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This Board, being greatly discouraged and crippled by the smallness of the endowment, and being without a building of any kind, have been unable to realize the object anxiously desired by a considerable portion of the inhabitants. This Board sought help from the Government last session, and also the temporary use of a public building in the borough, to enable them to make a start in a humble way, relying to some extent on local aid. The Government reply was that no assistance could be given at present. At a recent meeting of the Board such anxiety was evinced for a school that it resolved to appeal to the public for help, to enable the Board to rent a place in which to make a beginning—the Board still trusting that the Government will shortly see its way to assist in erecting a suitable building, on the principle, recommended by the Royal Commission in their report on secondary education, of Government first helping those who helped themselves. In a few days the sum of £97 was subscribed, and this is being added to. The Auditor's account is herewith enclosed. A. H. Cunningham, The Minister of Education, Wellington. Chairman of Board of Governors. Rangioea High School Account. 1883. Receipts. £ s. d. 1883. Expenditure. £ a. id. Mar. 31. —Rent received ... ... ... 240 19 9 Mar. 31.—Advertising and petty £ s. d. Interest ... ... ... 2 13 6 expenses ... 6 10 11 Balance — Fixed deposit ... 155 2 3 Current account ... 82 0 1 237 2 4 £243 13 3 £243 13 3 I have audited this account, and find it correct. The balance at the bank is accurately set forth.— J. Olliviee, Provincial District Auditor.—April 25, 1883.

AKAROA HIGH SCHOOL. Sib,— Akaroa, 19th March, 1883. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th ultimo, and, in reply, enclose a copy of the accounts of the Akaroa High School Board for the past year. Our operations have been confined to sending round a circular to the residents on the Peninsula, in order to arrive at an estimate of the number of pupils likely to attend the high school. This circular was issued in February, 1882, but the answers were not sufficiently satisfactory to induce us to take any steps to open the school at that time. On the Bth of this month a meeting of the Board was held, when it was determined to take immediate steps towards opening the school, provided we could get the use of the old immigration barracks as a class-room. Application has accordingly been made for their use, and should it be granted we are prepared to commence proceedings at once. I have, &c, The Minister of Education, Wellington. William B. Tosswill, Chairman. Accounts of Akaeoa High School Boaed. 1882. Receipts. £ s. d. 1882. Expenditure. £ a. d. Grant from School Commissioners ... ... 10 10 0 Cheque-book ... ... ... ... 0 4 0 1883. Stationery, printing, &e. ... ... ... 3 3 0 Rent of reserve ... ... ... 21 0 0 Clerical work ... ... ... ... 115 0 Expenses of Act ... ... ... 1 18 8 Balance ... ... ... ... 24 9 4 £31 10 0 £31 10 0 [Note.—There is a further sum of £191 10s. due to the Board for rent.] William B. Tosswill, Chairman.

ASHBURTON HIGH SCHOOL. Receipts and Expendituee for Year ending 31st December, 1882. Receipts. £ a. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance ... ... ... ••• 390 8 4 Advertising, printing, &c. ... ... 5 0 9 Rent ... ... ... ... ••• 270 15 6 SalariesGrant from School Commissioners... ... 100 0 0 Secretary ... ... ... ... 25 13 11 Interest ... ... •■■ ■■• 33 13 6 Headmaster ... ... ... ... 320 16 8 School fees ... ... ... ••■ 162 11 9 Secondmaster... ... ... ... 206 5 0 Sale of books ... ... ... ■■■ 20 15 5 Insurance ... ... ... ... 2 0 0 Balance due to bank ... ... ... 27 4 5 Mortgage ... ... ... ... 360 0 0 Books, stationery, &c. ... ... ... 40 11 0 Legal expenses, cleaning, &c. ... ... 29 14 2 Scholarship examination ... .-■ ... 10 10 0 Postage ... ... .... ... 0 7 5 School furniture ... ... ... 4 10 0 J • » £1,005 811 £1,005 811 I have audited this account, and have compared the items with the vouchers, and find it correct.— J. Olliviee, Provincial District Auditor. — April 3, 1883.