E.—l

TABLE H.—Number of Pupils instructed in Each Subject.

It is shown in Tables A and B that the number of pupils on the rolls at the end of 1896 exceeds the corresponding number for 1895 by 1,181. Table B carelessly interpreted would lead to the conclusion that the number of new pupils in 1896 was 48,729, and that the number of pupils withdrawn from school in twelve months was 40,117, -plus the difference (7,431) between the number on the rolls at the end of 1895 and the number on the rolls at the beginning of 1896, the net gain (1,181) being the difference between 48,729 new pupils admitted and 47,548 old pupils withdrawn. But these high numbers are deceptive, and are due in great part to removals from school to school, and to such long absences (from illness and other causes) as lead to the striking-off of names and subsequent re-entries. It is not likely that the number of really new pupils in any year is much above the highest number given in any line of Table C, where the pupils are classified according to age with intervals of a year, and this year the highest number in that table is 15,212. A comparision of the age-table of 1896 with that of 1895 shows that, if the correct ages of the children have been recorded, there must have been 15,518 really new pupils enrolled in 1896, and that at least 14,337 must have finally left during the year. The details are as follows : — Entered between 5 and 6 ... ... ... ... 9,708 6 „ 7 ... ... ... ... 3,381 7 „ 8 ... ... ... ... 1,937 8 „ 9 ... ... ... ... 192 9 „ 10 ... ... ... ... 210 10 „ 11 ... ... ... ... 90 15,518 Left between 11 and 12 ... ... ... ... 196 12 „ 13 926 13 „ 14 ... ... ... ... 3,056 14 „ 15 ... ... ... ... 4,350 Left, being over 15 ... ... ... ... ... 5,809 —— 14,337 Gain ... ... 1,181 Fairly consistent with this estimate is the result obtained from a study of Table D for 1895, and Tables D and G for 1896 : - New pupils in Preparatory and First Standard Classes ... 15,061 „ class preparing for Standard 11. ... ... 112 15,173 Losses from „ „ 111. ... ... 1,008 IV 2,077 V 3,269 VI 2,240 „ class above Standard VI ... ... 5,398 13,992 Gain ... ... 1,181

VI

Education Districts. S2 u>8 3 to -2H I d I 6 % a I 5 •B ■ a a III E o t>1 0 DO 5 ji 2 Q & 3 0 3 1 S , o I I I 2 t* -S3 <D O Si Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborougli Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland 26,607 3,827 9,927 : 13,541 7,383 2,183 6,004 1,673 1,541 21,300 5,322i 22,091i 9,6381 26,607 3,827 9,927 13,541 7,383i 2,183 6,004 1,673 1,541 21,300 5,322: 22,091 9,638 26,607 3,827 9,927 18,841 7,383 2,183 6,004 1,673 1,541 21,300' 5,322 22,091 9,638 26,607 3,827 9,904 13,541 7,383 2,183 6,004 1,651 1,541 21,300 5,322 22,091 9,575 13,599 1,542| 5,743 7,486 3,422 1,289 3,542 763 851 11,415 2,583 11,580 4,853 16,669' ! 2,087 6,190 9,910 4,393 1,534 4,154 954 1,040 14,037 3,285 14,289 6,056 (12,619 1,544 4,385 7,210 3,203 1,231 3,224 635 797 11,365 2,551 11,182 4,621 9,552 1,020 3,408; 5,686 2,292; 748 2,462 370 627 6,422 1,774 8,201 3,406 i 26,861 i, 3,7611 18,091 7,319 2,083 5,342 1,487 ! 1,333 20,998 5,030 20,897 9,375 ! 125,944 124,192! 117,029 2,746 : 6,275 8,953 4,884 1,376: 3,695 ! 1,109' 859 18,124 3,3991 13,9071 6,143 21,454 2,482 4,500 12,320 6,440 1,327 3,646 1,002 936 19,225 i 4,749 21,102 8,647 11,290 1,706! 3,193, 5,343 2,940 959 2,577l 656i 637i 9,948 2,416 8,922 3,50l! i 1,296 i ; 10 • 30 533 80 265 98 i 6 66 1,914 118 931 275 Totals for 1896 Totals for 1895 131,087 129,856; i131,037 129,856 131,037i 129,848 1130,929 129,631 68,668 66,331 84,598 82,293 64,567! 63,318 [45,968 43,448 2,520| I 1 84,159 !83,293 107,830 106,020 54,088 53,226i 5,622 7,018 Difference 1,752 1 ■ 866: 1,810 862 -1,396 1,181 1,181 1,189 1,298 2,337 2,305 1,249