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physical instruction, is given in all schools where the attendance warrants their being taught. Iji the smaller schools ordinary school drill is taught along with calisthenic exercises, and generally the results are fairly satisfactory. In the larger centres most of the teachers are Volunteer officers, and military instruction in the schools is well and efficiently given. The three district high schools were duly inspected and examined, but they cannot be reported as being in a flourishing condition. Hastings is the only one with signs of growing vitality, but the demand for office-lads in Gisborne and farm-lads in Woodville is keeping down the attendance at these schools. Standard VII pupils only numbered 101 in 1907, compared with 134 in 1906. The difference is very marked. The proposal to establish a district high school at Waipawa is likely to meet with general approval, and, along with the technical buildings lately finished, such a school should satisfy the educational requirements of this growing district for some time. The character and general tone of the schools —Catholic and Board alike—continue satisfactory. Comparisons are not necessary. Cases of neglect and indifference on the pai-t of teachers are rare. The moral influences are good, and many teachers set before their pupils excellent examples of good living. My thanks are due to the Board for providing me with help in the work of inspection and examination. As remarked already, more than ten thousand children are attending schools that are open to inspection, and Mr. J. A. Smith's appointment as Assistant Inspector has proved of real help. He commenced duties in April, and already he has been over the larger part of the district. During the coming year we propose visiting fairly often every school where we think it possible to improve the character of the work by a little additional oversight. Before closing this report I desire to direct attention to the milking industry as carried on in certain districts. There are occasions when it is one's duty to speak on behalf of those who are unable to speak for themselves. No one acquainted with the struggles and hardships of the small settlers would willingly hurt their prospects or hinder them in the production of a single gallon of milk, but if the milking industry cannot be carried on without using and abusing childlabour, the case calls for inquiry. The following is an example among others that might be cited. A family of six children, three boys and three girls, were attending a certain school in March last. Their ages were—girls, 13 years, 11, and 9 respectively; boys, 12 years, 10, and 7; and the daily milking-task was—girl aged 13 milked 10 cows in the morning and 10 in the evening, girl aged 11 milked 10 cows in the morning and 10 in the evening, girl aged 9 milked 9 cows in the morning and 9 in the evening, boy aged 12 milked 11 cows in the morning and 11 in the evening, boy aged 10 milked 11 cows in the morning and 11 in the evening. The youngest boy, aged 7, fetched in the cows, but did no milking. The oldest girl was in Standard IV, and the eldest boy in Standard 11. Milking began in the morning at a quarter to 6, and finished at 8. Preparations then began for breakfast and school, and this round of work went on during the spring and summer months. These children had to attend school for five hours daily, and it is not difficult to realise that their progress was slow. Information received from teachers satisfies me that a number of children are being overworked, and attention is drawn to the matter in the hope that the Board will be able to lessen the hardships of children in the direction indicated. I have, &c, H. Hill, Inspector. The Chairman, Education Board, Hawke's Bay.

MARLBOROUGH. Sir,— Education Office, Blenheim, January, 1908. I have the honour to present my fourth annual report on the schools of Marlborough. Number op Schools.—There were seventy-seven schools on last year's list. Owing to the difficulty in obtaining and retaining teachers, a number of these schools had but a fluctuating existence. Their roll varies from two to seven. They are mostly in the Sounds, where narrow sheeptracks and steep hillsides render the passage from bay to bay dangerous for young children. Very few are within five miles of each other by track. Centralisation by launch would be costly and not without danger; but as population grows the opportunities for centralisation should also increase. Young teachers, finding the bays remote, do not always care to stay a year; hence many breaks in the work. Notwithstanding these disadvantages, the Board considers it better to recognise the schools, and thus extend to the settlers as much assistance as possible. It is a matter for regret that, with all this inducement, in some localities children are growing up and passing from infancy to youth without ever having had a school in their midst. This is owing to the neglectfulness of the parents and guardians. In last year's report of the Wellington Board it was stated that a number of neglected children were reported to the police, at whose instance they were committed to receiving-homes or industrial schools. It might be well to take some such action in several localities in Marlborough. Inspection.—Sixty-nine public and five private schools were inspected during the year. A number of supplementary visits were also paid to view the school gardens. In some of the smaller schools the careless keeping of registers is still noticed; the correspondents are enjoined in all cases to see that the registers are carefully marked and preserved, otherwise the payment of capitation is endangered by the absence of a valid basis on which to pay it. By several teachers schemes of work had not been prepared. These are now provided for by the issue from the office of special books, so that there may be no excuse for neglect. A residence has been provided at Ward, and the schools have been wholly or partly rebuilt at Te Awaite and Spring Creek Upper. The most necessary works of the coming year are the repair of Picton School, the provision of more accommoda-