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Attendance at Examinations. —The attendance this year was even better than that of last, there being but twenty-eight absentees in the standard classes out of a possible 1,068. This is all the more noteworthy as during the time the country schools were being examined we experienced unusually cold and wet weather. Teachers' Examination of Standards I. and ll.—The teachers' examination of these classes was very satisfactory indeed. The following scheme for the examination of these classes was in most cases adopted by me this year, and proved a most satisfactory arrangement. The teacher having previously examined them, they were again examined by me as usual, the passes and failures being finally determined on consultation between the teacher and myself. Infant Classes.—These classes continue to be efficiently conducted, and I am pleased to note there is a growing disposition to make their work more interesting. The Pass-subjects. — Heading. —This subject continues to make steady improvement, more attention being paid to the production of proper expression. In some of our smaller schools, however, the subject is still indifferently treated. Writing. —ln most of our country schools this subject does not progress at all satisfactorily. Like all other subjects, it must be taught. It is absurd to suppose that constant writing in a copybook will teach a child to write correctly. Far too little attention is paid either to posture or to the holding of the pen, and until the pupils are thoroughly drilled in these respects no general improvement in the subject can be expected. The writing of Standards I. and 11., Grey District High School, deserves commendation, being exceptionally good. Arithmetic. —This subject, on which considerable attention has been bestowed during the past two years, continues to make very satisfactory progress, and the children were in most cases quite equal to the tests imposed. The work was, as a rule, neatly arranged, and showed the subject had received very careful treatment. Spelling. —With few exceptions, this subject was most satisfactory. Composition. —This subject on the whole is very fairly treated, though in a few cases it still bears a very mechanical appearance. Next year I intend to use as tests for Standards IV. and V. the reproduction of a short story or anecdote, and for Standard VI. the same, or an essay on some common subject connected with every-day life, or having reference to other school work. The usual paraphrasing, correction of sentences, &c, will also be required as usual. In all cases the composition exercise will be required to be written on paper direct. Drawing. —ln our larger schools steady improvement continues to be made, but in our smaller country ones the improvement is by no means so noticeable. As in the writing, so in this subject, there is too much exercise in it and too little actual teaching. Several of our schools entered candidates for the first-grade drawing examination conducted by the Wellington Technical School. The pupils sent up by the Grey School were very successful throughout, and the pupils from the country schools were also successful so far as the geometrical drawing was concerned ; the freehand, however, proved too difficult for them. I would again recommend the Board to furnish all schools requiring them with sets of Ghambers's Graduated Drawing-charts. Geography. —I find that the practice of tabulating the matter in connection with this subject is having a very marked effect in curtailing the information supplied. I hope, therefore, teachers will discontinue it, and have all answers written in complete sentences, thus using this subject as an aid to composition. Class and Additional Subjects.—Both class and additional subjects still receive very satisfactory attention. Drill is taught in all schools where a master presides, and the usual disciplinary exercises are gone through where a female teacher is employed. Grammar, though by no means a strong subject, shows steady improvement, and the knowledge of history, so far as the selected events, dates, and persons are concerned, is generally good. Science has improved, most teachers now making use of simple experiments, thereby making the lessons both intelligible and interesting to the pupils. Sewing is generally fairly well and neatly executed. I am sorry to say, however, that many teachers experience great difficulty in getting parents to supply the necessary material. Surely parents should have a little more consideration for the teacher than to provide art muslin in lieu of calico. Technical Education. —The carpentry class at the Grey District High School has this year been placed on a satisfactory footing, and Mr. W. Arnott, to whose exertions the success of the class is due, is still in charge. It always gives me great pleasure to go through the workshop and to inspect the work being turned out, which is always of a most satisfactory description, and reflects credit on both master and pupils. So popular has the class become that many would-be members have to be refused for want of room. The Roman Catholic Schools. —These schools were both inspected and examined by me during the year, and reports were prepared and sent to them in every respect similar to those furnished to schools under the Board. Appended are tables similar to those dealing with our own schools :— ExamTnation 1 - *""*■ *«*• 247 154 153 130 Total number in class above Standard VI., 8; total number of infants, 85 ; total number of infants over eight years of age not presented for Standard 1., 13.

* Including infants and class above Standard VI.