E.—IB.

are a fruitful source of transmitting diphtheria. Of course, it is not practicable for each child to bring his own cup, but the thick glass drinking-cups that are used in the United States might be generally introduced." Such questions as latrine accommodation, painting, and repairs generally have received the close attention of the clerk of works. He has drawn up a schedule of work done during the year, and of work necessary to put all buildings in an efficient state. This shows that the grants to the Board for building purposes are entirely inadequate to the needs of the district. These grants have not increased with the increased accommodation now necessary for each child, nor with the increase in the price of building materials which the architect informs us has taken place during the last few years. Increased grants may perhaps be looked for when it is found to be of greater advantage to the State to give as adequate grants for buildings in which its children spend a great part of the most critical period of their development as it does for other public buildings. We have, &c, T. R. Fleming, M.A., LL.B.,) T F. H. Bakewell, M.A., {Inspectors. The Chairman, Wellington Education Board.

Summary of Results for the Whole District.

HAWKE'S BAY. Sir, — Inspector's Office, Napier, 4th March, 1903. The seventy-nine Board schools and seven Catholic schools which are in operation in what is known as the Hawke's Bay Educational District have been duly visited and examined during the past year. My separate reports on the work and state of the schools have already been submitted for the consideration of the Board, and it merely remains for me to present in summary form the results of all my examinations for the year, with such remarks as may appear necessary to explain the general state of education throughout the district. No new school districts were constituted, and only the small school at Patoka was opened as a new school, during the year. Few changes have been made in the way of school buildings and residences, and, although quite a number of districts where schools are in operation are without suitable buildings, nothing has been done to place the children under fair and healthy working conditions. It is surprising to me how children and teachers are allowed to meet for so many hours daily in insanitary buildings, without a playground, a water-supply, or proper out-offices, when at the same time we read of the enforcement of the Public Health Act everywhere except, unfortunately, in places like a public school, where the enforcement of proper hygienic conditions is a public necessity. A year ago attention was directed to the want of suitable school accommodation in a number of districts along the East Coast, such as Awanui, Waipiro Bay, Tokomaru, Morere, Mohaka, and Tolago Bay. Except at the latter place, things remain as before, although there is a prospect of school buildings being provided at Waipiro and Mohaka, but, unfortunately, without residences. I say "unfortunately" advisedly, because these places are in Native districts, and no school for Native children is ever erected by the Government without a suitable residence for the teacher. It seems to me a strange thing that a makeshift school for the children of settlers should be considered sufficient in so many places ; whilst teachers are compelled to live under conditions that can hardly be realised by those who are unaware of the actual state of affairs. One does not see makeshift Native schoolhouses and residences; but these are to be met again and again in the case of schools under the control of the Board. Not only do the children suffer mentally and physically, but the teachers soon become broken down in health owing to the isolation and privations they undergo. So bad are the conditions in some of these places that in one place I had to carry on an examination wrapped in an overcoat, with the rain driving through the skeleton building. Every pupil belonging to the school was present, although the day was miserably cold and the room

21

Classes. Number on Roll. Present at Inspector's Annual Visit. Passed. Average Age of Pupils in each Class, Standard VII. VI. V. IV. III. II. I. 524 1,075 1,612 1,850 1,869 1,873 1,832 4,623 501 1,039 1,567 1,795 1,814 1,823 1,771 3,753 858 1,341 1,573 1,589 1,676 1,688 Yrs. mos. 14 5 13 8 12 7 11 10 10 11 9 10 8 6 7 1 Preparatory Totals ... 15,258 14,063 8,725 11 1* * Mean of averai ;o a| m.