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APPENDIX B. REPORTS OF INSPECTORS OF SOHOOLS, 1915. AUCKLAND. Sib,— Auckland, 18th March, 1916. We have the honour to submit for the year 1915 our annual report on the public primary schools of the Auckland Education District, and those private schools whose inspection was undertaken by the Department. At the close of the year the number of public schools in operation was 643, an increase of fourteen on the previous year. Twenty-nine Roman Catholic diocesan schools and ten other private schools were also inspected. The following is a summary of the results for the whole district: — Number Present fit Annual on Roll. Examination, Standard VII .. .. .. .. 352 309 VI .. .. .. .. 3,061 2.959 V .. .. .. .. 4.397 4,288 IV .. .. .. .. 5.130 5,021 111 .. .. .. .. 5,847 5.683 II .. .. .. .. 5,981 5.805 T .. .. .. .. 6,423 6,182 Preparatory .. .. .. ..20,122 18,657 Totals .. .. .. ..51,313 48,904This table shows an increase for the year of 1,774 on the roll number, and 2,403 on the number present at the annual examination. The total enrolment in the Roman Catholic diocesan schools was 3,830, and, of these, 3,587 were present at the annual examination. In the case of the other private schools the numbers were 624 and 598. During the year, but chiefly towards its close, 2,329 certificates of proficiency and 377 certificates of competency in the work of Standard VI were awarded to pupils from the public schools, as well as 184 certificates of proficiency and 36 certificates of competency in the work of Standard VI to pupils from private schools. With a few exceptions all schools were visited twice during the year. Pressure of work, arising largely from the general advance of settlement and from the attention demanded by the grading of teachers, prevented our paying two visits in every case. Early in the year Mr. Warren came to our assistance, and has since then been appointed an Inspector of Schools. Towards the middle of the year it was found necessary to procure further assistance, and Mr. P. Brown and Mr. D. Mclnness left their schools and took up the work of inspection for some months, a task they performed with much care and thoroughness. The thanks of all concerned aro due to these two teachers, and also to the Board and local Committees, for thus assisting us to overtake the necessary work of inspection. Supply of Teachers. —In this large and rapidly expanding district it has always been difficult to maintain an adequate supply of efficient teachers, a difficulty that has assumed more formidable proportions than usual during the past year, owing mainly to the war, with its demand on our teaching staff and its call to others who under normal conditions might have entered the service. From time to time it appeared as though important appointments would have to be deferred, and in certain other cases that schools would have to be closed. Fortunately, however, neither of these courses was necessary, a supply being secured within reasonable time. Some of the teachers thus appointed, as in former years, are proving worthy ; some are making most laudable efforts to reach efficiency, and the best of these will ultimately become valuable additions to the service. It must not be forgotten, however, that during the last six or eight years we have been compelled to appoint a considerable number of teachers more or less inexperienced, and, as the present difficulty of maintaining the necessary supply of suitable applicants is likely to increase rather than diminish, it is becoming more important than ever that some method of improving this section of the service should be employed. The Training College Regulations provide for short-period studentships—from three months to one year—for teachers of promise requiring assistance. We are strongly of opinion that advantage should be taken of the facilities thus offered. Such a course, by enabling teachers to overcome many of their defects, would very materially add to their usefulness. Observation Schools. —On. several occasions during recent years we have drawn attention to the need for these schools, a need steadily becoming more urgent. The Act of 1914 provides for such schools, but is silent on the matter of salary, which it may be presumed will be in accordance with the ordinary scale. To prove of the maximum benefit to the visiting teachers the observation school

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