1. Whether the school is (a) a public school, i.e., held in premises secured by deed for education, with managers acting under that deed, who appoint and control the teacher; or (b) a private school, i.e., governed by private managers, or a committee not acting under any deed; or (c) an adventure school, i.e., conducted by the teacher at his or her own risk, and on his or her own responsibility.

2. When the school is either a private school, or an adventure school, (a) to whom the building belongs, and (b) on what conditions it is occupied.

3. With what religious denomination, if any, the school is connected, and whether the scholars are required or expected to attend any special religious instruction or particular place of worship.

4. Dimensions in feet of each schoolroom, and each classroom, specifying as regards each whether it is for boys or girls, or a mixed school.

Where rooms are in process of building or enlargement, the dimensions as they will be when the rooms are finished or enlarged, are to be given. No rooms are to be included, except those in which the school is, or is to be, kept; e.g., if the teacher lives in one room and keeps school in another, the latter room only is to be included.

5. Whether the school premises include (a) houses for the teachers, (b) separate offices for boys and girls.

By a mixed boys' school is meant a school under a master in which girls are instructed, and by a mixed girls' school is meant a school under a mistress in which boys are instructed with girls.

6. Whether each of the rooms entered in the return under No. 4 is, or will be, exclusively appropriated to education, and, if not, the other use.

The answer is to be in the negative if the teacher sleeps, takes meals, or follows any trade in the room for teaching, or if divine worship, or any occupation except teaching is, or is to be, carried on in it.

7. Whether each of the above rooms is or will be exclusively furnished for use (a) as a day-school, or (b) as a Sunday school, or (c) for both.

The answer is to be in the negative if the room is or is to be furnished wholly or in part for a trade, for living in, for divine worship, or for any other purpose but teaching.

8. Which of the rooms, if any, is used for an evening school.

9. When any new rooms, or enlargements of existing rooms, are in contemplation, (a) the exact additions or changes about to be made, giving dimensions, and (b) by what date they will be completed.

10. If the school is not in operation, but in course of being supplied, for how many children the promoters propose to provide accommodation; (a) for boys, (b) for girls, (c) for infants.

11. The principal teacher's names in full: (a) date of birth, (b) how long a teacher, (c) date at which he or she took charge of the school, (d) whether certificated by the Committee of Council, (e) class of certificate, (f) whether the school receives annual grants from the Education Department.

A "principal" teacher is one who acts under the orders of no other teacher in the same institution; e.g., there may be three principal teachers in one institution, containing separate departments for boys, girls, and infants.

12. Attendance.-Day school: (a) how many week days per week the school is held; (b) how many hours per week day; (c) how many weeks per year. Evening school: (a) during what months held; (b) on what nights of the week; (c) for how many hours each night.

13. Age and number of scholars on the roll, omitting all who have not

attended within the last month: (a) under three years; (b) three and under six; (c) six and under eight; (d) eight and under thirteen; (e) thirteen and under twenty-one; (ƒ) twenty-one and upwards.

14. Number in actual attendance on day when return is made.

15. The number of scholars now on the roll who attend the school (a) as half timers, or (b) under any Act regulating the hours of labour.

16. Fees.-Number on the roll paying per week: (a) one penny and less than two pence; (b) two pence and less than four pence; (c) four pence and less than sixpence; (d) six pence and less than nine pence; (e) nine pence; (f) more than nine pence; (g) nothing (i.e., free scholars).

The information under Nos. 13, 14, 15, and 16 is to be given with reference to boys' and girls' schools respectively, and, as regards each, night as well as day schools.

17. The number of scholars on the roll who come from other parishes, (a) boys, (b) girls, (c) infants under six years of age, and the names of such parishes.

18. Instruction.-Number learning at day and night schools respectively each of the following subjects: (a) reading; (b) writing; (c) arithmetic; (d) dictation; (e) religious instruction; (f) history; (g) grammar; (h) geography; (i) needlework; (j) other subjects, specifying them.

19. Whether the school provides instruction only; if not, how many scholars are (a) lodged, (b) boarded, (c) clothed.

20. Whether the school is a ragged school, industrial school, reformatory, orphanage, asylum, or private boarding school.

21. Whether the school has any endowment: if so (a) of what amount; (b) the nature of the endowment; (c) whether it is alienable from the school or from education.

22. The name and designation of the correspondent for the school, and his address for post from London.

The case of the managers or teacher of a school refusing or neglecting to fill up the form required for the return, is provided for by secs. 71, 72.

See also sec. 95, and the 39 & 40 Vict., c. 79, sec. 43, post, as to the duty of school boards to make such returns, and give such information as the Education Department may from time to time require.

Mode of Obtaining Returns.

68. For the purpose of obtaining such returns the Education Department shall draw up forms, and supply to the local authority such number of forms as may be required; and the managers or principal teacher of every school required to be included in any such return shall fill up the form, and return the same to the local authority within the time specified in that behalf in the form.

