TSu—l

not show to what extent this is the case. The great majority of the half-time schools are in the Auckland District, where the Board appears to be disposed to extend the method of coupling under a competent teacher two small schools, in preference to employing inefficient teachers for small separate schools. The distribution of the schools among the several districts is shown in the following table:—

TABLE J.—Number of Schools open at the End of 1885. (In this enumeration every couple of half-time schools is reckoned as one school, except in the column for number of such schools.)

The number of teachers at the end of 1885 was 2,619, being greater by 172 than the number for 1884. The average number of children in attendance under the care of each teacher in the last quarter of the year was 31"2. As the corresponding number for 1884 was 31*4, it follows that the growing number oi scholars is adequately provided for by the appointment of new teachers. The foregoing statement does not include mistresses employed for a few hours in each week to give instruction in needlework; their number at the end of the year was 148, against 161 in 1884. The following table, compiled from the Boards' returns, shows for each district the numbers of teachers of both sexes and different standing, and the proportion between the numbers of teachers and pupils : —

TABLE K.—Number of Teachers.

VIII

Education Districts. O ai O » ■f: o il ■ II K go <1 ill I |i8i3 Number o! II h <u . ?* ecS O T-t 2i% a Sch. ids in whii Quartc] Is 01 fa §8 th the Att< 1 was— 94 a U V A to O CO ■iidoi 8 • Is ice feu r3 8§ the ©13 I! Kg 00 u '<•* 1-4 m ■si ft 111 I 0* ! IIOH z" 3 1 Auckland.. Caranaki.. iVanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Jarlborough kelson •Jorth Canterbury.. South Canterbury.. ■Vestland.. }rey )tago Southland 209 33 74 02 39 30 84 146 46 22 10 175 85 15,895 1,032 4,433 G,289 3,733 1,175 3,844 14,803 3,340 1,510 1,113 18,483 5,347 76-1 49-5 CO-0 101-4 95-7 39'2 45-8 101-7 72-6 G8-9 G9-6 1050 62-9 13 2 9 1 5 8 12 3 2 5 1 3 G 20 G 4 5 1 5 17 13 7 2 2 8 G 3 2 0 I 3 11 5 2 2 19 8 72 14 32 21 s 22 49 17 6 6 G4 34 j 24 0 6 6 4 4 15 19 7 18 1 2 6 4 4 7 17 1 3 14 1 7 3 5 8 "8 8 5 1 3 11 3 2 1 10 2 8 1 "7 1 4 1 I 48 7 1 10 2 G 12 24 3 14 9 3 1 2 '9 5 13 2 1 5 1 1 1 9 1 5 1 i a i 3 27 14 12 5 13 8 'io 1 0 2 8 12 Totals for 1885 Totals for 1884 1021 987 81,003 70,832 80-0 77-8 70 64 90 93 101 95 355 309 135 124 75 08 72 68 00 51 35 35 22 20 58 52 108 70 10 11 Difference 34 4,831 2-2 6 3 0 11 7 4 9 2 6 38 -1 -14

Number of Toachers, excli; during the isive of Teachers of Sewing, employed Last Quarter of 1885. 8. 9. 10. Education Disteicts Males. Females. Average Attendance for Last Quarter of 1885. Average Number of Pupils to each Teacher. Teachers of Sewing not included in preceding columns. 1. Teachers. v. Totals. 2. Assistants. 3. Pupilteachers. i. Teachers. 5. Assistants. 6. Pupiltoachers. Auckland Faranaki SVanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay .. Marlborough Sfelson Canterbury South Canterbury Westland jrey Dtago Southland 171 22 59 46 30 21 42 135 39 16 15 150 77 :u 1 5 20 8 2 8 20 5 3 2 52 6 9 1 10 11 10 1 59 11 7 4G 12 15 15 10 7 41 95 9 6 1 97 21 129 12 18 44 21 6 46 39 18 9 8 35 5 205 14 29 67 36 9 145 30 12 11 104 31 594 62 136 203 115 46 137 493 112 53 37 477 154 15,895 1,632 4,433 6,289 3,733 1,175 3,844 14,863 3,340 1,516 1,113 18,483 5,347 26-7 263 326 30-9 32-4 25-6 28'0 300 29-9 28-6 30-8 39-0 34-7 51 13 1 44 13 39 11 14 12 Totals for 1885 .. Totals for 1884 .. 823 801 166 161 169 168 378 399 390 296 693 622 2,619 2,447 81,063 76,832 31-2 31'4 148 161 Difference 22 5 1 -21 94 71 4,831 -•2 -13 172