Kaiapoi Wesleyan School, ... March 8 ... Present, 62 ... Satisfactory.
The higher classes are small in number, and comparatively low in attainment; the attendance of the older children is interrupted by occasional work. The progress of the younger and more regular attendants is very creditable.

Woodend School, ... March 9 ... Present, 30 ... Satisfactory.
The School has been conducted during harvest; the holidays having been at Christmas. The younger children have reaped the full benefit, in the absence of the older ones; their attainments reflect great credit upon the faithful and diligent services of an efficient Master and Mistress.

Okain’s Bay School, ... February 4 & 6 ... Present 35 ... Very satisfactory.
The children are thoroughly interested in their school work. The parents appear to have confidence in the Teacher. There is always something more to be learned. From these causes children here are induced to stay on beyond the early age at which many leave other Schools. There is a constant supply of suitable books and apparatus. The attainments are creditable. A good general knowledge of the Bible extends to even the younger classes. The first two classes wrote papers, and the third class on slate, short accounts of several Bible events. The reading is carefully taught. The first and second classes wrote from dictation. The written spelling of the second class was fair, but not above the average. About two-thirds of the School write creditable copy-books. Of the rest, most of them can write their names, and nearly all are learning to write on slate. The Arithmetical knowledge includes the Multiplication Table by two-thirds of the School; and good “ciphering” up to the compound rules, in the second, and to the higher rules and cubic root, in the first class. The two highest classes are learning History; Geography is more generally taught. Creditable outlines of parts of New Zealand were drawn from memory. The study of Algebra and Mensuration, &c., by two more advanced pupils, does not interrupt the general course. They can work steadily by themselves, with only an occasional reference to the Teacher.

Little Akaloa School, ... February 5 ... Present 37 ... This School has made a very marked improvement under the present Teacher and his predecessor. Both instances show the advantage of having a married Teacher, although the wife, as here, may take no active part in the School routine. The more punctual and regular attendance, the exquisite neatness of the time table and the register, the creditable copy-books, and generally the improved order, are more particularly commendable. Quiet energy secures complete control without fuss or noise. The progress since last examination is satisfactory.

Duvauchelle’s Bay School, ... February 8 ... Present 30 ... Much improved.

Pigeon Bay ... February 8 & 9 Present 24 ... Satisfactory.

Papanui Wesleyan School, ... February 12 ... Present 43 ... Much improved, more especially in the younger classes. The elder boys require more strict control.

St. Albans School ... February 7 ... Present 60 ... Several classes were short of books. This partly explains the bad reading of the Third Book and Second Book classes. But the latter book is too difficult for the class using it. The copy-books are hurriedly and carelessly done; they do not show signs of regular and careful supervision.

Christchurch Convent School, February 16 ... Present 59 Girls (and a number of little boys, who will be examined on another occasion with the Boys’ School). The School is in admirable order. The children and their books are remarkably neat and clean. The classes, with one exception, answered well in Bible history. Considerable accuracy in this subject and in the secular knowledge indicate careful teaching.

Chch. St. Andrew’s School, ... February 17 ... Present 59 ... This small and low-roofed room is quite inadequate to the number of children cooped up in it. Its enlargement, or the removal of the School to a more commodious building, is becoming a matter of urgent necessity. The attendance and efficiency are well sustained, notwithstanding the neighbourhood of several good private and other Schools. The attainments are highly creditable. The Mistress appears to be overtasked, though of most unflagging energy.