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WESTLAND. Sic, — Education Office, Hokitika, 22nd January, 1900. I have the honour to present the following report on the primary schools of the district for the year 1899. All these schools have been examined and, with unimportant exceptions, inspected. Separate reports have been presented on the examinations of the secondary class of the Hokitika District High School, andot the Catholic schools at Kumara, Hokitika, Kanieri, and Ross. The following tables state the general results of the examination of the various standard classes :—

Examination of Class Subjects.

The distribution of the number presented for examination in the various classes is expressed in the following percentages of the total roll-number: Above Standard VI., 3-9; Standard VI., 8-8; Standard V., 8-4; Standard IV., 13-3; Standard 111., 13-8; Standard IL, 12-1; Standard 1., 11-9; Preparatory, 27-8. The number of pupils over eight years of age in Preparatory classes is 18-9 per cent, of the class, and 5-2 per cent, of the total roll. The reasons given by the teachers for the retention in the preparatory classes of these pupils is in general satisfactory. The pupils in Standard I. and Standard 11. were not examined for a pass by the teachers except in the three larger schools, where due discretion was exercised in making the promotions. The percentages of failures compared with the total roll is 9-2. The passes in individual subjects both in number and value show considerable improvement. None of the following percentages are below those of last year, and in most there is an increase : Reading, 96; spelling, 87 ; writing, 98 ; drawing, 95 ; arithmetic, 77 ; composition, 94 ; geography, 88. The comparative table relating to the results, expressed by percentages, of the tests in arithmetic issued by the Education Department is continued : — Standard VI. Standard V. Standard IV. Standard 111. 1894 ... ... ... ... 68 71 82 70 1895 ... :.. ... ... 75 49 74 77 1896 ... ... ... ... 66 48 69 86 1897 81 68 75 78 1898 ... ... ... ... 72 65 67 76 1899 ... ... ... ... 69 67 79 72

Class and Additional Subjects.

Classes. Total presented. Examined in Standards. Passed. Average Age of those that passed. Average Age of passing for New Zealand in 1898. Yrs. mos. Yrs. mos. Secondary classes Above Standard VI. Standard VI. V. „ IV. ... „ III. ... II. ... I. Preparatory 26 50 111 106 168 174 152 151 349 106 100 167 169 148 148 89 90 146 153 143 140 13 11 12 11 12 0 10 11 10 0 8 11 14 1 13 1 12 3 11 1 9 11 8 10 Totals ... 1,287 838 761 11 5* 11 6* * Mean of averai ;o a; ;e.

In Ichooli with Teai more than One :her. In Schools under the Chari One Teacher. [e of Subjects. •T3 --^ a o O a> o CD ■43 CB • O o tn c3 a _> O a. H^> *i o o 8 * CI O n3 o o J-rammar listory ... Elementary science (Stands. IV. to VI.) )bject-lessons (Preparatory, and Standards I. to III.) lental arithmetic... tecitation )rill iinging ... Needlework .omprehension of reading-matter 1 1 1 3 1 4 3 3 3 1 5 6 5 1 4 8 1 2 12 1 2 13 5 2 15 6 3 12 5 3 "i "l "l 1 l 3 3 3 3 1 1 5 2 2 2 1 5 1 4 6 5 7 7 8 8 3 8 1 1 "2 5 2 24 23 8 1 5 3 "3 1 "l 1 "3 14 *6 6 i