■ writing, and arithmetic were good throughout, th^ j older girls succeeding in most of the other subjects^ The only failures were the spelling of the second, and the grammar, of part of the first class. Whatever want of discipline existed a few months ago was' no longer noticeable, the conduct of the girls in the first and secjond divisions being, so far as I could see; | all that could be desired. The juniors being rather too closely packed, were not so orderly, though, even among these, there was not much to find fault withi Great attention is paid to the teaching of sewing; The science papers of the first class were meagre. : j It is only fair to note that most of the girls in the upper division were drawn at the beginning of February from the picked scholars of Haven road, and that other schools, notably, Hardy-street and Hampden- : street also contributed, though not to the. same extent, j 11. Pok -—Miss Blackmore. Present 62 ; on roll j 70. — This School continues to fulfil fairly well the purpose for jwhich it was intended, that of preparing I such young! children as are prevented by distance' i from going tjo Haven-road school. The older scholars^ are better taught than the beginners, of whom there are more tfiian one teacher can deal with properly . ; j The school is, however, more orderly than it was; I Sewing is well taught. 12. Cliftdn Terrace : — Miss Robb. Present 23; on i roll 26.— -The children here, with a single exception,! reached the modest standard attempted. The hand-: writing wasiso exceptionally good as to deserve special! mention. The spelling and reading were of at least! average merit, the arithmetic and history being rather; disappointing. I found the scholars remarkably well! behaved. - ! 13. IRilside:— Miss Alborough. Present 17; on roll j 22,— The', frequent changes of teachers that had taken! place during the half-year previous to my examination affected this; little school injuriously. The present mistress, whio had been appointed only a short time before my visit, and who was both young and inexperienced,, showed considerable aptitude* for teaching, and was methodical and quite capable, of maintaining good discipline. I found the hand- writing still ex- . ceptionally good. The arithmetic and spelling were also correct. Few knew anything, as yet, of history. 14. Sappy Valley:— Miss Gill. Present 17; on roll 22.-T Sound elementary teaching is being given here. The children were evidently classed, as a rule, rather lower than their attainments warranted, all, therefore, succeeded in passing in every subject attempted, with the single exception of history, the study of which had been begun quite lately. The improvement in the formerly indifferent handwriting was very noticeable.. The dhildreu, however, with few exceptions, read indistinctly and with a faulty intonation. The order and general tone of the school were excellent. 15. Stoke: — Mr Nay lor; Miss Neale assistant. Present 77 ; on; roll- 79. The methodical and energetic style of teaching, for which the master of this school is distinguished, is telling very favourably on his pupils. Judged by the mere passes in the Standards, Stoke does not rank high, but much good work is J beiug done that is not recorded on tlie examination schedule. Drawing is carefully taught, and the older scholars , are being well grounded in vocal music on Hullah's system. Elementary science also forms a -part of the present school course. Reading, arithme- i tic, and grampar are the best points in the school, the first class also succeeding very well with history. The j uniors are very weak in their spelling. 16. Richmond Soys: — Mrßobson; Miss Bell assist- | ant. Present 53; on roll 65. — Few words are needed \ to describe the condition of this thoroughly well- j taught school. Not only did every one of the 44 scholars presented pass the several Standards with ease, but not ja single candidate for . the 4th and sth Standards failed hi any subject. So accurate was the arithmetic that a majority of the scholars solved every question, one scholar only failing in dictation. The mental arithmetic was also excellent. Drawing is being carefully taught, and a good beginning has been made in science. * , 1 7. Richmond Girls: — Miss Spencer ; Miss O'Loughlan assistant. ; Present 49 ; on roll 61. — This school sjtill fully maintains the high reputation that it has held for so many years. Reading, spelling, and writing are, as hitherto, the strong points of the teaching. The upper classes did well in history and grammar, their arithmetic was also more accurate than it has been at former examinations. Some of the younger children, who were classed too high, for their years, were not equal to the geography and history that they tried. The older girls did remarkably well in mental arithmetic, a subject in which girls are usually behind boys. The same girls also passed a good examination in science. The whole tone and discipline of the school were, as usual, excellent. 