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WANGANUI. Sir,— Education Office, Wanganui, 24th February, 1883. In compliance with the 102nd clause of the Education Act, I have the honour to submit the usual annual report of the Board. Board.—At the close of the year 1881 Mr. Henry Sanson, Mr. Donald Coutts, and Sir William Eox retired from the Board by rotation, and were re-elected in 1882. Since then no change has taken place amongst the members. The Board has met regularly on the last Tuesday in each month, and there has also been a special meeting for urgent business. Besides these meetings the Board has been materially assisted by the Finance and Building Committees, who have carried out the details of the Board's resolutions. A Committee of the Board was also formed to adjust the boundaries of the several school districts. This was a work involving much trouble and labour, and requiring great care. The Committee, however, accomplished the task assigned to it, and the work thus performed will be of lasting value both to the School Committees and the Board. The whole of these boundaries will shortly be gazetted. Schools and Attendances.—At the end of last year 57 schools were open, with an average attendance for the whole year of 3,418-33. This year there are 61 schools open, with an average attendance for the year of 3,672'75, the average for the last quarter being 3,843, and the number on the roll 5,020. The increase for the last quarter, as compared with that of last year, is 349, or 10 per cent, within a fraction; and for the whole year it is 254'42, or nearly 13_ per cent. The attendance was affected in many instances by the prevalence of measles. Return No. 1 gives the details of attendances at the several schools.* During the year the Board has granted a capitation of £4 5s. per scholar to two families in outlying districts, upon the understanding that they comply with the provisions of the Education Act as regards aided schools. The Board, however, will discourage applications of this nature whenever the families are within reasonable distance of an established school. Teachers. —There are now 115 teachers in the employ of the Board. Of these, 48 are principal male teachers in charge of schools, 13 are principal female teachers in charge of schools, 3 are male assistant teachers, 17 are female assistant teachers, 10 are male pupil-teachers, and 24 are female pupil-teachers. Of the male principal teachers 18 are uncertificated; of the female principal teachers 7 are uncertificated; and of the female assistant teachers 12 are uncertificated. During the year the Board passed a resolution that all uncertificated candidates for the position of teachers under this Board shall pass a preliminary examination before the Inspector prior to appointment. Some of the uncertificated teachers have failed to present themselves this year for certificates in conformity with the Board's rule, but this is an irregularity which the Board cannot allow to continue. Fourth-year pupil-teachers are now allowed to remain another year at the schools, with an increase of salary, upon the understanding that they present themselves for teachers' certificates at the expiration of the fifth year. Respecting the mode of filling up vacancies in the teaching staff, the Board has resolved that, whilst it recognizes the claims of teachers in its service to promotion, it will not in the case of every vacancy debar itself from inviting applications from outside teachers. During the year the Board regrets to state that it has been obliged in one case to put in force the subsection of the 47th clause of the Act, whilst in some others, either for dereliction of duty or for misconduct, it has adopted the milder course of dispensing with teachers' services by giving the necessary three months' notice. Whilst the Board is at all times very unwilling to adopt harsh measures toward any of its teachers, its first consideration must be the children who are in their charge, and it considers that the moral status of a teacher should not only be commensurate with his scholarly attainments, but that his ability and willingness, both by precept and example, to maintain a healthy tone in the school should be considered as much a qualification for his appointment and future advancement as his classification by Government. In connection with this subject the Board would have it understood that, whilst deprecating a constant or undue interference with its teachers, it is nevertheless clearly the duty of School Committees to advise the Board without delay of any irregularity which may occur, before the school suffers or becomes demoralized. In cases where School Committees do not take action in time, and come suddenly upon the Board to rescue them from the results of temporizing, legal and other difficulties arise, and the Board is involved in expense, annoyance, and trouble not contemplated by the Committees. Whilst referring to this matter the Board cannot but express its regret that the terms of the subsection of the 47th clause of the Act should be so vague and undefined, and it is of opinion that the said section, both with regard to the interpretation of the terms and the mode of suspending and dismissing, should be remodelled. New Districts, School-Buildings and Grounds.—During the year new school districts have been formed at Okaiawa, in the Hawera County, at Manchester and Beaconsfield, in the Manawatu County, and at Warrengate, in the Wanganui County; and another will shortly be formed at Stanway, north of Halcombe. New schools have been built and opened at Manaia and Ngaire, with the gratifying result of a steady increase in the attendance; and extensive additions have been made at PaFmerston North, Hawera, and the Wanganui Infant School, thus supplying very pressing wants. New teachers' residences have been erected at Manaia, Ngaire, Upokongaro, Foxton, and Otaki, and general repairs and small additions have been effected throughout the district as far as funds would admit. Urgent works were, however, held over pending advices respecting the allocation of the Government grant for buildings; but the Board,

„-..,. —.- — ,..,—,, , - „■ . —•■ — — — ' ' " ' ' '' " "" ' '" —-*--*■——■—' -— -""'■—'"- % # Appendix, page 43.