IV.

Heathcote Valley School ... February 2 ... Present 45 ... The numbers and efficiency of the School are increasing.

Akaroa School ... February 3 ... Present 37 ... The dimensions, furniture, and arrangement of the room are inconvenient; they render the successful conduct of the School a work of more than ordinary difficulty. The School seems slow in settling down to work after the Christmas holidays. A new set of maps is wanted. The stock of books is not well kept up, several classes were short of books. These should have been obtained in the holidays in anticipation of the re-opening of the School. The "Scottish School-book Association’s" are an excellent series, but their substitution for those in use in the other Schools of the Province proves to be undesirable. Those in the Board’s depot, besides their other advantages have a fixed price, and are more readily obtainable than the books got from Dunedin. The School may have suffered in consequence of the Teacher’s illness; the best Scholars seem to have left; the attainments of those present were considerably below the average of children of the same age. Some of the copy-books were very creditable. The Teacher’s illness and the inconvenient appliances afford some excuse for what is deficient; but there should be great improvement and possibly no holidays before next quarter’s examination.

Ashley Bank ... March 10 ... Present, 3 ... The protracted harvest, a local holiday, and other circumstances, reduced the attendance. It has lately increased.

Loburn School ... Same day ... Present, 21 ... Commencing satisfactorily. The School well built and supplied. The arrangements and order satisfactory. A low rate of fees has been adopted.

Mount Grey Downs ... Same day ... Present, 8 ... The School opened on the 8th. A larger attendance is expected next week. The School-room is well-built and finished; but the porch is too small, is open to the south-west, and in a line with the door, instead of at right angles to it. The interior is well fitted and arranged. A low rate of fees has been adopted.

Leithfield ... March 11 ... Present, 30 ... Satisfactory except as to some minor points, indicated at the time.

Saltwater Creek ... Same day ... Present, 24 ... Satisfactory. The School is now well supplied. The better arrangement of desks, &c., has proved more conducive to good order. The children are kindly and carefully taught; they seem to enjoy their school life.

Kaiapoi Church School ... March 12 ... Present, 86 ... Very satisfactory. Punctuality, propriety, cleanliness, and order appear to be the rule of School. The writing and the diction, formerly defective, have been somewhat improved. The Local Committee appear to exercise an effective interest in the material and moral welfare.

Harwood Road School ... March 15 ... Present, 14 ... Satisfactory. The writing very creditable.

Courtney School ... March 16 ... Present 14 ... Satisfactory.

South Selwyn School ... March 17 ... Present, 18 at 9:35. At this time the Master left the main body in the School-room, and went out to search for stragglers and suspected truants, in the cross-roads, ditches, and fences. Five were found. There is considerable improvement as to punctuality, but there is a great want of method, and of the influence of example. The children appear to pass much of their time unemployed; and, unnoticed by the Teacher, to indulge in some very bad and idle habits. As to the attainments, the Bible knowledge, Reading and Writing, subjects which most mark the Teacher’s cultivation and care, were deficient; the Tables and Spelling, learned from memory were more satisfactory. The Arithmetic and the Writing are done by the children, and shown up to the Teacher; the result of their not being looked over and taught while at work, is that five or six children, learning addition, begin their sums at the wrong side; and the copy books of the more slovenly disposed children, are the most disgraceful I have ever seen. The Teacher is well-disposed, and has the good-will of his neighbours, but is not qualified for the charge of a more highly organised School.