18. Ranzau:— -Mr Cowles. Present 38 ; on roll 46. — Tlmj Standard aimed at here, though not high, is, on the whole, fairly attained, the work being singularly even throughout. The scholars are of very tender years, two-thirds of those who compose the first class being only ten years old. The writing and mapdrawing are very neat, and the arithmetic is accurate. The upper classes also acquitted themselves respectably in geography and grammar. Science has been added to the school course lately. Good order is maintained, and the school work is carried on methodically. 19. Hope: — MrThorburu. Present 34; on roll 40. — The substitution of a spacious and handsome room for the wretched structure which has for so many years done duty as as a school appears to have had a stimulating effect upon both master and pupils. The latter certainly acquitted themselves better at my last examination than on several former occasions. Their reading, has improved, and they are now A^ery ready in mental arithmetic. Their writing is neat." The upper classes also did well in elementary science. History wat* a failure. I had some difficulty in getting the children to Avork independently, possibly because they had been so long "accustomed to be huddled together in their old school-room. 20. Spring Grove : — Mr Franklyn ; Miss Knapp assistant. Present 87; on roll 96. — It was clearly impossible for the teachers either to keep good order or to do full justice to their scholars in a room into which were packed at least a third more children than could be properly accommodated. This difficulty will now be removed by the opening of a school at Brightwater for the "older girls formerly attending Spring Grove and River Terrace. In spite of these difficulties, however; the results of my examination were, on the Avhole, satisfactory , s sonic subjects, such as geo--1 graphy and history, in the upper classes, being re-

markably well taught. The r writing of &c, younger ifeMiai-eki^ne^a'iSibre- SMervisibn . "SSierM ' l '*been c rb^giin : 4\iite f feifentifSsMilitkTj dHn;forTtoß'a r prommen.t; -featlir^ ! 6f vth4* schobl'/conrse. >; .- . . . . ./ .' ' ' "^ j ' sp : 2XV River TeWti&ev—lblM Btyari't J^a^si^'taiit ?^iss 4 )lry^~' -Present^ j^fon^W^T^^MUgh^^yiJ :MhfJol-i i ooin ! ''Was bVer^owded -ia.'^r6portion'!^6 : its' M^quite 1 ! a£ J ?iiuch as^fe at : -tliat^ good- I: workl >' Tiad been, '^e^dti^g^ilje^as't' year. The Standard ajffied :l at :i 'Was^sOtn'owh r aifc ;Srgh^ Jyet' there .WaS -no 'marked oV geWaP&ilure in l an^Subject,- ■ai f i^Lmetic> ' Stingy 'and^dlc^ of, bS6re Shan- ordinary 1 merit. : 'I^bsServedrto'o, '$$* children 5 -had- 1 < "adfl'mred : ; : the useful^fcabit ;bf 'W&fknig quickly • as 1 well- as Erectly, : -Scierice^batl not been,' before' 'my'-Jvisit. . <-.\'"\' ! '..I'V 1,.':' 1 ' ii ■ 22* i&dUte^ W&kefteld L Boys yaMsv aM s Jtihior i~M.r and •Mrs ' Efe'senf f 28' f ! on ftlt ß O.^Mthbtrgh Several 1 of the boys' -hereV : 'especially in^hdisßcond";and -thir& ! ! elassfeis^ wei-eHrath'er ;! b&ci ! wafd 'for^eir n age,.l • found! the seh-oiari^ as-a x rule,. onlj- one : (very'i^ung ' boy*^failing tb r pass. Few misfakeW'^re ti&tiS "eiilieir • ih J 'aritKinetic 7 '•of )i di(jMipii. l>;^^e;'yuid--'■Wfitirig,o'fbr Wfncli^^fr-^laiol-'^fa 7 lbn^haid a'gobd ridputatioWji l lids ;ri6t Tailen ;6fi. iEnglish^co&p'o^itipn • wastte "tveakest^^-pomt.^^ "^The first^lass tftd: fairly well ' m^elehienfeiiy^sei^iice. 1 : i- .; ' , ; r -'■' 23. ; ''LaM^WaJeefeeU -'Girls 'i^Misi Ledchi'iPr^sent ( 1 8 : ; 'Hn T *oit'3Q^ I Tb.e' orderliness of iflie yph^lars !^h6n ; at 1 'work, 15 atfd ! the : neatSessvand^^high' 1 of ( the -work! Mself; J Were - the' nios^'strikipfig' 3 chai^cferisiics-'hiere.' '-■R^dilig, : : writing^ arithme'tid^anld'-^ifetatidn' ;^rfe'"iaM J e Creditable. :<; Ther older j girls :; had 0 also o some/ idei 1 bf English composition. Few did , well :, in hi^ior^. Science 1 had nbt yet been v b|gun, owing to the Want of "•te^t bb6ks. : - -■ -•••'.• --; / ' jl '.; ; "' '" " .. . ; * j Y-'ZL-fflffitirWffhi VMey ;^Mf J^iittit)hreys: .F^setit < 30 ;°rin roit;3s;4^-J fotind lie^eVs ! triki%.^luatMi6n^^ •the in^M^tiacy of ; StatidaMs ! a^ /a cotSpleife , gauge : ;of ■^ork°ddiie.' ; diffi'dende^of c the ' faster (yj^o had %Sett i a i fi ; Wbi'fc onl^sev e]El ' mbnth^.'had iiiducdd I , liiai tip • present 'iii; co'iap^ra^iVely ; .low 1 ; Staifdard^i -111. beitig^ h^gh^eii^at€eifii)^e4« 'Th^Vaitobst ftegg-j r tive ' p^s'singi all^ ; s; 'of was ; ieMaihly-'attdiided, but tbi4 scnblars \really more than_ this would imply. Tlir'ou^h^ut '.they ; shWed x that -they wer^e "c^,pable76f 'dbiiig sthe;'work'5 the; 'work' of a -Higher 1 s: S.tan f dard : "thian ffiat'tiEtken' iip,^ 'and, 'indeed, WUnteeife^tpi' do mbre v iii, cer^inis'vibjects-iliaii^ T iiajl* Required frnrn them. ''Thle accuracy of ffiti arithmetip arid spelling/, and the readme^ and / fulness of tlip siiisw^fs in aiid : g^niniar deSerVe "special commendation . The writing Vas also iinifof inly ' neat. Excellent order was maintarn^ii.' 25; V ;j^ ; ;^j#;flff;' tiadtey, ; v Miss Ttes^aiin'ais.: ST^presynt j : bti;fdll 62.