21

E.—l

are now on vieAV. The library already contains about 800 volumes, which it is intended to make available to teachers, students, and others as far as practicable. A descriptive catalogue of the museum and library will be prepared as soon as time can be given to the work. The freight of the articles from England, the fittings of the museum, and other expenses have amounted to £94 ss. lOd. School Penny Banks. The Boards were requested to include in their annual reports information respecting the number of school penny banks which had been established in their districts. The Hawke's Bay Board states that "no applications were received from School Committees for the establishment of penny banks," and it recommends the introduction of the new system of deposits of postage stamps. The North Canterbury Board reports that two school penny banks had been opened, one at Balcairn, the other at Kaiapoi Island North. Copies of the accounts of these two banks accompany the Board's report, and are printed in the Appendix, page 70. The Balcairn School is attended by about fifty scholars. The deposits from the opening of the bank on 23rd April to 31st December, 1880, amounted to £11 3s. 2d.; interest, to 2s. Bd.; withdrawals, to lis. lid.: leaving a credit balance of £10 13s. lid. The school attendance at Kaiapoi Island North is about 28; the deposits up to 31st December, 1880, Avere £12 17s. 5d.; interest, 4s. lOd.; withdrawals, £5 65.: leaving a credit balance of £7 16s. 3d. The No ToAvn School maintains the distinction of being the only one in Westland District which possesses a savings-bank. The Board's report contains a general statement of this bank's accounts. None of the other Boards refer in their reports to this subject. In March of the present year a circular was addressed to the several Boards bringing under their notice the arrangements made by the Government to receive for lodgment in any post office savings-bank deposits of penny postage stamps of the value of one shilling, with a vieAV to the encouragement of thrift among children, and they were requested to cause to be distributed among the School Committees and the teachers the notices and cards prepared by the Postal Department. There is reason to believe that the notices and cards have been extensively circulated by means of the school authorities, and that many of the teachers have interested themselves in the matter. In consequence of an application from a Native district, information respecting the scheme has been printed in Maori, and circulated through the agency of the Native school teachers. Education Reserves. The Appendix contains the reports of the School Commissioners of the several provincial districts, and the general statements of their accounts for the year 1880. The following is a summary of the accounts : —

TABLE S.—Summary of School Commissioners' Accounts.

Income for the Year 18S0. Provincial Districts. Receipts during Year. Balance on 1st January, 1880. Primary Secondary Reserves. Reserves. Arrears of Rent due on 31st December, 1880. Liabilities or Engagements on 31st December, 1880. Total Income. Auckland Taranaki Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson ... Canterbury Westland Otago £ S. d. 624 6 1 59 2 0 506 18 4 318 5 8* 219 7 4 351 7 0* 1,124 2 0 £ s. d. 1,383 6 9 583 14 6 553 13 2 841 5 1 80 17 6 517 9 4 9,134 14 9 60 5 0 7,8U 3 11 £ s. d. 355 1 5 240 9 6 23 0 0 323 19 6 5 19 187 4 0 395 11 3 238 11 0 581 2 3 £ s. d. 2,362 14 3 883 6 0 1,083 11 6 1,483 10 3 305 6 7 1,089 0 4 10,654 8 0 298 16 0 12,032 7 8 £ s. d. 638 19 10 621 14 2 79 11 0 103 11 3 117 9 3 137 14 3 975 13 4 647 10 0 1,836 7 4 £ a. d. 4 0 0 31 6 7 200 0 0 10 7 3 7 5 0 6 5 0 45 0 0 538 5 3 3,640'"l 6 Totals for 1880 Totals for 1879 6,843 9 11 11,584 13 5 20,996 10 0 21,215 14 6 2,350 0 8 8,000 0 10 30,198 0 7 35,800 8 9 5,158 10 5 6,060 5 6 845 9 1 577 16 4 * Including fixed deposits of £200 and £149 respectively nob shown in the balance-sheets for the year.