E.—lß

8

from other causes, were not presented in the standards, and of children too young to be presented in Standard 1., was 120 boys and 109 girls; total, 229. The whole number examined was 681. Manawatu.—ln this county there are 16 schools in connection with the Board. These are officered by 15 male and 15 female teachers; total, 30. On the day of examination the roll number was 733 boys and 637 girls; total, 1370. There were present 626 boys and 563 girls; total, 1189. Of these, 190 were presented in Standard 1., 225 in 11., 115 in 111., 51 in IV., 14 in V., 4 in VI.: total, 599. There passed in Standard 1., 177 ; in 11., 163 ; in 111., 89 ; in IV., 31; in V., 13 ; in VI. 4 : total, 477. There failed in Standard 1., 13; in 11., 52 ; in 111., 26 ; in IV., 20 ; in V., 1; in VI., 0: total, 112. Percentage passed, 763. The number that passed from a lower to a higher standard in the course of the year was 140 boys and 135 girls ; total, 275. There passed in reading, 560 ;in spelling and dictation, 477 ; in writing, 573 ; in arithmetic, 464 ; in grammar, 136 ; in geography, 277 ; in history, 155 ; in sewing, 127. The total number of passes in these subjects was 2,769. The average age of the children presented in Standard I. was 93 years ; in 11., 106 years ; in 111., 113 years ; in IV., 123 years ; in V., 131 years ; in VI., 139 years. The number of children examined from one or other of the standard classes, but who, from faulty classification and from other causes, were not presented in the standards, and of children too young to be presented in Standard 1., was 319 boys and 281 girl's; total, 600. The whole number examined was 1,185. Four pupils in the Sandon School were present, but not examined. Two of them (cadets) had previously passed the examination for pupil-teachers as at the end of the third year's service. Summakt. —The total number of schools in these counties, in connection with the Board, is 56, and the staff employed in them — (a) certificated teachers, 37; (V) uncertificated teachers, 35; (c) pupil-teachers, 29 : total, 101. On the day of examination the roll number was 2,301 boys and 2,074 girls ; total, 4375. There were present 2,021 boys, and 1,809 girls; total, 3,830. Of these, 674 were presented in Standard 1., 777 in 11., 427 in 111., 235 in IV., 73 in V., 31 in VI.; total, 2217. Of these, 562 passed in Standard 1., 612 in 11., 308 in 111., 131 in IV., 60 in V., 28 in VI.; total, 1,704. The number of children that failed to pass Standard I. was 112 ; 11., 155 ; 111., 119 ; IV., 101; V., 13 ;• VI.-, 3 : total, 503. The percentage of standard passes was 764. The number of children that passed from a lower to a higher standard in the course of the year was 542 boys and 469 girls ; total, 1,011. The number of scholars that passed in reading was 2,047 ; in spelling and dictation, 1,727 ; in writing, 2,091 ; in arithmetic, 1,614 ; in grammar, 534 ; in geography, 1,099 ; in history, 606 ; in sewing, 641. The total number of passes in the?e subjects was 10,359. The average age of the children presented in Standard I. was B'B years ; in 11., 102 years; in 111., 117 years; in IV., 128 years ;in V., 13 3 years ;in VI., 13 8 years. The number of children presented from one or other of the standard classes, but who, from faulty classification and from other causes, were not presented, and of children too young to be presented in Standard 1., was 843 boys and 774 girls; total, 1617. The whole number of children examined was 3,820 4- 10. E. Foiilis, F.E.1.5., The Chairman of the Board of Education. Inspector.

"WELLINGTON. Sib,— Education Office, 31st March, 1881. I have the honor to present my seventh annual report on the primary state schools of the Wellington District. The same schools as last year, 43 in number, continue in operation. These, with the exception of three, I have visited once ; and afterwards I examined all of them, with the exception of Mauriceville, where an epidemic had broken out. Attendance. —The attendance of scholars at the annual examination this year was 5,488, or an increase of 468 for the year. Last year the increase on the previous year was 901, and the year before 1,023. The falling-off in the rate of increase may partly be accounted for by the restriction put upon infant departments in large schools during the year, children no longer being admitted under five years of age. Some of the schools, however, show a decided falling oft', as for example, Featherston and the Upper Hutt. In these places the examination attendance, which is nearly always the best muster a school can make, fell off from 160 and 130, to 122 and 84 respectively. This was caused by the completion of railway works, and the consequent migration of a portion of the population. The iucrease in the examination attendance at the city schools is 574, exceeding that of the whole district, and thus proving that the country schools in themselves show no increased attendance for the year. Standard Results. —For the purpose of comparing standard results, in my examination returns I shall retain the classification of the schools initiated iv my last report. The 43 schools may be thus classed: — 8 city schools, each on an average attended by 430 children = 3,439 9 district town schools „ „ 192 „ = 1,725 17 country schools „ „ 51 „ = 862 9 rural schools „ „ 27 „ = 240 6,266 In city schools 1,934 were presented in standards, of whom 82 p.c. passed = 1,580 In district town schools 1,008 „ „ „ 75 „ = 706 In country schools 492 „ „ „ 73 „ = 360 In rural schools 161 „ „ „ 65 „ = 104 In all ... ...3,595 „ „ „ 765 „ =2.750 Last year 3,217 were presented and 2,377 passed, or 745 per cent.