~^Tckn 'onlyr'dgret'tliat an ovbr-^s^imaie^y ! tli^ 1 'master'of Ms: pupils* "powers has caused this thoroughly o well^au^ht sjchopi ito : make but.ii: sorry', sh'oW. iii 'the J exan^inatibn! ;uhder* r Standards. Mprd 1 than' l half : bf^tho'^e. .pre^ a large' pr6pomoh'ofi!he failures' being" in : "the higher Standards. ,The children .did worst in arithmetic, and grammar, thougji -maiij al^b Vfcidiid the, geography, history, and .grammar :^rhich they attempted too hard for them.. .JSTotwi^statiding all tliis> the' answers given, to questions bn 'general subjects wei-e siichasto shbw that'thiß children had .been most carefully r and'slcirfiilly taught. -The reading was good, the ha4d-\^riting very neat. The work of the 'two boys". \yhb succeeded .in passing the 6th Standard' "was ".ex'ceilent. . The upper classes passed ! ■a ! creditable exfttdination jn science. . 26.' \Fox IBll^Mr H: Ladley. on roll 45;~The few children who WdrQ nbt!prcyente|i.by flooded sl;ate of the roads irbrn attending the examination, did well in alihbst/eyfery' respect, /thY weakest points being history ' arid geography. \TliQ'cl?is.sification was so judicious that Only one sgliplar failed to pass. Science had not yet been 'attempted, owiiig : ,to the want of books. Not many of our schools have improved so much as : Fox Hill has done^during the last two years. 1. v - . . , '*.'.;' ! N . 27. Motufti&b]:— -Mr Moore: • Present^ 27; on roll 32. — The interval between the resignation of the late master aiift 1 the appointment of his successor, a few months, : ag6^ has. apparently -been quite long enough to cause the children to forget most of what they knew. None of the older •schoLai]s could; -pass,, the-' failures being chiefly in arithmetic, geography, and history. , They wrote neatly, howeVer, arid made few mistakesiin dictatibu.. The attendance is very drreghlar. Singing |is being taught on thejTonic Sol-fa system. 28. Waim^a West, North Division : —^Mr Edmunds. Present 28 ; , on roll 29.- ; —^The result of ;my exami-i nation of this schcjol, as giyeii in the ; tabular statement, • does' scant; justice to ;a masfcer? much of the best fof whose york wouljl be omitted in the bare record of,; passes arid failures. Reading, < writing, . spelling and . geography are all well taught, thp arithmetic and' '. grammar of some of the older scholars being the only subjects 'iir -which, there is any . shortcoming. The mental ' arithmetic was remarkably good; . The older scholars had been . fairly grounded .in elementary; science^ The children had evidently been accustomed to- work together in groups, 2 — a practice not without, its advantages, — but which told against them when set to work, .independently. : , . 29. Wahnea W&st Villagei v— Mr Jas. Robsori, j'unr. Present 37 ; on roll 46.— Although alarge.propor|tion of the scholars succeeded in passing fairly well in .the subjects they attempted, their teacher ought not to be contented^ with the low level. that has yet been attained. Nearly half of those presented tried the 2nd Standard only, biit .as their average age i was over 11, it is obvious that the school life of mauy of. them must come to. an end before they have got more, than half way up the ladder of the standards. Reading and dictation were the best points ; the writing had fallen off, and the arithmetic was of barely average merit. Science had not beeti taught yet, the reason assigned being' that -text-books had not long been issued., 30. Sarau: — Mr Cook, assisantMiss Cook. Present b% on roll f 2. — The work here was, as usual, very even. The children read fairly, . wrote neatly, and acquitted themselves creditably in geography. Their arithmetic was also, accurate, as far as it went. In spelling there were too many mistakes, and the knowledge of grammar was slight. The scholars retain their wonted cheerful and orderly., aspect. . 31. Neudorf :— Mr Hill, assistant Miss Tarrau't ; present 40, on roll 52. I find it difficult to account for the failure pf so mauy of the best scholars in arithmetic. The 1 juniors did fairly well in almost every respect. The reading of the xipper classes was excellent, that of the lower classes rather indistinct. The scholars generally had gained greatly in- the power of explaining the meaning; of What they had read. A good beginning of tho teaching of science had been made. The discipline and organisation of this school deserve high commendation.. , i 32. Lower,Moutere: — Mr Deck, assistan fcMiss Leech. Present 60, on roll 72.— 80 th the instruction and the training' given here 'are fur beyb'ntl what' I usually find in a country school. . The speciality of the school is, perhaps, arithmetic, The papers of the upper classes on geography, grammar, and history were neatly writ-, ten, well expressed, full and accurate.' ■ The result of my oral examination satisfied me that the intelligence, of the children had been quickened by skiiful.teach,ing, Science had not been neglected.

