E.—lb

1908. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: REPORTS OF INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS. [In continuation of E.-1b, 1907.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

AUCKLAND. Sir, — Education Office, Auckland, 16th March, 1908. I have the honour to submit a general report on the public schools of the Auckland Education District for the year 1907. There were in operation at the end of the year 484 schools, of which eighty-two were half- or part-time schools. The number has increased by twenty-one during the year. The public schools inspected numbered 417; as in the past only one of the grouped part-time schools was inspected. An " annual visit " was made to 472 public schools. In addition to the above, twenty-four Roman Catholic diocesan schools were inspected and examined, as well as the Parnell Orphan Home School. The following table shows in summary the statistics for the year as required by the Education Department: —

Summary of Results for the Whole District.

* Mean of average age. The figures in this table show for the year an increase of 588 in the roll-number, and a decrease of 1,556 in the number present at the Inspector's annual visits. This decrease is entirely due to the widespread prevalence of epidemic sickness, and to long-continued inclement weather while the annual visits were being made.

I—E. Iβ.

Classes. Number on Roll. Present at Inspector's Annual Visit. Average Age of Pupils in each Class. Standard VII ... VI ... V ... IV ... Ill ... II ... I ... 174 2,076 3,118 3,427 3,733 4,033 3,966 12,758 108 2,027 2,926 3,227 3,482 3,737 3,629 10,263 Yrs. moa. 15 1 14 0 13 1 12 3 11 4 10 4 9 4 7 3 Preparatory Totals 33,285 29,399 11 7*