The "local authority" for the purpose of furnishing returns is provided for by sec. 69.

As to the returns which were prepared under this section, see note to Bec. 67.

Local Authority to make Returns.

69. The returns shall be made in the metropolis by the school board appointed under this Act, in boroughs by the council, and in every parish not situated in a borough or the metropolis by persons appointed for the purpose or by the overseers of such parish. Where a school board is formed under this Act, the returns shall be made by such school board within their district, instead of by the council, persons appointed as aforesaid, or overseers, as the case may be.

The persons appointed for the purpose may be appointed as follows; namely, the Education Department may, if they think fit, send to the overseers or other officers who have power to summon a vestry in such parish a requisition to summon, and such overseers or other officers shall summon, a vestry in such parish for the purpose of this section; and such vestry shall appoint two or more persons who shall be the local authority for the purpose of the returns under this Act. (1)

The local authority may, with the sanction of the Education Department, employ persons to assist in making such returns, and may pay those persons such remuneration as the Treasury may sanction. That remuneration, and all such other reasonable expenses incurred by the local authority in making such returns as the Treasury may sanction, shall be paid by the Education Department. (2)

(1) With regard to the persons who have power to summon a vestry, and the mode of voting at a vestry, see sec. 3, notes.

(2) It is understood that the Treasury only sanction the payment of expenses under this section in those cases in which the persons employed to assist in making the returns are so employed with the express sanction of the Education Department.

Proceedings on Default of Authority to make Returns.

70. If any local authority fail to make the returns required under this Act, the Education Department may appoint any person or persons to make such returns, and the person or persons so appointed shall for that purpose have the same powers and authorities as the local authority.

The "local authority" for furnishing returns is provided for by the preceding section.

The 36 & 37 Vict., c. 86, by sec. 19, post, further provides that where the Education Department have power to require the local authority to send to them a return, they may, without requiring a return from the local authority, appoint a person or persons to make the return.

Inquiry by Inspectors of Education Department.

71. The Education Department may appoint any persons to act as inspectors of returns, who shall proceed to inquire into the accuracy and completeness of any one or more returns made in pursuance of this Act, and into the efficiency and suitability of any school mentioned in any such return, or which ought to have been mentioned therein, and to inspect and examine the scholars in every such school. Where there is no return the inspector shall proceed as if there had been a defective return.

See also the provision in sec. 19 of the 36 & 37 Vict., c. 86, post.

Refusal to fill up Forms and to admit Inspectors.

72. If the managers or teacher of any school refuse or neglect to fill up the form required for the said return, or refuse to allow the inspector to inspect the schoolhouse or examine any scholar, or examine the school books and registers, or make copies or extracts therefrom, such school shall not be taken into consideration among the schools giving efficient elementary education to the district.

In the case to which this section refers, the school will be ignored by the Education Department in considering the sufficiency of the public school accommodation in the district. See sec. 8.

PUBLIC INQUIRY.

73. Where a public inquiry is held in pursuance of the provisions of this Act the following provisions shall have effect: (1)

(1.) The Education Department shall appoint some person who shall proceed to hold the inquiry:

(2.) The person so appointed shall for that purpose hold a

sitting or sittings in some convenient place in the neighbourhood of the school district to which the subject of inquiry relates, and thereat shall hear, receive, and examine any evidence and information offered, and hear and inquire into any objections or representations made respecting the subject of the inquiry, with power from time to time to adjourn any sitting.

Notice shall be published in such manner as the Education Department direct of every such sitting (except an adjourned sitting) seven days at least before the holding thereof:

(3.) The person so appointed shall make a report in writing to the Education Department setting forth the result of the inquiry, and stating his opinion on the subject thereof, and his reasons for such opinion, and the objections and representations, if any, made on the inquiry, and his opinion thereon; and the Education Department shall cause a copy of such report to be deposited with the school board (if any), or, if there is none, the town clerk of the borough, or the churchwardens or overseers of the parishes to which the inquiry relates, and notice of such deposit to be published: (2)

(4.) The Education Department may make an order directing that the costs of the proceedings and inquiry shall be paid, according as they think just, either by the district as if they were expenses of a school board, or by the applicants for the inquiry; and such costs may be recovered in the former case, as a debt due from the school board, or, if there is no school board, as a debt due from the rating authority, and, in the case of the applicants, as a debt due jointly and severally from them; and the Education Department may, if they think fit, before ordering the inquiry to be held, require the applicants to give security for such expenses, and in case of their refusal may refuse to order the inquiry to be held.

(1) A public inquiry may be held under this section in the case of persons feeling aggrieved by the decision of the Education Department with regard to the public school accommodation for a district (secs. 9, 13), of an application by certain persons for the formation of a school district (sec. 12), of a proposal of a school board to put in force the provisions of the Lands Clauses Act, relating to the purchase and taking of land otherwise than by agreement