S3. Motuekai—Mn JBisley; Assistants, Mist Guy and "■""■ Mit&bMy\^(&&^m&s^^ 12#— A cf |try ' 3iMeV^iaeafof >thtf%cp *e^raM^i|e^f ould , >b£ lj gaine| br^er&y Wa^hii3cpiif ( yiil6 $£$ Ses.: The^-master^ tyhe seltyla'rSiTppm^ >tEe%iln^Mum of profiei^cyW^^^t^o^bt'ffi^tii^re '§alsin^he^e4erar St^idatds^ ' -teaLeliirig subordinate 'td^thfe-stan^T^^fk^fWhe -^sjiof y 3 ;anxi geography; '^i^^f&^ms^c^r^&s for :;;^'e . fpiuHiH a i^dafds- i -w:^ iJettbie^in %aMy oJ and SiS^lpr W'l^^W^M 4 tlif^ap#g"of : thfts^ifi'^herte standard above! u^d t sio-'^^-tt^h;lj^r|si' :; of l 'the-w^rk /^ 'irwfcs 1 ! pkrticiilaily' pleajsefcT , ■ wp|, the 'gifammaW'and nieiit?il' . J defect is the ;riPw^ ihveiiSr^fe haibit^ of Tfekdijig in ja^low miitiiHinlg^iione.' ; ' The scholars in botli'divisions ara "itnde^pferfectrc'oitrtr'ol. f : ; ; ;_ V-.>; ,'• J; 1 .", :,:.-' ..p. '■",,,^' • '"(3L l Wytitimoti '^M^Sdtelifl^—^ r j;Tpn .'.' rotfffJ£)^l:;fdu^^ J se^e;n)hs L -b'f t^ L 'elder' %cli blare J 'wW© J backward for 1 - 'their . ages, especially in arithmetic and .spelling. Tl^e-popy! v and 1 exSrcis s e bt)bKs '^itten, "an^ /.^atly 'kept; 1J Thk|oke iincl '^abi^A^'pf^W^i^qol'.^xe^s'. '■ Mtliertp^^tliat 1 could 1 be desired. Singing f>y note is; feeing taught. _ ;':, ; j ". " "' ' \ /-r.u'f.- " .';?>!•' ' !:V,.i ".'; %OJ)~l}he master ' jif 'tMs schppj '%a^ ; liiS 'Best to J re 1 ni r e : dy i tiie' pbinteid out' in m^ast report. Th,e children axe now fairly well-betaved, f akd woik 'better %Mv they "did. ;The r^i^g,,pit -the Met" scfiblais [ is S^yf feo/pd, I ' tMjpoJf^e. Jiinior^j ill ■ sjiape.d. ; j r Gep^ra|>lry 7an;d:' gpejling^ ar| ,/the"; .strong i ' ' hpr'6'.; 'V";l!h6" "first _; cla^s;'did J wel^'^^-.second ) b'a'dl^irt : a|itijm^tic. J'Map' drawing is Weft^taught* • . !pn lioit^ ;27.)— MticH^^^ J dr_en ' 'vtho^pan'Ta^t^ 'whichiihe^.Mtst^cr^ , The' Vri^diiig l^ are fair. ' . Thfe'^idpr; IscKb^rs".; also ipeU'and write Veil. Tlie ai'ith'metic was an' almost total. failure, -\ , .. • 37. Riwakctt ; — Mr. . 2?qysdnby ; 'Asmiant t \ Miss^E. 'did! ; remat^hly .wfell 1 '^^rithfiaetiCj r^kd t \', ;Tiieir^^nd^riiing and' ■'spelling'were^also : 'of inorp ilS.dk J dfdim^rjf H x2.<erit. . The " '^yKmmg. J inf toa* iipiifor jW.hibh /^^^ liaid almost^eniir^iy 'disajpp^jai'ed. .'^he improvement ; in .thWdisciplide 6f tije^scjiopl since; ~my last . Visit;.was ' very rnjiar^ed. ," ' IChe " plder r scholars had some ac^uain- ...^'.. •._ '," [ ; / j, .^XT--" ' BB.'JBrodhlyn\^M^s ■Frawes' ,& ■ on roil, 42.)r^Gppd wprlc ls'being' done, at this school, wiiich'is now indeed so'6verciwßed''that.iti^^ of. being ~sp,6iied ]by . the pppularity Li o£ Me , 'teacher. : All; passed r^asily " in titte" three • sija^d'Hrds . taken up.. ( The subjects best taught " arithmetic, /spjeiimg, and geography. .."The reading-boo^. lised by the fi,i^|i. class; was.'tbo. nard ,for ' thejn ; ' tlie ■, writing^pf the i younger. chUdren'also suffered bec^ ' books j'/vy ere ioo advanced. ' " ;(?p6d humour "on the part -of the miskess Is ihere: .found quite, compatible with ; good; order ;the part.'of jthe. scholars^ , !( ,' ■" ; „j; ~ , ;.39., Motiieka Valley (.sudsulisecltchooi);^^^ Stanley.(Prespnt^ 14;. 6n;rpll,'l4.^^The;i;e.adingVli'ere, .wjiich. '■-Ihad'aMpst : given^^ improved. The cliildr.eii also i'did weU in. dictation ; - ' fairly in . arithmetic. : The copy books show marks of very: careful supervision. . „ '.--.. ; 40. Gill.— '(Present, ;16 ;'• on ; roll, 1 7) .-^-Gf bod wbrk- has been '" done " here since the opening' of the school towards ,the dose of "1878.. The children were . more forward; than I[e%pected/them; to be. The style of teaching was spii-lted ; and sensible. ; . , - ... \ ' . ■■.' ii. Lower Takaha :~Mr. jSiwitf.-^^Present, 35 ; oh roll, 39.)— CDhe master of this school: has exerted hiiiiself strenuPusly, arid to good jpurpbse,.,fco'r;emedy ; tlie serious, defects pointed 1 , out in, my ,laAt' report. 