13

B.—B

Lumsden, nominated by the Governor in terms of the Southland Boys' and Girls' High Schools Act; the last-named being appointed Chairman for the year. The number of meetings held during the year was twenty-five, and the attendance of the members as follows : Lumsden, 25 meetings ; Matheson, 25 ; Watson, 23 ; Jaggers, 19 ; Wade, 6. The average attendance at the boys' school for the year was 56, and at the girls', 44. At the commencement of the year Mr. Charles McLean was appointed second master, and Mr. A. G. Stewart third master, in the boys' division. At the same time Miss Purnell was appointed headmistress in the girls' school. At the close of the year Miss Tait, assistant in the junior class in that division, resigned, and the Board are now considering the matter of the appointment of her successor, and are offering a higher salary in order to secure a teacher with larger experience. The Board, having in the past felt the want of provision for the inspection and annual examination of the two schools, are glad to report their having secured, with the consent of the Education Board, the services of Mr. Gammell, the School Inspector for the district, for the examination of their schools at the close of the year, whose report they expect to receive shortly. As has before been stated in the Board's annual reports, the present school-building, although originally intended only as the girls' school, has been utilized so as to serve for both the girls' and the boys' divisions. This has been done at a disadvantage in many ways, both schools being deprived of adequate playground and other conveniences which are essential in such institutions. The Board have therefore, for some time past, been giving their attention to the matter of securing a separate school for the boys, and for this purpose received the consent of the Government to the sale of certain lands vested in the Board, with the view of providing funds for the above purposes to the full extent allowed by law. In addition to Section 21, Wairio, sold last year, Section 41, Wairaki, has been sold on deferred payment at 20s. per acre; and part of Section 8, Wairaki District, for £500 cash Sections 1 and 17, Block 111., Gore, were also sold on terms. Sections 37 and 38, Wairio, were twice offered for sale— for cash at 20s. and 255. per acre respectively, and on deferred paymenta t 255. and 305.; but in both cases failed to find a purchaser. The Board now propose to offer these latter properties on lease for pastoral purposes, the rabbit pest, in connection with which the Board are heavily taxed, rendering it desirable they should be in the occupation of some settler. The lease of Section 21, Block LXVIIL, Invercargill, having expired lately, the section has been again leased, at the increased rental of £30 per annum. The lease of Run 214, another of the Board's endowments, expiring in March next, the Board thought it advisable to get a report from the Crown Lands Ranger as to the capabilities, of that run for pastoral and agricultural purposes. That report gave a very unsatisfactory account of the value of the property as a source of revenue to the Board, the run, with the exception of some 1,200 acres, being poor pastoral land, and being to a great extent wasted as such by the rabbit pest. The report was forwarded to the Government, with a proposal submitted by the Board suggesting the sale of some portions of the land suitable for agricultural purposes, and the leasing of the balance as two runs containing about 8,000 acres each. The Government, however, adhered to a proposal of their own, viz., to divide the run into six areas of from 1,000 to 5,000 acres each, to be offered on long leases. The Board expressed its doubts about the success of such a policy. It is a piece of extremely poor pastoral country: the whole run, 18,000 acres, only carries, as reported by the Ranger, some 4,000 sheep, and the flock is in very poor condition. The Board fears that the result will be that one or two of the best divisions of the run will be taken up, the poorer parts being left unoccupied. As, however, its early disposal was a matter of financial necessity with the Board, they felt it necessary to leave in the hands of the Government the responsibility of their own policy in dealing with that run. I have, &c, Geo. Lumsden, Chairman.

Receipts and Disbuesements for Year ending 31st December, 1882. Receipts. £ a. d. Disbursements. £ a. d. Grants from School Commissioners ... 107 16 2 Bank overdraft from last year ... ... 811 19 7 Reserves, rents ... ... ... ... 421 11 7 Reserves, poisoning ... ... ... 31 4 2 Reserves Bold ... ... ... ... 1,034 15 8 Reserves, charges on sales ... ... 88 12 0 School fees, boys' ... ... ... 500 0 0 Stationery, boys' ... ... ... 27 10 10 Stationery, boys' ... ... ... 45 19 11 Extra subjects, boys' ... ... ... 46 4 0 Extra subjects, boys' ... ... ... 46 4 0 Cleaning, boys' ... ... ... ... 29 17 0 School fees, girls' ... ... ... 417 10 0 Printing and advertising, boys' ... ... 10 1 9 Stationery, girls' ... ... ... 28 18 9 Fuel and light, boys' ... ... ... 10 5 1 Extra subjects, girls' ... ... ... 28 7 0 Salaries, boys' ... ... ... ... 840 17 8 Interest ... ... ... ... 25 11 2 Stationery, girls'... ... ... ... 22 16 10 Prizes, donations ... ... ... 4 4 0 Extra subjects, girls' ... ... ... 34 13 0 Balance, overdraft ... ... ... 170 16 9 Cleaning, girls' ... ... ... ... 29 17 0 Printing and advertising, girls' ... ... 16 10 8 Fuel and light, girls' ... ... ... 10 5 1 Salaries, girls' ... ... ... ... 579 3 6 Building Account ... ... ... 81 11 6 Furniture ... ... ... ... 17 9 0 Repairs ... ... ... ... 12 6 0 Insurance ... ... ... ... 3 15 0 Secretary's salary, including office rent, fire, and light ... ... ... ... 45 0 0 Interest ... ... ... ... 59 11 6 -"£ Sundries ... ... ... ... 22 3 10 £2,831 15 0 £2,831 15 0 I have examined this account and compared it with the Treasurer's books and vouchers, and I certify it to he correct.—H. Livingston, Auditor.

By Authority: Gboeob Didsbtjet, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB3.

3—E. 8.