E.—l

62

New Schools and Buildings.—New schools have been built at Opunake, Midhirst, and Stratford. Teachers' houses have been built at Opunake, Midhirst, Stratford, Wortley Road, and one has been enlarged at Tataraimaka. The house accommodation for teachers is very insufficient; at the same time providing rent allowance is a heavy tax upon the Board funds ; moreover it is difficult in many cases to get hired houses, or even lodgings. A sum of i£Boo was advanced from the Board fund to meet the necessary outlay for buildings and fencing; consequently for the current year the Board will only have ,£905 at its disposal for buildings, enlargement, or repairs—a sum quite inadequate for its requirements. The Board has long had under its consideration the importance of uniting the East and West Boys' Schools into one central school. The East and West Schools would in that case be used for infants'" or mixed schools. A new school at Fitzroy is urgently needed : the school there is continually increasing. The hired building taken for six months to test the wants of the district is required by the owner, so that another building used as a chapel has been rented; but it is not only inconvenient, but insufficient for the number of scholars, and as there is no fireplace the attendance will certainly fall off during the winter quarter. The distribution of the sum voted by Parliament for schoolbuildings operates greatly to the disadvantage of a rural district like Taranaki. Teaching Staff. —The teaching staff consists of 21 male teachers and 33 female teachers. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. Henry Govett.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 188 2 Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance on 3lBt December, 1881— By Office staff, salaries ... ... ... 150 0 0 Building Account ... ... ... 711 15 3 Clerical assistance ... ... ... 8 12 6 General Account ... ... ... 1,237 6 11 Departmental contingencies ... ... 97 10 9 Government grants for buildings ... 542 0 0 Inspectors'salaries ... ... ... 275 0 0 Other receipts for buildings — Teachers' salaries and allowances (includSale of old buildings ... ... 27 12 3 ing rent, bonus, &c.) ... ... 3,987 1 4 Advance from Education Fund ... 800 0 0 Incidental expenses of schools — Deposit on contract ... ... 7 19 6 Incidental expenses ... ... 414 12 5 Government statutory capitation (£315s.) 4,550 8 6 Rents of buildings ... ... 50 7 6 Special capitation (5s.) ... ... 244 6 3 School-buildings — Inspection subsidy ... ... ... 175 0 0 New buildings ... ... ... 1,611 14 0 Payments by School Commissioners for Improvements of buildings... ... 197 6 3 primary education ... ... 527 7 1 Furniture and appliances ... ... 5 8 0 Part advances to High School repaid ... 175 0 0 Sites ... ... ... ... 88 12 8 Other receipts — Advertisements ... ... ... 20 7 6 Rent of school site ... ... 27 0 0 Plans, supervision, and fees ... 77 8 0 Grass seed ... ... ... 110 Store Account ... ... ... 83 12 3 Store account ... ... ... 51 11 7 Advances from School Fund— Proceeds of land sold to be reinvested in High School ... ... ... 350 0 0 land ... ... ... ... 100 0 0 School-buildings Account ... ... 800 0 0 Credit balance of account on 31st December, 1882— Building Account... ... ... 38 3 1 General Account ... ... ... 822 12 1 Land Account ... ... ... 100 0 0 £9,178 8 4 £9,178 8 4 Henry Govett, Chairman. Wm. Northcroft, Secretary. Examined and found correct. —0. Rennell, Auditor. Statement of Assets and Liabilities on 31st December, 1882. A. Exclusive of Building Fund. Assets. £ s. d. Liabilities. £ s. d. Cash in bank on this account and Land Due to teachers ... ... ... 136 19 0 Account, 31st December, 1882 ... 922 12 1 Due to members of the Board ... ... 7 10 0 Due from School-building Account ... 800 0 0 Due to Committees ... ... ... 110 3 O Due from High School Account ... ... 175 0 0 Due to Land Account ... ... ... 100 0 0 Due from Store Account... ... ... 51 5 7 £1,948 17 8 £354 12 0 B. Building Fund only. £ a. d. £ s. d. Cash in bank on this account, 31st December, Balance of amounts due, or to fall due, under 1882 ... ... ... ... 38 3 1 contracts ... ... ... ... 193 7 6 Deposits on contracts ... ... ... 7 19 6 jg Due on account of legal expenses ... ... 18 2 0 Due on account of rent of Fitzroy School* ... 8 10 0 »•> Advance from Education Fund ... ... 800 0 0 £38 3 1 £1,027 19 0 Wm. North croft, Secretary.

* This should bo included as a liability against the ordinary Board funds.