'Another year of equally well-directed effort ;-y^l go far towards -placing Lower Takaka amoig the best, as it has for some time been among the worst, of our country schools. The scholars, especially those in theiupp^r glasses, [did very well in arithmetic,, wrote correctly from dictation, and gave intelligent answers as to the subject matter of their reading lesson. The writing was also, as heretofore, excellent. The only serious failure :Svas in history, a subject that has been begun only; lately. ■ The first class knew^but little of Science for -the r. same reason. The scholars were well-behaved knd obedient. ! 42: Long P^ldin.'^-rMiss Haldahe. — (Present, 25 ? 0n roll, 28. )— The conditions under which .schooL-work has been carried, on here for many years—^a frequeut change of teachers, and an exceptionally irregular attendance of scholars — have been most : unfayour- ' able.. ,1 found the children, ,as might have been.expected, backward for their age in most respects. In '< several branches, however, to the credit of their late a;nd their jiresent. teacher, they did fairly such elementary work as they attempted. Few failed in reading or dictation. The "writing was indifferent; geography, grammar, and. history being "failures. The scholars were orderly and- promptly obedient to every order of their mistress, who had been at work I about three months when I examined the school* v -, ! 43. Motupipi : — Mrs. S. . G. JRobiiwn. — (Present, 28 ; on roll, 28.) — The examination under the "new standards, as, I anticipated in my last report; has ; scarcely done justice to this school. The children ' acquitted themselves much better in^the dralthan in ' the written part of the examination, especially in. history, and in the explanation of what they had been reading. ■ The worst failures were -in dictation and arithmetic. But little has yet been attempted in science. The tone of the school, as usual, was all that could be desired. The v older scholars attend with most disheartening irregularity. 44. East Takaka: — Miss J/aHso/b— (Present, 19.; on roll, 37.) — The children here were rather backward for their age. Both mental and slate arithmetic ' were slow and inaccurate. Tlie reading books iised were evidently too hard for the several classes into whose hands they had been put. All did. well in dictation. Science -ha^not yet been "attempted, owing; to the want of books'. Although the mistress ' was absent "wl^en I examined the school, nothing- couid have been better than the behaviour of the scholars. This speaks well both for their home and their school training. " , ,- ; '45. Collinywood. : — -Mr. Canavan,.— (Present, 27 ; on roll, 84.) — Such of the older scholars as were present read well, and acquitted themselves creditably in arithmetic. Few mistakes were made, in dicta- ;_ tipn. Mental: arithmetic w^as carefully - taught, and the oral method of teaching geography, both physical ■ ~ and political, as usual,- produced good results. Musks: 1 ' and drawing have; for soine ■ time formed part pf/the: ■ school course. . The handwriting, even yet,ds scarcely v^ : as good as it ought to be. The scholars still attencF-iri-egularly, and, what is almost as bad, uupunbtu^: ' ;ally,the futile excuses made being ju^t such aVhaye been put. forth from time immemorial wherever "either v - school discipline or parental control is weak. '~ 46. Fefiitowh: — Mr. Rohif.— (Present,-; 22; on^roll, 24.)— This school is. a good, example of, what may be; n

