St. Luke’s
new master. ... March 5 ... Present, 80 ... Improving under the

Ashley Bank ... March 10 ... Present, 7 ... The school had not yet fully assembled after harvest.

Rangiora ... March 11 ... Present, 52 ... Satisfactory.

Kaiapoi Church School ... March 12 ... Present, 66 ... Satisfactory, on the whole, although below usual average efficiency of this school, owing, probably to interruption from recent floods.

Upper Heathcote school ... March 13 ... Present, 28 ... Middling; the children behindhand in elementary knowledge. The register incomplete.

Riccarton ... March 13 ... Present, 45 ... Considerably improved; but time which might be more profitably spent in perfecting the younger classes, is spent in lecturing the elder ones in what they could learn of themselves.

Lyttelton Church of England ... March 16 ... Present, 46 ... Fallen off. Accuracy in elementary knowledge has not been well kept up since the December examination. The reading, spelling, and arithmetic, then nearly on a level with those subjects in other schools, are now below the average. Several neat papers on Bible knowledge were done by the first class. Instruction in military drill had not commenced. The Mistress’ register of the girls attendance, kept on ruled paper, does not contain all the required information.

Lyttelton Wesleyan school ... March 16 ... Present, 55 ... Improving as to the attendance, age, and efficiency of the pupils, although the present attendance is reduced by low fever.

Pigeon Bay ... March 17, 18 ... Present, 22 ... Satisfactory, except as to the reduced attendance. The ventilation seemed insufficient.

Akaloa ... March 19 ... ... Middling. Very little improvement since the December examination. The new desks are an improvement upon the old ones. Owing to the distance from Port, and to the disappointment by the person employed to repair the windows, they are still broken; and the number of broken panes has increased.

Okain’s Bay ... March 20 ... Present, 19 ... Satisfactory, except as to the very reduced attendance.

Akaroa ... March 23 ... Present, 40 ... Improving.

Duvauchelle’s Bay ... March 24 ... Present, 27 ... Improving.

The details of each examination are fully stated in the journal.

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
J. P. RESTELL,
Inspector of Schools.

LOWER HEATHCOTE SCHOOL—SPECIAL REPORT.

Some of the suggestions made at the recent examination had already received the attention of the Master, who promises to carry out further suggestions. The state of the playground, fenced, neatly laid out with borders, and planted with trees and shrubs, reflects credit upon the schoolmaster.

The zinc water-piping, conveying the water along the eaves of the roof, and the upright pipe connected with it, require alteration, so as not to convey the water to the hollow formed by its fall at the base of the chimney.

Blinds or curtains are much wanted for three of the four northern windows; a blind for one window having been given by one resident.

Want of funds has prevented the previous obtaining of a fender; but as the committee are said to retain £25 of the annual grant of £75 in aid of the maintenance of the school, it is to be hoped that they will shortly be in a position to pay for requisite materials and repairs.