E.—lb

5

results by next examination, when the tests will be adapted to the plan of instruction. A list of subjects for the senior classes, if arranged for given dates, allows time for collecting information in the form of notes by each pupil. Teachers would do well to try this plan, enforeingjthe latter part. The punctuation was frequently omitted by pupils of the lower standards. Geography.—This subject is also weak. Many classes had been very badly prepared in the spelling"of local names. The class subject work was as satisfactory as that of any preceding year. Mapping could not be called a success, as the maps were generally poorly outlined ; but the places asked, for were often correctly indicated, and the facts stated with a fair degree of accuracy. Physical geography was the weakest part of the subject, the questions being often unanswered. Military drill and singing are at a low ebb. The first is, however, well represented at the Central School and at Tikorangi, where the company movements were highly creditable. In connection with needlework, I should like to see " Dress Cutting-out " an essential part of its programme. Now that the girls are showing an interest in geometrical drawing, there is no hindrance to their successful treatment of a system like that of Mrs. N. Greenfell's, published by Longmans, Green, and Co. It presents no difficulty, so that the system could be acquired in a few lessons. lam again able to report most favourably on the discipline and behaviour of the pupils. With two or three exceptions, the tone also of all the schools continues to be highly satisfactory. F have, &c, The Chairman, Board of Education, Taranaki. William Murray, Inspector.

Summary of Results for the Whole District.

WANGANUI. Sib,— Education Board Office, Wanganui, 25th March, 1890. I have the honour to submit my sixth annual report on primary education in the Wanganui District. Work op the Year. —During the year I examined all the schools open for twelve months at the time I was in their neighbourhood—viz., eighty—and I paid seventy-nine visits of inspection. The time given to the examination of each school varied from one day to five days, except in the case of one small infants' school, which was examined in four hours. The examination generally began at 9 a.m., and ended at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m., according to the time of year. At inspection visits, or what are commonly known by the objectionable term of " surprise visits," from half a day to a day was spent at each school, according to its size, its state of efficiency, and the time at my disposal. To teachers new to the district I endeavoured to give as much time as possible at these visits, and also to familiarise them with our methods and style of work by leaving with them corrected examination papers worked at some of my other schools, and also samples of examination cards. No doubt these papers and cards proved of advantage, for children may not do themselves full justice when-the style of the Inspector's examination is quite different from their teacher's. Of the eighty schools twenty-two were examined between March and June, while the examination of the remaining fifty-eight went on almost daily (a few days were spent in inspection visits) from the 22nd July to the 20th December. The majority of schools were inspected between January and July. And here I may say that, as nearly every school day between the pupil-teachers' examination in June and the midsummer holidays has its allotted examination on my time table, all new schools of the future must be examined in the earlier half of the year. I make this explanation because some Committees and teachers of lately-opened schools were surprised, that their examinations could not take place in some particular month. After the examination of each school the schedules and my report were posted during the week to the Board's Secretary, and at the same time duplicate copies were sent to the teachers through the Chairmen of their Committees. On these schedules the w Tork done was valued as carefully as at a competitive examination, and from fifty to a hundred marks were obtainable by each pupil in each subject. Such a method of appraising the papers enables the teacher to see at a glance in what subjects his pupils are strong

Classes. Presented. Absent. Excepted. Failed. Passed. Average Age of those that passed. Above Standard VI. Standard VI. ... V IV „ III II. ... I Preparatory ... 29 130 237 416 412 335 994 2 13 22 37 30 26 9 3 14 39 22 10 5 48 66 127 72 22 20 66 135 213 288 277 14-8 14-2 12-8 11-9 10-5 9-4 Totals 2,553 130 90 340 999 I !ean of average age, 12-3 yei V irs.