;' lafchi^ved iti a neighbourhood where the master., is . ; -zealous and. capable, and the parents take a keen mvv terest in 'the progress of their children. The rate of \ attendance is exceptionally high, nothing but sickness -i^bejfigyallQwed^to'keep a child from school. The - "reading,' ■ "vraitiag, • dictation, and arithmetic are of inpre than average merit. A good beginning of the ; of science . has alsp been made. Such few ; ;; .failures .as ;t&ere isvere ''took: place in what may be J termed the T^more /'.ornamental" parts of the school course, such as' geography -and history. The unvarying good humour with which defeat was accepted ;' showed a good spirit in the scholars. . ;.;.;.'.; 4J7. WestportJßoys: — Mr. JBrorvh.— (Present, 26; on , roll, 29.,)- r -The scholars here 'showed every mark of skilful teaching, their work being remarkably even in 'all 'the subjects. It was obvious that there had been ''no special preparation for the work of the standards, the boys being indeed . unpractised in paper work,. ■'' and, in 'cdhsequen.ee, rather slow workers. Very few, "however, failed to pass, creditably. The first and 'second classes answered intelligently questions on ' natural science. : • ."'4B; Westporti Boys, Junior:— Miss Bloxall, Miss.E. : .SZait'aM.^Present, 68 ; on roll, 95.) — Beading and 'spelling are carefully taught,^ the arithmetic being "hardly equal to the rest of the work. The discipline' ,: is fair.: The. children, especially those in the lower .classes, attend neither punctually nor regularly. v This has evidently told, unfavourably on the school -'work: " 7. 1 ■ 4:9. Westport Girls:- — Miss \Falla; Assistant, Miss .'(O'Keeffe.— (Present, 79 ; on roll, 96.)— 1 was favour^ ably impressed with what I- saw nere at my last ; examination. The girls had been thoroughly taught, " ■ and. the tone and organization of the school were good. The few failures in upper classes were ♦ chiefly in history, but the . writing, dictation, and ... composition were of more than^ordinary merit. The reading was distinct, and well emphasised throughOut ; that of the younger scholars, under, the charge of the assistant, deserving special notice. Science .has been begun- only lately. Sewing now forms .- part of the school course. ; 50. . Addison's Flat : — Miss Mills.— (Present, 48 ; on ; roll, 48.) — The children did.-^well at their examination in almost every respect., Their reading, spelling, and arithmetic were alike creditable. Few, however, knew much of geography, and the handwriting is still not so good as it ought to be. History, by the desire of the parents, is excluded from the school course. No attempt has yet been made to •■;, -teach science, but this 'omission will be supplied at . '-.' once. The scholars are reniarkably well conducted and mannerly, both in and out of school. • ' < -. "51,. Charleston Boys : — Mr. Delany ; Assistant, Miss Qmwi.— (Present, 70 ; on roll; 91.)— The result of > this year's examination was disappointing. None of the boys in the two upper classes, who tried Standards IV. and V., succeeded in passing, many failing in four—some in five— out of eight' subjects. The -juniors did rather better, but by no means well. --fe-Jifdr was this general backwardness the worst feature. The boys appeared to have" forgotten, or never to .have learnt, what an examination really means. I -„ found it "almost impossible to prevent the scholars •from communicating with, or copying from each ;. other, and the most advanced boy in the school was disqualified for stealthily making use of a" text-book .while writing out his history paper. The discipline, which had improved for a time, has fallen off again. 52. Charleston Girls ■: — Miss. Folckmann ; Assistant, ; Miss Bike.—^(Present, 71 ; on roll, 87.) — Much good work has been done here during the last nine .'months. The teaching is systematic, the organiza- : " tion. excellent. The children are orderly, and have „ thoroughly learned the all-important lesson of prompt lobedience. , The most marked improvement is in the handwriting, but the -reading and spelling are also respectable. • The most numerous failures were in arithmetic. The history was also weak. Science has not yet been attempted. Sewing is taught. The children sing, but merely by ear.

