75

£.—1

obtaining their E Certificate within a reasonable time. These regulations will, most probably, be adopted by the Board. The regulations for the employment, payment, and examination of pupilteachers have also been revised and submitted for the Board's approval. The Board, however, are strongly of opinion that the examination of pupil-teachers should be the work of the department, and that there should be perfect uniformity in this respect throughout the colony. Finance. —The receipts from all sources during the year amounted to £17,216 6s. 7d., including a credit balance of £409 16s. Id. on Ist January, 1880 ; and the expenditure to £18,329 10s. 9d. At the commencement of the year 1880 the General Account showed a debit balance of £970 4s. 10d., and the Building Account a credit balance of £409 16s. Id. At the same period the amount of the Board's liabilities was £4,147 Is., being Building Account £3,903 Is., and General Account £244. The debit balance at the termination of the past year amounted to £1,113 4s. 2d., and the sum of £57 was then owing (being bonuses to teachers and pupil-teachers), making a total of £1,170 4s. 2d. Against this must be placed £90 9s. Bd., grant for scholarships due at end of the year, and value of stock of books, &c, for sale, £1,500, making a total of £1,590 9s. Bd., and consequently leaving a credit balance of £420 ss. 6d. Explanation of Items in Table No. 2. —" Salaries of Teachers " includes payments for instructing pupil-teachers and bonuses for pupil-teachers passing for 1879 and 1880, amounting altogether to £523 Bs. 4d. Capitation Allowance —School Committees, £1,096 65., includes £145 15s. special grants. Scholarships, £192 10s. :of this £22 10s. was for 1879. Miscellaneous Expenditure, £541 10s. 5d., includes the following: Allowance to members of Board, £125 175.; printing, £109 7s. 6d.; advertising, £36 18s. ; legal expenses, £29 os. Bd.; stationery, £22 6s. Bd.; fuel, light, cleaning, &c, £33 4s. Bd. ; papyrographing circulars, examination-papers, and regulations, £29 10s. Copying building specifications and plans, £50 Bs. 2d. Telegrams, deficient postage, post-office orders, drafts, exchanges, stamps, &c, £15 16s. 9d. Cablegrams to teachers, Victoria, £l 2 10s. 3d. Refunds, &c, £25 os. 9d. Packing books, carriage of parcels, &c., £34 14s. 9d. Interest, £4 10s. lOd. Credit balance Imprest Account, £12 4s. sd. School Committees. —The Board beg to acknowledge the assistance received from the various Committees in carrying out the provisions of the Act. Possibly fewer cases have occurred in this district of actual conflict between the Board and Committees than in any other in the colony. In one or two cases a disposition has been shown to rebel against the general power of supervision given to the Board by the Act; but in no case can it be said that the Board have in any way unduly interfered with Committees. The Board are glad to be able to state that in only one case has it been necessary for them to protect a teacher from being unjustly and unfairly treated by a Committee. The Board have made it their rule to interfere as little as possible with the Committees in the exercise of their legitimate functions ; but they have always considered it desirable for the Board to expend the funds provided for building purposes, assisted by any advice or information which can be furnished by the Committees. Reference to Table 2 will show that the amount expended in grants to Committees during the past year has been £1,096 65., or £428 4s. 4d. more than the Board received from the Government for that purpose. This is principally owing to the fact that, though the capitation grant for Committees was discontinued from the Ist August, the Board continued the payments to Committees (deducting 10 per cent.) until the 30th October. As stated previously, the Board, when they received the circular concerning the discontinuance of the capitation grant of 10s., felt it necessary to deduct as little as possible from salaries. They therefore decided that from the Ist November they would discontinue payments to Committees based upon average attendance, and that, to meet cost of cleaning, fuel, &c, for schools not under the 88th clause, they would give the following fixed yearly payments: Totara, £35 ; Kanieri, £30 ; Hokitika, £100; Arahura, £35 ; Kumara, £40 ; Greymouth, £100 ; Brunnerton, £30 ; Nelson Creek, £10. The Hokitika and Greymouth Committees also receive a yearly grant of£2s each for caretakers. The Committees to be relieved from all charges in connection with repairs, &c, to buildings, such charges to be borne by the Board out of Building Fund. The Committees to have power to charge, for all school requisites issued, a maximum sum of 2s. per quarter per scholar, provided that no parent shall pay more than ss. per quarter. All maps and school furniture to be issued to Committees free of cost. The above-mentioned Committees to pay cost price for all school requisites issued to them. With reference to payments to Committees for schools under the 88th clause, the Board decided as follows: The Board to pay all expenses for cleaning, fuel, Ac, for such schools, provided the total amount per annum for any one school does not exceed £10. School requisites, &c, for such schools to be issued free of cost. It may be mentioned that the school requisites above referred to have, for several years, been issued to scholars free of cost; but the Board feel satisfied that no objection will be taken to the small charge now intended to be made by the Committees. Penny Banks. —The No Town School still maintains the distinction of being the only school in the district in which this institution has taken root. The Board, as explained in the last report, while quite favourable to the voluntary establishment of penny banks in connection with their schools by any Committees or teachers who may be disposed to give them a fair trial, are nevertheless averse to bringing any pressure to bear upon either in order to bring about their general introduction. Below is a copy of the audited accounts of the No Town Public School Penny Bank for the year ended 31st December, 1880: — Penny Bank General Account. £ s. d. £ s. d. Balance at credit of depositors on 31st Decern- Bepayments from Ist January to 31st December, 1879 ... ... ... ... 20 1 1 ber, 1880 ... ... ... ... 24 17 10 Deposits received from Ist January to 31st Balance due to depositors on 31st December, December, 1880 ~. .., ... 24 19 3 1880 ~, ... ... ... 20 2 6 £45 0 4 £45 0 4