ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 839, 30 March 1888, Page 15

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EDUCATION BOARD.

At the meeting of the Board of Education on Wednesday the annual report of the transactions of the Board was read and adopted. It stated that there were now 55 school districts under the Board. At the close of the year there were 71 schools in operation, and during the year seven additional schools had been opened. It mentioned that an admirable site had been secured at Clyde-quay on lease, with right of purchase, and plans were in course of preparation for a school to be erected thereon as soon as the title was complete. The want of a school at this end of the city had been very much felt for some time, b&t no suitable site could be obtained. It was anticipated that it would be filled immediately it was opened, and so release the pressure now severely felt at the other city schools. Reference was also made to the Board’s scholarships, and in connection with this matter it was stated that amended regulations would be submitted for the consideration of the Department, making provision for increasing the scholarships according to the revenue available, and placing the competition more clearly on the lines indicated by the Education Act. Mention was also made of the abolition of the Training College, and on the grounds of economy it stated that this could not be regretted, as the cost of the College was out of all proportion to the practical results achieved. It stated that tho drawing master, Mr Riley, reported that good progress had been made in this subject at the public schools. The School of' Design technical classes were now more numerously attended than in previous years, and the inconvenience of the accommodation was felt with increased force. At the close of the year the registers showed 155 students who regularly paid the fee required. With regard to finance, the report stated that it would be seen from the accounts that the sum of L 969 13s Id had been spent in rents and repairs to buildings, and L 375 12s on the School of Design. These amounts were heavy charges on the maintenance account, and the Board hoped that the Government would grant some assistance to the School of Design in recognition, of the promise made by Sir Robert Stout, and the Board had again to express its appreciation of the efforts made by Committees to assist in carrying out the provisions of the Education Act. The abolition of the special capitation allowance rendered it absolutely necessary to make very serious reductions in the amount allowed to Committees, and this of course must seriously hamper these bodies in carrying out the important duties of their office, but the situation was forced upon the Board, and any action it should take would make its revenue more elastic. The Board hoped that the Committees would use every endeavor to carry out the works entrusted to them with unimpaired efficiency, notwithstanding the forced reduction of the Board’s grant-in-aid.