53. Brighton :—Mrs iMm/3%.— (Present, 89; on roll, 42.)— None attempted the higher standards, but all save two succeeded in passing in what they undertook, very few failing in any subject. The younger children, whose attendance was the most regular, did remarkably well. The children generally did best in reading, geography, and arithmetic, worst in writing. The copy books were neat enough, but the letters were irregular and ill-formed. 54. Reef ton :—Mr Ohattock • Assistants, Miss Chattock, Miss Orumpton, and Mrs Parry. — (Present, 114 ; on roll, 152.) — The extreme anxiety of the head teacher to ensure success at the first examination under the new system induced him, not only, to present an unusually small proportion of those present, but to put them into lower standards th,an the majority of them could evidently have passed with ease. 46 of. the 48 examined under standards succeeded, very' few failing in a single subject, and one only breaking down in each of the three important subjects— reading, spelling, and writing., It is only fair to explain that the- work of every class was considerably in advance of the minimum necessary to secure a pass, and that there was no sign of the children having been kept back in their school work. The older scholars could express themselves readily and clearly, in writing, on such matters as were within their comprehension. They also did well with a paper on elementary science. The organisation is good, and the head teacher, being well supported by a zealous and efficient body of assistants, succeeds in maintaining excellent discipline. Sewing has been begun lately. | 55. Blade's Point : — Mr Edridge. — (Present, 68; on roll, 78.) — This school had been open only nine weeks when I examined it, The children were, being carefully taught, the copy books especially showing marks of minute supervision. The discipline was also good. It was obvious, however, that there were far more scholars than the room could accommodate properly, or than the master could teach effectively. I have suggested, therefore, that all children over nine years old should, for the present, be drafted to Eeefton school, where the space and teaching power are both ample. 56. Waimangaroa : — Mr Gumming. — (Present, 31 ; on roll, 37.) — Work had been begun here also not more than two months when I visited the school, but a promising beginning had been made. Few of the children had been to any school before,, so that the credit of what they may learn will be entirely due to their master, who keeps good order and evidently knows his business. 57. Qapleston (subsidised school) : — Mrs Rogers. — (Present, 28 ; on roll, 25:)— The children cut but a sorry figure at my last examination, in almost every class, and in every subject. The style of teaching is old-fashioned, and by no means equal to our present requirements. The building in which school is kept is also unsuitable, being neither wind nor weather proof. 58. Pakawaic (subsidised school) : — Mr Ledger. — (Present, 24 ; on roll, 26'.)— Although this school had been reopened only nine months when I examined it, good progress had been made. The children read well, and were quick at giving the meaning of what, they had read. The worst failures, as might have been expected, were in such subjects as arithmetic and grammar, which demand long preparation before scholars' can be depended on at an examination. The geography was, however, creditable, and elementary science had been begun. An excellent understanding evidently subsists between master and scholars. 59. Lyell: — Mrs Carroll.— (Present, 20; on roll, 20.) — It seems impossible to retain a teacher here for more than a few months together. The money hitherto expended has, therefore, been almost thrown away. I have the honour to be, Your obedient Servant, - .W. 0. HODGSON, Inspector of Schools, Nelson District.

