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REPORTS OF EDUCATION BOARDS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1880.

[Note. —It has been deemed unadvisable to swell the dimensions of the reports by including in them matters of purely local interest where such can be conveniently omitted, but most of the tables and papers which accompanied the Board's reports are either printed as received, or the information they furnish is embodied in the tables and summaries.]

AUCKLAND. Auckland, 11th March, 1881. In conformity to section 102 of the Act, the Board forwards a report of its proceedings during the year ending 31st December, 1880. Board.—Thirty-one meetings were held during the year, with an average attendance of seven members. The meetings of the Board are held, as a rule, once a fortnight. An Executive Committee, consisting of five members, meets once a week to facilitate the work of the Board, which has largely increased during the past year. Two vacancies occurred by resignation : the one in August, when the Hon. Colonel Haultain resigned his seat; the other in October, when Dr. Campbell resigned upon being called away to England. These vacancies were duly filled up as required by the Act, the first by the election of Mr. E. J. Moss, M.H.8., the second by the election of Mr. David Goldie. In each case there were five candidates for the vacant seat. The members who will retire in March, 1881, are Mr. J. M. Dargaville, Mr. W. P. Moat, and Mr. Joseph May : of these, the first two only are candidates for re-election.* It may be mentioned that upon the retirement of Mr. May there will be only one member (Mr. Prime) remaining of the old Board, which held office at the commencement of the present Act, three years ago. Public Schools. —The number of public schools in operation during the whole or any part of the year was 214, or, according to the numeration in Table No. 1 accompanying this report, 199. There were thirty half-time schools, twelve " aided" under section 88 of the Act, and two conducted by itinerant teachers. Three schools, viz., Eureka (Thames), Biverhead, and Whatipu Saw Mills, were closed ; the aid to Native schools at Maketu and Whakatane ceased at the 30th June ; and the Choral Hall School (Auckland) was amalgamated with Wellesley Street upon completion of the additions to the last-named school. Schools were reopened at Te Arai and Otaika, the latter half-time. The following new schools were opened within the year, viz., Victoria Valley, Orongo and Wahapu (halftime), Thames Orphanage (aided), Mangapiko, Te Bore, Cambridge West, Waihou (half-time), Katikati No. 3, Maraetai and Komokoriki (two half-time aided schools). At the 31st December, 1880, the number of schools in operation was 208, or, counting two half-time schools as one, 193. The classification of schools according to average attendance shows that there were thirty-seven schools having an average attendance under 15, thirty-seven schools with an average of 15 and under 20, and twenty-three schools with an average of 20-25 ; making in all no less a number than ninety-seven small or "non-paying" schools in the Auckland Education District. The necessity for the continued maintenance of these small schools is fully known to those who are acquainted with the scattered settlement of the outlying districts of this part of the colony. Teachebs. —The following return shows the number and classification of teachers:—

The term " Assistant Teachers " includes 90 junior assistants under nineteen years of age, all of whom have been classified upon examinations held by the Board for the purpose of testing their qualifications. It also includes 40 probationary teachers — i.e., candidates for employment who are receiving instruction and training in teaching, and to whom a small allowance is granted by the Board for maintenance. The " pupil-teacher " system, as defined by the Act and Government regulations, is not in operation in this district. In the absence of any other provision for the examination and classification of teachers under nineteen years of age, the Board holds a yearly examination of all junior assistants in employment, and of candidates for employment not less than fifteen years of age. Their classification is divided into

* Note.—Mr. Dargaville and Mr. Moat have been re-elected, and Mr. Richard Hobbs has been elected to fill the third vacancy.

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Position. Certifiei ited or G. lassified. ncertific: ited. Total. Head Teachers ... Assistant Teachers Sewing Teachers Visiting Teachers M. 88 10 _?. 38 27 Total. 126 37 M. 65 20 _?. 30 128 53 Total. 95 148 53 7 221 185 53 7 "i Totals 98 65 163 92 211 303 466