E.—B

12

The Board has pleasure in stating that the attendance in both the schools is still increasing, and it anticipates that when the new boys' school building, in course of erection, is complete it will continue to show an increase. At present the accommodation of the schools is taxed to the utmost. The number of boarders in the boys' boarding establishment has been considerably augmented during the year, and shows an increase of twelve over the previous year. The Board bits just completed extensive additions to the boarding establishment, which will give increased accommodation. In the early part of the year the Board, by the expenditure of £1,809 12s. 2d.* (£3OO of which was granted by the Government) on temporary accommodation for the reception of the patients at the old Lunatic Asylum buildings, arranged with the Government for the possession of part of the site for the new school-buildings. With the exception of about £sOO, being cost of a detached building designed for and intended to be ultimately used as a gymnasium, this expenditure was of no service to the Board beyond enabling it to make an immediate start with building operations. On the 25th July, 1882, a contract was signed for the erection of the new Boys' High School building, at a cost of £14,819. The time allowed for the completion of the work expires on the Ist December, 1883 ; it has, however, been prosecuted so vigorously by the contractor that proceedings will shortly be brought to a standstill owing to all the available space required being still occupied by the asylum. Unless the Board is put in possession of the ground before the end of the year it, as well as the contractor, will be put to great loss and inconvenience. I would therefore titke this opportunity of asking you to urge the Government to hasten the removal of the patients to Seacliff as soon as possible. During the year the Board leased Runs 161, IGIa, and 162, Wyndham, for a term of five years, at an annual rent of £365. On the 3lst August, after deducting some 10,000 acres from Run 213a, Strath Taieri, for agricultural settlement, the Board leased it, and Run 205, for terms of ten and seven years respectively, at an annual rent of £2,370, which shows an increase of nearly three times the annual assessment formerly received. The land reserved from Run 213a has been surveyed into 101 sections of from 40 to 400 acres, with township and village sites; and, as you are aware, the Board of Governors has obtained the Governor's sanction to offer the same for agricultural occupation at an early date. It is intended to sell two-thirds of the land for cash, and to lease one-third under the provisions of " The Land Act 1877 Amendment Act, 1882." I have, &c, D. M. Stuart, The Hon. the Minister of Education. Chairman of Board of Governors.

Receipts and Expendituee for the Year ended 31st December, 1882. Income. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance in hand on Ist January, 1882 ... 44 13 7 Salaries, Bovs' High School ... ... 4,067 19 0 Boys'School fees ... ... ... 1,634 17 6 Salaries, Girls'High School ... ... 1,718 9 7 Girls'School fees ... ... ... 1,204 15 9 Salary, Janitor, &o. ... ... ... 137 18 4 Rectory boarding fees ... ... ... 1,317 5 0 Salary, Secretary ... ... ... 93 16 8 Rents from High School reserves ... ... 2,208 19 11 Salary, Gymnastic Master ... ... 100 0 0 Grants from School Commissioners ... 344 9 10 Incidentals, fuel, &c. ... ... ... 135 4 10 Contribution from Government, account new Legal expenses... ... ... ... 13 19 8 school site ... ... ... ... 300 0 0 Printing ... ... ... ... 50 15 4 Interest on fixed deposits ... ... 42 8 9 Insurance ... ... ... ... 26 18 0 Cash received on account of land purchases at Auctioneer's commission, advertising, &c ... 245 7 3 Wyndham ... ... ... ... 5,564 1 2 Teachers'outfit ... ... ... 152 11 7 Interest on mortgages over Wyndham land... 343 6 4 Prizes ... ... ... ... 56 16 6 Office expenses... ... ... ... 9 5 8 High School buildings (new school) ... 3,189 12 11 High School buildings (old school) ... 275 18 9 Gymnasium buildings ... ... ... 6',i6 9 2 Rector}' buildings and grounds ... ... 33 5 2 Rectory supplies ... ... ... 912 2 11 Surveys ... ... ... ... 211 4 5 Wyndham Valley Road and bridge ... 768 17 4 Expenses, Wyndham land sale ... ... 152 7 0 Balance in Bank of New Zealand, 31st Dec, 1882 ... ... ... ... 13 7 9 £13,004 17 10 £13,( '04 17 10 Geat-Russell Scholarship Eund. £ s. d. £ s. d. Amount advanced on mortgage ... ... 250 0 0 Capital, less £5 ss. temporarily advanced for Balance in Bank of New Zealand on 3lßt Dec, legal charges ... ... ... .. 994 15 0 1882 ... ... ... ... 744 15 0 £ £994 15 0 £994 15 0 D. M. Stuaet, Chairman. C. Macandeew, Secretary. I have examined the above statement and compared it with the Treasurer's books and vouchers and with the bank pass-book, and I certify it to be correct.—H. Livingston, Auditor.

SOUTHLAND BOYS' AND GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOLS. Invercargill, 31st January, 1883. Repoet of the Southland Boys' and Girls' High Schools Board for 1882 :— The members of the Board for the year were: Henry .Taggers,the then Mayor of Invercargill; Thomas Watson and D. L. Matheson, appointed by the Education Board; and E. W. Wade and George