Our Dunedin Letter.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1032, 4 May 1894, Page 6

Our Dunedin Letter.

~* - (From Our Own Correspondent.) The annual report of the Otago Education Board has just been issued, and, as it is a very interesting one to .the whole of our residents, I cull a few items from the same which will no doubt be. acceptable to your numerous readers. The number of schools now open total 202 ; there are 288 female and 224 male teachers of all kinds employed. The average attendance for year was 18,729, being 598 less than 1892 ; this is no doubt due to the measles, etc., which prevailed ; the attendance at the end of the year was 22,562. Mr Petrie inspected 81 schools and examined 74, was employed in doing so 1902 hours, and travelled* 3703 miles ; Mr Taylor inspected 89 and examined 74 schools, employed 1937 hours, travelled 3761 miles; Mr Goyen inspected 90 schools, examined 85, was employed 1949 hours, travelled 4177 miles. 11608 pupils passed in all standards, of which 434 were standard vii., and 1816 failed. The inspector's salaries totalled L 1550 towards which Government give a special grant of LSOO, and the travelling expenses were L5lO ss.— The Training College had 60 students on the books at end of 1893, 38 females and 22 males. The institution cost in salaries L 1059 10s, allowance to students L 1069 3s 4d ; incidental Lls 10s 3d : total L 2142 3s 9d, of which the Government give a special grant of L3OO (at one time, I understand, they contributed L 2000). The drawing department costLs4s for salaries, L 25 ls lid for incidentals ; total L 570 ls lid. Towards this L 197 l'ss 6d was received for fees, the net cost of the institution being L 372 6s sd. The classes were attended during the year by 342 students, of which 81 were teachers and pupil teachers; 47 students in training, 103 pupils in the afternoon classes, and 111 artisans and other pupils in the evening.— -The receipts from all sources inclusive of L 5341 12s 2d, amounted to L 86,402 2s lOd. The expenditure was this amount less a credit balance in hand at end of current year of L 8421 3s 2d. The principal items in addition to those previously mentioned were teachers' salaries L 61,00 0; school buildings, etc., L 4900 ; grants to school committees, L 4500; office salaries, LIOOO (made up as follows — secretary and treasurer LSOO, clerk L2lO, clerk Ll5O, cadet L 62, messenger L 78 ); members travelling expenses L 205 (the principal disbursements being — - Mr Borrie L3l, and Ll6 15s lOd for monies paid for railway fare; Mr J. J, Ramsay, L 26 and Ll7 lis Id railway fare (; Mi* Jas. Green L 25 and L 3 ls 9d railway fare; Mr M. Fraer Lls and L 5 fpr railway fare ; Mr M'Kerrow L 2 4; Mi* Clark 23 ; these latter two

gentlemen not having any railway fare as this is paid for them by the Land Board of which they are members). Mr Macgregor's central school is likely to be a fiasco. The scheme as shetched by him before a committee of the Education Board is a very peculiar one, and qqito impracticable. The Daily Times in a leading article showed its utter fallacy, and dealt in a trenchant way with his illogical remarks in connection therewith. First a lady mayor at Onehunga, and now Papakaio, near Oamaru, has broken out in another direction and eleoted a Mrs White as one of the school committee. No doubt the next step will be to the Legislative Council or the General Assembly, and then perhaps, we shall get a better class of representatives generally than what we have at present. The football fixtures for the season have now been made, and some interesting games should be played. The Association game also seems to be coming to the front, and some strong clubs have come into existence. A special meeting is convened to reconsider the affiliation to the New Zealand Rugby Union, but I think a strong feeling is growing up against such a course The weather on Tuesday for the further opening of another section of the Otago Central railway was not very inviting, but a good many people went, and no doubt would enjoy the ' outing. A banquet was given to the Minister of Lands at Hyde . in the evening. The Daily Times has chris- I tened the Government ' the banqueting ' Ministry.'