EEOOED OF PASSES IN STANDARDS DUEING 1879. ■''■•.. -11l I L IL m ' IV - • v - ' VI. o a • ■ ■" ~ " 'Schools. -g|«| -| £ , . '/ .1. First Division Town Boys '.. 32 30 30 20 67 •j 15 7 ~15 13 ■ 2. \ First and Second Division Bridge I " 3.J streetßoys .. .. .. 125 109 109 80 73 34 31 33 24 20 15 19 10 i 3 0 .... . '&.■ Third Division Bridge street Boys 130 103 38 38 100 38 38 | ■5. Hardy: street GMs, Ist division .. 59 49 46 33 72 19 10 18 14 9 9 .. - '6. „ „ ,2nd division.. 95 75 75 63 84 22 18 30 27 23 18 . . .. 7. „ „ " 3rd division.. 150 141 32j 31 97 32 31 : 8. Haven Eoad 176 160 115 112 97 42 39 25 25 27 27 15 15 6 6.. 9. Hampden Street 192 180 103 85 83 38 34 37 24 20 19 8 8 . 10. Toitoi Valley 182 170 118 100 84 19 18 47 41 13 13 22 18 I 710 .. .. 11. Port..' .. .. .. ..• 70 62 25 18 72 12 6 13 12 1.. ..1 .... 12. Clifton Terrace 26 23 16 15 94 6 6 4 3 6 6 .... 1.. .... . 13..Hillside •.. ■ .. .. .. 22 17 14 14 100 3 3 8 ,8 3 3 . .. 14: Happy Valley . . .... 22 17 16 i 6 100 2 2 99 5 5 15. Stoke 79 77 67 41 61 18 131 29 21 13 1 7 6 .. . .' .. .. - 16- Jftichmond Boys 65 53 44 44 100 12 12 10 10 10 10 7 7 5 5 .... ' 17* s „ Girls-- .. .... 61 49 43 34 79 5 5 11 11 5 0 11 7 11 11 .. .. v 18. Eanzau . . 38 38 32 23 71 8 5 7 6 11 6 6 6 19." Hope . . 34 34 29 20 69 11 7 8 5 6 5 4 3 ........ 20. Spring Grove 36 87 66 43 65 27 18 9 9 15 7 7 6 8 3 .. .. 21; River Terrace .. .. '.. 77 59 42 31 74 8 5 6-6 17 13 8 5 3 2 .. .. 22. Lower Wakefield Boys . . . . 80 28 23 2.1 91 11 10 7 7 3 2 2' 2 ,23. „ „ GMs .. .. 30 18 18 13 72 .... 7 6' 6 3 2 1 3 3 ' 24. Eighty-eight Valley .. .. 35 30 26 25 96 6 5 11 111 9 9 • ■ 25. Upper Wakefield 62 57 46 21 46 5 4 7 7j 8 5 9 0 15 3 2 2 26. Fox Hill 45 19 11 10 90 4 4 4 4 1 0 2 2 . 27. Motupiko 82 27 22 . 7 31 7 4 4 3 , 5 0 6 0 • 28. Waimea West, North division. .. 29 28 23 15 641 4 41 .... I 6 3! 5 3 8 s>. 29. „ Village 46 . 37 ■30 24 80| -10 6 13 12 6 5 1 1 .. 30- Upper Moutere . . . . . . 72 63 46 42 91 10 15 18 17 13 "10 ■ . -- 81. Neudorf ".. .. .. .. 52 40 32 18 56 7 5 14 8 4 4 5 1 2*0.. 32. Lower Montere '. 72 60 48 44 91 12 12 10 10 10 9 12 9 2' 2 2 2 33. Motueka : .. 128 108 78 78 100 42 42 11 11 10 10: I 515 34. Ngatimoti - 37 33 21 16 76 10 .9! 6 4 2 0 3 3 35. Doyedaler ... 40 28 22 19 86 U 111 8 5| 3 3| 36. Parigatotara . . '.. 27 19 15 8 53 4 1 5J ' 3 3 2 3 2 -37. Riwaka .. .. -.. , •• 78 62 32 30 93 9 9 3! 3 8 8; 4 41 8 6 .. 38. Brooklyn .. 42 38 21 21 100 3 3 101 10 8 8 .. ... 39. Upper Motueka 14 14 10 9 90 4 4i . . j. . I 6 5 .. .... .. -. 40. Tadmor .. .. .. .. 17 16 11 11 100 5; 5 6 6; .. ..I *41. Lower Takaka .. .. '.. 35 35 27 21 77 12 6 10 10i 3 3| 2 ' 2 42. Longplain i .. 27 25 16 13 81 5 4 5 5| 6 4 |.. 43. Motupipi .. 28 28 25 13 57 4 2| 9 5 4 2 8 4 .. .. 44. East Takaka 19 19 18 13 72 9 6| 3 2 4 3, 2 2.. 45. Collingwood -.. 34 27 19 11 57 4 2 11 5 2 2! 2 2 \\ 46. Ferntown . . . . . . . . 24 22 18 12 66 .. . . 5 415 4! 4 1! 4 3 ■ 47. Westport ßoys 29 26 26 22 85 -..'•.. . . ..12 111 10 8; 4 3 . . 48. „ Junior Boys .. .. 95 66 45 28 6 1 ! 21 14 9 7 15 7j r. 49. Westport Girls .... .. 96 79 49 42 85 12 11 15 14 12 7| 10 10 50. Addison's Fiat ..... . . 48 43 34 25 73 12 9 11 6| 7 7l 4 3 51. Charleston Boys .... . . 91 70 51 26 51 14 8 17 10, 10 8| 7 0 3 0. . 52. „ Girls 87 71 43 . 38 88 11 8 16 16 7 51 9 9 . 53. Brighton . , . . 42 39 26 24 92 12 12 9 8 5 4! 54. Eeefton 152 114 48 46 96 24 23 7 6 12 121 5 5 55. Capleston 25 23 13 "4 30 3 2 5 2 .... 5 0 .. 56.'Lyell 20 20 7 7 100 7 7 .. \\ 57. *Karamea , 58.Pakawau .. .. ..' 26 24 21 9 42 7 0 10 7 4' 2l .. 59. Black's Point .. .... 78 68 34 27 80 12 7 13 12 9 8! '. \\ ' 60. Waimangaroa 37 31 13 11 84 12 10 ..'. .. 1 I 1 .. '-.•' - ;•; •'-' - ' 3662 308121281685 79 687 575 585 487 442 334J 269 194 126 78 19~17 • . ' - * Not Exa.ttiin.ed. •

;-;■•."'•• ■•. Januar^ Morn,- After. ,; : Thursday 15 ■- ... 11-59 ~ ;-:" JPriday "^6 ... 12-18 : 12 3B V s Saturday; 17 ... \ 12-58 1-20