47

H.—l

Reference to the Board's estimate of expenditure to 31st December, 1878, already forwarded, will show that the amount payable for capitation allowance is barely sufficient to pay teachers' salaries, only allowing such salaries as must be paid to secure teachers able to impart instruction iv the subjects prescribed by the Act. The cost of clearing, draining, &c, school sites and playgrounds, is in this part of the colony exceptionally heavy; and, owing to the Board having found it necessary during the past year to build a number of schoolhouses, the expenditure for these purposes has been unusually large. By the provisions of "The Education Act, 1877," this, with the outlay upon school furniture, is made a charge against the capitation allowance, a charge whioh it is totally inadequate to meet. These matters, considered in connection with the fact that the Board are about to have added to their district a part of the Nelson District, where very little school accommodation is in existence, induce them to hope that the Government will treat them liberally, and that, at tho next session of the Assembly, such modifications may be made in the Act as will relieve them from their present unsatisfactory position. Public Libbaries. The number of public libraries in the Provincial District of Westland is nine, with a total of (>7O subscribers, exclusive of Stafford and Jackson's Bay, no return of the number of subscribers having been sent from those places. The Board are of opinion that the amount fixed by clause 7 of "The Public Libraries Subsidies Act, 1877," as being the amount of yearly contribution the payment of which will entitle the contributor to take books out of a public library within any borough, is quite sufficient. Table J gives the number of subscribers and the amount of subscriptions for the year 1877 in each district. By order of the Board. E. T. Eobinson, Secretary.

GENERAL STATEMENT of RECEIPTS and EXPENDITURE for the Year ended 31st December, 1877.

BALANCE - SHEET of RECEIPTS and EXPENDITURE in respect of EDUCATION RESERVES for the Year ended 31st December, 1877.

Income. £ s. d. 'o Grants from Government —Ordinary ... 10,108 16 11 „ „ Buildings ... 6,906 9 2 Household rates ... ... ... ,1,317 5 0 Capitation rates ... ... ... 756 0 0 Local Committees, for school books and apparatus ... ... ... 257 8 11 Sundries ... ... ... ... 231 19 11 Ovordraftat end of year ... ... 2,333 13 3 Expenditure. £ a. d. By Balance, 31st December, 1876 ... 1,147 18 8 Secretary's salary ... ... ... 260 8 4 Inspector's ditto ... ... ... 430 0 0 Allowance to members of Board ... 176 9 0 Printing, advertising, &e. ... ... 535 6 9 Teachers' salaries and allowances ... 6,472 18 1 Rent and rent allowances ... ... 189 0 0 Petty repairs and other costs ... ... 3,269 7 5 Law expenses, other than for reserves ... 19 8 0 School buildings .., ... ... 7,340 0 8 Inspector's travelling expenses... ... 250 15 6 School books and material ... ... 298 18 10 Payments under 40th clause ... ... 791 0 10 Sundries ... ... ... ... 730 1 1 Total Income ... ... £21,911 13 2 Total Expenditure ... ...£21,91113 2 Audited and found correct. Edwaed Patten, Auditor.

Receipts. Expenditure. £ s. d. 'own Land*—To rents collected for year current, viz.— Residence leases ... ... ... 850 10 0 Business agreements ... ... 50 7 0 Suburban and Rural Lands—To rents collected for year current, viz.— Mining eontracts ... ... 62 10 6 Timber licenses ... ... ... 18 0 0 Agricultural areas and timber blocks 67 7 6 Sundries — Transfers ... ... ... ... 48 12 6 Miscellaneous, including costs of preparing leases ... ... ... 212 16 6 Balance ... ... ... ... 478 15 11 £ a. d. .Balance at 1st January, 1877 ... ... 337 16 0 Collection of Kent.*, &c.—Agent's salary ... 82 1 8 Printing and advertising ... ... 96 5 0 Legal expenses ... ... ... 191 3 7 Sundries — Clearing and forming streets, &e. ... 388 19 0 Surveyor ... ... ... ... 170 3 4 Surveyor's labourers ... ... ... 168 4 9 Building ... ... ... ... 139 0 2 Travelling expenses members and agent ... 91 10 0 Miscellaneous ... ... ... 123 16 5 Total ... ... ... £1,788 19 11 Tohl ... ... ... £1,788 19 11