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provided the chief part of the cost of two new schools and a teacher's residence, besides numerous other additions and improvements. General Account.—The year began with a credit balance of £805 3s. 3d., and we received during the year for maintenance £4,375 ss. 6d. : total, £5,180 Bs. 9d. Our expenditure out of this was £4,937 9s. 5d., leaving a credit balance of £192 19s. 4d., which, together with the credit balance of £102 15s. sd. on the Building Account above recorded, leaves a balance to the credit of the Board on both accounts at the end of the year of £295 14s. lid. It might appear from this that our expenses had, during the year, considerably exceeded our actual income ; but such is not the case. The last payment made from the Treasury, of which advice was received in December, 1887,--having been delayed in its transit to the Bank of New Zealand, Blenheim, arrived too late to be included amongst the year's receipts, but will appear in the account for 1888. Due allowance being made for this contingency, it will be found that we have not exceeded our annual allowance. I am, &c, A. P. Seymour, Chairman, Marlborough Education Board. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.

General Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1887. Receipts. & s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance at beginning of year— By Office staff—Salaries .. .. .. 112 10 0 On Building Account .. .. 209 2 8 Clerical assistance .. .. .. 34 6 8 On General Account .. .. 805 3 3 Departmental contingencies .. .. 74 10 8 Government grant for buildings .. 1,083 9 7 Inspector's salary .. .. .. 125 0 0 Government statutory capitation .. 3,851 0 2 Inspector's travelling expenses.. .. 108 10 11 Special capitation .. .. .. 234 G 0 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 3 3 0 Scholarsliip grant .. .. .. 52 12 0 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inInspection subsidy .. .. .. 166 13 4 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. .. 4,021 10 4 Payments by School Commissioners— Incidental expenses of schools .. .. 495 5 10 For primary education .. .. 66 19 0 Scholarships—Examination expenses .. 12 12 0 For secondary education .. .. 3 15 0 School-buildings— New buildings .. .. .. 586 0 9 Improvements of buildings .. , r . 472 15 8 Furniture'and appliances .. .. 72 10 0 Plans, supervision, and fees .. .. 58 9 9 Balance at end of year— On Building Account .. .. 102 15 7 On General Account .. .. 192 19 4 £6,473 10 .. £6,473 1 0 A. P. Seymour, Chairman. John T. Eobinson, Secretary.

NELSON. Bra,!— Education Office, Nelson, 9th February, 1888. I have the honour to submit to you a report of the proceedings of the Nelson Education Board during the year ending on the 31st December, 1887. Meetings of the Board. —The Board has held thirteen meetings, the average number of members present at each meeting being seven. Members op the Boabd. —After the election of three members on the 12th March, the Board was constituted as follows : The Hon. J. W. Barnicoat, Chairman ; the Hon. Joseph Shephard, the Bishop of Nelson, Messrs. Harkness, Phillips, Tarrant, Clayden, Dencker, and Hursthouse. Number of Schools.—Eighty-eight schools were at work at the close of the year. Twentytwo of these were aided schools receiving capitation allowance at the rate of £4 for each scholar in daily attendance, and Committee allowance at the rate of ss. for each scholar. Five small schools were also paid a capitation allowance of £4 and Committee allowance at the rate of nearly 10s. a head. The average attendance at each of these twenty-seven schools is no more than sixteen. Teaching Staff. —There were 153 teachers of all grades on the staff at the close of 1887, the female teachers outnumbering the male teachers by nearly two to one (that is, 101 to 52). Thirty-two probationers, who may be considered as equivalent to pupil-teachers, are included in this list. Attendance of Scholars.—The number of scholars on the roll has increased from 5,145 in 1886 to 5,413. The average attendance in 1886 was 3,971. Last year it was 4,186. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. J. W. Barnicoat, Chairman.