E.—l

So far as this result can be relied on —and it is almost certain that the statistics relating to standards are more accurate than those relating to age—it seems that about 22 per cent, leave without passing the Fourth Standard, and about 39 per cent, remain after they have passed the Sixth, while those who leave after passing the Fourth and Fifth respectively are about 23 per cent, and 16 per cent. From the other calculation it appears that less than 8 per cent, leave before they are thirteen, and that 45 per cent, remain till they have passed the age of fifteen. Public Schools and Teachbes. The number of schools open rose during the year from 1,464 to 1,533, Of the 69 additional schools, 68 will be found among the smallest, with average attendance below 20. Half-time schools to the number of 54 are counted as 27 in this enumeration, and three small schools, being under one teacher, are counted as one. The mean of the average attendances at all schools is 71*8 ; in 1895 it was 73"2.

TABLE J. —Number of Schools, December, 1896. (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 sewing-mistresses in December was 191, and of other teachers 3,515, including 1,043 pupil-teachers. The increase during the year (including one sewing-mistress) was 130, the largest increase (41) occurring among the women in sole charge of schools, and the next largest ("28) in the number of assistant-teachers. The mean number of pupils for one teacher declined during the year from 3T7 to 31"1.

TABLE K.—School Staff, December, 1896.

VII

Education Districts. d c 1 II Cβ H S ag © a o I CO i—3 S ■Junll u II >er o] P Seh< ?ols i] for t] is in S3 P l whi( Lβ QUl §8 e :h the Avei irter was— Bl I :age Attem s lance a Eβ SI s & P- - I li ■a ° i I 1 — — ■sl ,2 s d 9 1 fa Auckland Taranaki Wanganm Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland 327 57 123 118 64 60 112 28 32 193 65 218 136 21,986 2,979 7,942 11,097 6,251 1,792 4,873 1,417 1,351 17,827 4,659 19,264 7,815 67'2 52-3 64-6 94-0 97'7 29-9 43-5 50-6 42-2 92'4 71-7 88'4 i 57-5 26 K 13 13 4 39 23 12 14 19 24 11 45 7 15 14 6 2 21 1 4 13 24 17 63 8 10 12 5 1 14 94 20 43 31 21 7 : 24 7 ! 3 I 61 i 33 I 64 i 46 38 8 16 15 9 4 16 s 27 8! 31 13 12 3 2 8 2 3 4 ; . 15 S 10 19 3 10 7 7 1 A 14 2 ii! 7 4 2 6 1 2 18 •2 10 8 8 1 3 5 3 1 8 i "*6 i 3 42 as 21 17 28 13 5 40 33 2 2 3 2 1 i 12 2 i 12 ) 7 1 2! 19 5 19 22 ! .. ! 9 ! 3 I 10 ) 5 1 1 ) 9 2 4 as 2 3asl "li 13 12 5 28 i 2 8 as 4 1 i .. Totals for 1896 .. Totals for 1895 .. 1,533 1,464 109,253 107,222 i 71-3 ! 73-2 208 169 171 142 180 ! 188 154 455 195 178 80 92 85 82 82 84 44 46 34 28 57 as 28 52 as 26 208 19G 14 17 Difference -1 17 -12 3 -2 -2 6 5as2 12 -3 69 2,031 -1-9 39 29 -8

Education Districts. Principal, gg£* Head ot Department. Sole I Assistant PupilTeachers. ' Teachers, teachers. Total. Hi Hi I M. F. M. P. i M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. i All. I Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland 1 2 i hi .. 118 .. 18 .. 54 ..52 .. 27 7 j .. 29 ..18 ..8 .. 82 .. 29 .. 90 .. 30 10 I 2 ! 8 11 ! 6 I i 10 3 3 3 2 i i .. 1 2 1 2 1 30 4 102 97 34 18 18 J 4 41 ! 20 11 13 42 29 7 22 j 13 17 I 82 I 2 18 55 i 8 3 13 ! 3 7 14 I 3 39 43 J 35 12 18 10 49 79 54 57 31 11 144 f>0 187 304; 12 5 21 46 1 28 24 i 76 130 57 22 ' 147 116 83 14 65 64 12 I 2 i 11 28 26 I 6 33 61 13 3 12 18 11 i 3 J 14 21 134 42 103 225 28 15 27 70 152 24 75 217, 15 0 53 124! 665 219 8241,424 649 206 8141,372; . , I 1 16 I 13 10| 52 i 438 54 132 257 128 1 59 124 42 42 313 79 306 117 742 100 262! 373' > 192 87 185! 60; 63! 538! 149 1 523 241 21,936 2,979 7,942 11,097 6,251 1,792 4,873 i l,417j 1 1,351 17,827 4,659J 19,264 7,815 29'6 I 67 298 ' 26 30-3 j .. 29-8 ' 10 32-6 20-6 2 26-3 23-6 21-4 j .. 33-1 ! 36 81-8 18 36'8 32 32-4 ! .. 17 1 17 Totals for 1896 Totals for 1895 50 44 ' .. 552 .. 540 : .. 12 63 I 59 3 2 55 49 383 484 217 375 443 205 8 41 12 j 2,091 !2,014 3,515 3,386, 109,253 ,107,222 31-1 191 31-7 190 Difference -, i i 1 6 77 129 2,031 1