63

E.—l

Sim, Wanganui (A), one scholarship at £30 per annum; Ernest Barns, "Wanganui (A), one at £30; E. W. Tompkins, Halcombe (B), one at £25 ; E. B. Guthrie, Wanganui (B), one at £25 ; Thomas Bamber, Wanganui (B), one at £25 ; Hugh. Mclntyre, Wanganui (C), one at £20 ; William Carson, Wanganui (C), one at £20. Two of the A scholarships therefore lapsed in consequence of the candidates failing to obtain half marks. The Board decided that, in compliance with a request from the department, the payment should commence and end with the school year 1882. Messrs. H. H. Godwin, and W. H. Barnicoat assisted the Inspector in conducting the examination, and to these gentlemen the best thanks of the Board are due for their valuable services. The prizes presented by Sir Julius Vogel were made subsidiary to the scholarships, and were awarded to Thomas Kendall and William Ballantyne, the two most deserving candidates who failed to obtain scholarships. The award was governed by the same rules which decided a claim to a scholarship. District High Schools. —There are still two district high schools in this education district— viz., at Patea and Wanganui. The number of pupils learning extra subjects in Wanganui was as follows : First quarter, 15 boys, 28 girls ; second quarter, 12 boys, 25 girls; third quarter, 12 boys, 27 girls ; fourth quarter, 14 boys, 31 girls. The Board much regrets that it is unable to make any return for the Patea School, as the late School Committee utterly failed in its duty either to collect the fees or make the necessary returns, although called upon by the Board to do so. The Board strongly deprecates such conduct, and considers the Committee has been guilty of a breach of good faith, by which it has placed the Board in an unpleasant position with reference to its pledge in regard to this school. The only remedy the Board could apply was to stop the usual capitation grant to the Committee until a fresh one could be elected; and this was done. In the month of June the Headmaster (Mr. Fearnley) of the Wanganui District High School for Boys resigned, having accepted an appointment at the Nelson College. The Board thereupon invited applications for the position, and Mr. J. P. E. Francis, M.A., of Melbourne, was appointed to the vacancy, which he appears to fill with every satisfaction. The District High School for Girls, under Miss Blyth, continues in a very efficient state, and is largely taken advantage of by all classes, the building now being barely sufficient to accommodate the pupils. In its report of 1879 the Board expressed doubt as to the working of these district high schools with advantage; it thinks that the time has now arrived when the Wanganui High School Act of 1878 may be brought into operation, and the endowments turned to account, It is probable that primary and secondary education may thus be separated with profit to the public and the Board, and with advantage both to scholars and teachers. In its capacity as Board of Governors for the High School, it will probably address you at no distant date. Tbachees' Quarterly Beturns. —The delay which has taken place quarter after quarter in rendering the summary of attendances to the department has arisen from the faulty manner in which a few of the teachers have rendered their returns. The Board lately directed the Secretary to keep a record of the teachers who forward these documents in an incorrect state, and it now intends to take further action in reference thereto; for it is manifest that teachers who cannot make the very simple calculations necessary to fill up these returns are unfit to impart instruction in arithmetic to their pupils, whilst the natural inference to be drawn from an indifferent or careless mode of filling up important Government returns is that it is typical of the work performed in the schoolroom. In connection with these documents, the rule of the Board that whenever a school has been closed a full statement setting forth the time and cause should be indorsed thereon has proved useful. The following is a summary of the indorsements for the December quarter: Twenty-six schools were closed for periods ranging from one to four half-days for holidays given by order of the Inspector after the annual examination. Nineteen schools were closed for periods ranging from one to four half-days on account of amusements. One school was closed for two half-days, and one for forty-five half-days, in consequence of the teachers having left. Four schools were closed for periods ranging from two to thirty-eight half-days on account of alterations and repairs to the buildings. One school was closed for ten and one for ninety-eight half-days on account of sickness. Twenty-eight schools were closed from one to twelve half-days on account of holidays given by the Committees. One school closed for fourteen half-days on account of leave to the teacher. Two schools were closed from two to seven half-days on account of the teacher's illness. Three schools were closed from seven to twelve half-days on account of wet weather. One school was closed three half-days for the teacher to attend Volunteer drill. One school was closed for seven half-days on account of no attendance of scholars. Three schools were not closed at all for extra holidays. These returns present many other interesting features, such as the number of subjects taught in each school, &c, and show that some teachers take a greater interest in their schools than others. Teachbes. —There are 108 teachers now in the employ of the Board, 54 being males and 54 being females. Several of these are as yet uncertificated, but the Board expects that they will present themselves at the annual examination and obtain classification. Insurance.' —The whole of the Board's buildings are insured at the rate of 6s. per cent, premium. Committees. —The Board forwarded the usual form of school fund account to all the Committees in good time, but up to date but 46 out of 57 have been received. The late Patea School Committee neither forwarded accounts nor report, thereby violating the provisions of the Act; and the Otaki Committee not only couched its report in gross language, but openly stated that it had violated the Board's rules. The report was therefore returned as being unfit to place before the Board. The Police as Truant Inspectors.—The provision made in this respect has proved a failure. The modus operandi is that constables fill up certain forms containing the names of children who are known to be habitually absent, and then hand the documents to the School Committee, leaving them to prosecute : this has been done in some instances, but it has not been effectual, and there appears to be more than one cause. In the first place, the very few constables at the disposal of the Inspector do not appear to have time for such a duty, which in itself is fatal to the arrangement; and, secondly, the constables do not place themselves in communication with the Committees and teachers, from whom they could learn the names of the absent children. But even supposing the police had rendered a full account of all children not attending school, the provision stops short where it might commence to be