H.—l

45

"WESTLAND. In compliance with the provisions of clause 102 of " The Education Act, 1877," the Board have the honor to furnish, for the information of the Hon. the Minister of Education, a report of their proceedings for tho twelve months ended 31st December, 1877. The Board, as constituted by " The Education Boards Act, 1876," and holding office at the commencement of tho year, consisted of the following persons, viz.: —G. G. EitzGerald, Esq. (Chairman), W. H. Eevell, Esq., E. Patten, Esq., G. Mueller, Esq., E. J. Sedden, Esq., H. Kenrick, Esq., F. C. Tabart, Esq., J. Gibson, Esq., and J. Plaisted, Esq.; of whom the following resigned during the year : G. G. EitzGerald, Esq., H. Kenrick, Esq., E. C. Tabart, Esq., and J. Gibson, Esq.; and the vacancies were filled by the appointment of G. A. Paterson, Esq., J. Greenwood, Esq., E. A. Learmonth, Esq., and "W. Todd, Esq.; and E. Patten, Esq., was appointed Chairman, in place of G. G. EitzGerald, Esq. During the year the Board held seventeen meetings. The room occupied by the Board as an office was one that had been used as a meeting place for the Grand Jury during the sittings of the Supreme Court, and, thougli not at all suitable for use as an office, was the only place at the Board's disposal. They have, during the past year, made some alterations in the building; and have now a large and commodious office, with a room for the Inspector, and a store-room for school-books and material; and the despatch of business is very much, facilitated by the change. Eeceipts and Expenditure. During the past year, the receipts of the Board, from all sources, have been £19,577 19s. lid. The total expenditure for the year has been £20,7(53 14s. 6d. Schools. In Table A will be found a list of the schools established and subsidized by the Board up to the end of the year, together with the names of the teachers, their classification, the certificates held by them, and their salaries; also a list of pupil-teachers, their classification and salaries. The salaries in both cases are at the rate paid for the last quarter of the year. The number of scholars on the roll of each school is also given, with the average daily attendance, as shown by the returns sent in. The salaries in some cases being affected by the average daily attendance, a slight variation in the amount is caused from quarter to quarter. In addition to the amount shown as paid in salaries of teachers, the sum of £214 10s. 3d. was paid early iv the present year for results (as shown by the yearly examination in December), in accordance with the regulations for the payment of teachers adopted by the Board. At the same time, the sum of £126 was also paid for instructing those pupil-teachers who passed at the yearly examination. By reference to the column showing the classification of teachers, it will be seen that the difficulty alluded to in the last published report of the Board, of obtaining the services of trained and competent teachers, has in a great measure been overcome. In several cases teachers appear as unclassified, on account of their having entered the service of the Board since " The Education Act, 1877," came into operation, the Board being precluded by the terms of the Act from issuing certificates. At the end of the year 1876 there were in the provincial district twenty-two schools established by the Board, with three subsidized schools, making a total of twenty-five. At the end of the past year the total number, with three subsidized schools, was twenty-nine'—new schools having been opened during the year at the following places —viz., Kumara, Donoghue's, Eangiriri, and Okura. Another school was opened immediately after the Christmas vacation at the Arahura Eoad, in the Kanieri District. The Okura School is omitted from the list, no return having yet been sent in. At the end of the year 1876 the total average attendance was 1,600; at the end of the past year it was about 2,0'J0. At the time the last report of the Board was published, they had under consideration the necessity for making some of the schools into half-time schools, owing to decrease in attendance; but, after giving the matter very careful consideration, they decided that, on account of the peculiar circumstances of the district, the long distances between the various schools, and the large percentage of wet days during the year, they would not make any alteration. Buildings. The condition of the educational district with reference to school buildings presents a marked contrast to the situation when the Board first commenced operations in 1875. The number of buildings at that time at all fit for use for school purposes amounted to three —viz., the schoolhouso at Hokitika, the schoolhouse at Stafford, and the Town Hall at Kanieri; and in each case some expenditure was required before the building could be occupied. Since that time the Board have built fifteen schoolhouses; and two others are in course of erection, one at Kanieri, and the other at Arawata Elat, Jackson's Bay. Additions are also being made to the schoolhouses at Hokitika, Greymouth, and Stafford. In all cases where buildings have been acquired, by renting or otherwise, some outlay has been found necessary. Table D shows the expenditure upon building, school furniture, fencing, clearing, and draining sites aud playgrounds, in the various districts, for 1875, 1876, and 1877 respectively. The expenditure required upon school buildings in that portion of the educational district comprised within the limits of the Provincial District of Westland is comparatively small; but the Board feel that, in order to retain the services of efficient teachers, it is absolutely necessary to build residences where decent house accommodation is unobtainable. Table E shows the expenditure required upon schoolhouses and teachers' residences, also upon school furniture, clearing, &c.,in the Westland Educational District as constituted before the passing of " The Education Act, 1877." Examination op Schools and Teachers. The mode of examination by standards adopted by the Board is working well, a modification having been made during the year whereby, at the result examination in December, the scholars are