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REPORTS OF EDUCATION BOARDS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1877.

AUCKLAND. In compliance with section 102 of " The Education Act, 1877," the Board presents the following report and returns for the year ended 31st December, 1877 :— Hitherto the reports of this Board have been made up to the end of June in each year, and in April, 1877, an interim report up to the 31st March preceding was furnished for presentation to the General Assembly. By tho passing of "The Education Boards Act, 1876," this Board became a corporate body, invested with powers and properties which had previously been held by the Superintendent of the province. The Board consisted of the following members: Hugh Hart Lusk (Chairman), William Thomas Ball, John Logan Campbell, Patrick Dignan, Theodore Minet Haultain, David Mitchell Luckie, Joseph May, George Maurice O'Eorke, and Frederick Lambert Prime. In August Mr. Ball, and in October Colonel Haultain, resigned their seats, and the vacancies were not filled up. Thirty meetings were held during the year. Iv December, 1877, there were 186 common schools, two training classes for teachers, one high school for girls, and one grammar school for boys: total number of schools, 190. The last-named school has now been placed under the control of a separate Board of Governors. The number of school districts was 149, of which 14 were created during the year. The present number of teachers in the Board's employ is—l4l males, 134 females=27s ; of pupil and probationary teachers, 20 males, 58 females=7B: total number of teachers, 353. An alphabetical list of the names of teachers, and of their classification, is appended. An examination of teachers was held in December, and was attended by 202 persons. The following table shows comparatively, for the December quarters of 1876 and 1877, the number of scholars attending the common schools in this district: — JNo. of Highest Attendance. Average Attendance. Schools. Boys. Girls. Both. Boys. Girls. Both. December quarter, 1877 ... 186 6,271 5,107 11,378 4,398 3,397 7,795 „ 1876 ... 162 5,510 4,488 9,998 3,787 2,954 6,741 Increase ... ... 24 761 619 1,380 611 443 1,054 The accounts of income and expenditure for the year are appended. Under existing arrangements the accounts of the Board are audited at the end of each quarter. Hitherto the Board has been able only to supply bare necessaries in the way of appliances for teaching. A very large expenditure will be required in order to provide the "additional apparatus" which is specified in the regulations, and which is indispensable to good teaching. An increase in the scale of teachers' salaries will have to be made if the Board is to secure and retain the services of efficient teachers. But the most pressing want of all is that of suitable school buildings and teachers' residences. A great many buildings have been erected during the year, and many more are in progress. It will bo seen from the list appended to this report that very few schools have yet been adequately provided in this respect; and the Board cannot too strongly urge upon the Government the peculiar claims of Auckland to a liberal grant for school buildings. Attention is specially directed to the remarks of the Inspector on this subject in his report for the year ended June, 1877. During the past year a considerable number of education reserves have been leased, and the income derivable under this head has been more than doubled. The administration of these reserves is now vested in a separate Board of Commissioners. A report on the Auckland College and Grammar School is furnished separately. The Board regrets that its efforts to provide a suitable building for this school have not hitherto met with success. A Girls' Training and High School was opened in Auckland at the commencement of the year. The number of pupils increased during the year from 36 to 103 —a convincing proof of the necessity which existed for an institution of this kind. The appendices to this report contain the fullest information which the Board is able to supply in respect of its operations durina; the past year. The Board concurs with the Inspector in his remarks on the subject of " Eegulations," and trusts that the suggestions therein offered will be favourably considered. Adopted at a meeting of the Board this 29th day of March, 1878. Huan H. LtrsK, Chairman.