E.—l

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after making arrangements -with its bankers—hereafter referred to —decided upon inviting tenders for the erection of new schools at Beaconsfield, Manchester, Warrengate, Okaiawa, and Stan way, north of Halcombe, besides additions to the Patea, Mosstown, and Wanganui Girls' Schools, a new residence at Makino Road, accommodation for the teacher to be added to the Jackeytown School, and repairs and additions to the residences at Normanby and Upper Tutaeuui. The Board regrets the delay which has arisen in undertaking these works, but it is manifest that it would have been unwise to initiate them before it had some reasonable assurance of being recouped for the outlay. Return No. 7* gives the expenditure incurred on account of the several schools. /Che want of additional school-ground accommodation is much felt at some of the schools, notably Palmerston North, Bull's, and Upper Tutaenui. The Board is willing to pay a reasonable price, and has made offers for the necessary ground, but without success. The Board thinks that the settlers should co-operate with it and the School Committees in a matter which is so manifestly for the public weal. Insurance. —Government having advised the Board that it now takes the fire risk on all school-buildings, the several policies have been allowed to lapse. Architects.—Messrs. Ross and Wright, the Board's late architects, having dissolved partnership, the Board appointed Mr. J. R. Wright its architect upon the same terms as heretofore, since which he has given every satisfaction. District High School. —In the month of August last the Board found that the Wanganui District High School for Boys was in a disorganized state, and a Committee of the Board was appointed to confer with the Wanganui School Committee on the subject, and to bring up a report. After several deliberations and consultations the Board resolved to dispense with the whole of the masters, and to invite fresh applications for the several positions. The resolution was carried into effect, and in due course the whole of the applications were submitted to the School Committee, with a recommendation that Mr. Fenn—late teacher under the London School Board and headmaster of South Lambert School—be appointed headmaster. The School Committee preferred another candidate and urged his appointment, but the Board, for good and sufficient reasons, appointed the applicant whom it considered the most suitable under the peculiar circumstances. The Board would here remark that, whilst it will always study the recommendations of School Committees, it will ever maintain its right to a final decision in the appointment of teachers in its employ. In making these changes the Board availed itself of the opportunity of reorganizing the staff and "readjusting the salaries at this school. A fourth master has been added, and the Board has reserved this position for passed pupilteachers who wish to gain experience in teaching at a large school. The Girls' District High School, Wanganui, under Miss Blyth, has progressed without interruption, and is still doing good work. The Board is about to add a new room, which was much wanted, and this will prove a great boon both to pupils and teachers. The Patea District High School, as such, appears to be a failure, notwithstanding the very efficient staff with which it is officered. The inhabitants have never taken much advantage of it for secondary education, and latterly the attendance of pupils for extra subjects has almost ceased. Holidays.—ln the month of April last it was ascertained that some of the schools had been closed without the Board's sanction, and that the holidays in certain cases had been altered. The Board thereupon sent a circular to these Committees calling their attention to the violation of the Board's rule. - Dancing in Schools. —It has been reported to the Board during the year that schoolrooms have been used for dancing purposes. This is in direct opposition to the Board's published rule, ■and it trusts that School Committees will see the necessity of complying with its regulations without further action. Printing and School Requisites.—During the year the Board invited fresh tenders for printing and school furniture, and accepted tenders which will effect a considerable saving in these items. Scholarships.—The scholarships were competed for in August, under the regulations approved by the Department. For the A scholarship no candidates came forward, and the Board therefore allocated the money to the formation of two more in D. They were respectively won by the following competitors : William Rose, of Wanganui Boys' District High School (B), 1 scholarship, £30; Ebenezer Bishop, of Wanganui Boys' District High School (B), 1 scholarship, £30; Hugh Mclntyre, of Wanganui Boys' District High School (C), 1 scholarship, £25; George Home, of Hawera School (C), 1 scholarship, £25; William Ballantyne, of Wanganui Boys' District High School (C), 1 scholarship, £25; William H. McLean, of Wanganui Boys' District High School (D), 1 scholarship, £20; William J. Carson, of Wanganui Boys' District High School (D), 1 scholarship, £20; H. C. Rouse, of Marton School, (D), 1 scholarship, £20; Hugh Sim, of Wanganui Boys' District High School (D), 1 scholarship, £20; Mabel E. Browne, of Wanganui Girls' District High School (D), 1 scholarship, £20. Committees, School Fu#ds, and Allowances.—With the view of assisting Committees as far as possible the Board has during the year made another addition to the School Pund Account. It is much to be regretted that great trouble and loss of time are experienced in obtaining the annual returns from some of the Committees. The Board has resolved, in cases where it is considered necessary, to allow the School Committees pound for pound up to

* Appendix, page 17.