E.—lc

8

It is necessary now to combine in one table tbe joint results proved by Table D (wbicb deals with the -progressive increase in the number of children in attendance at the public schools from 1877, the date of the coming into operation of the Education Act, to 1887) and Table E (which shows the sums paid annually to the Education Boards for building purposes from 1877 to 1888); and it has again to be explained that, in order to bring, together in one table the numerical increase and the money grants for building purposes, the education districts [provincial districts] are shown as they existed previous to the creation of the new education districts in 1882. Eor the purpose of this table the question of boundaries is unimportant. Whether a pupil is on one or the other side of a boundary is immaterial. It is sufficient to show that he is accounted for, and that the colony has made sufficient monetary provision for his school accommodation. The table does this in the most conclusive and convincing manner. It needs no further introduction :—

Note.—1. The amount stated in the table as the standard cost of wood buildings is in excess of the amounts given by the architect of the Otago Education Board and the architect of the Auckland Education Board as the required amount of cost. The amount stated as the standard cost of brick or stone buildings is given on the authority of the architect of the Otago Education Board. 2. It will be seen that from the total classed as expenditure upon school-buildings (£852,778— Table P) has been deducted £66,400 spent since December, 1878, upon the erection of 332 teachers' residences (average cost, £200), and £43,781 spent from the year 1878 to the end of the year 1887 upon the purchase of school sites, these two sums making a total of £110,181. (See Appendix C for information regarding expenditure upon teachers' residences and school sites.)

Table G.

Greatest Number of Children (5 to 15) in Attendance at Public Schools in any Year. Amount required to provide School-build-ings erected in Wood, £i per Pupil being Gross Amount paid to Boards — 1877 to 1888, inclusive —for Amount spent by Boards upon Erection of School-buildings exclusively. Excess over Standard Estimate of Requirement for School-buildings in Wood. Amount required to provide School-buildings erected in Stone or Brick, £6 per Pupil being taken as the Standard Amount required. Excess over Standard Estimate of Requirement for School-buildings in Brick or Stone. ard Amount required. Residences, and Sites. Total. Per Pupil. Total Excess. Excess per Pupil. Total Excess. Excess per Pupil. 1887. £ £ £ £ s. a. £ £ s. d. £ £ £ s. d. Auckland 21,382 85,528 175,700 151,495 7 18 65,967 3 18 128,292 23,203 118 Taranaki 3,504 14,016 19,546 16,079 4 11 9 2,063 0 11 9 21,024 4,945* 18 3* Wellington-Wanganui 14,860 59,440 123,377 107,102 7 4 2 47,662 3 4 2 89,160 17,942 14 2 Hawke's Bay 4,436 17,744 45,436 38,026 8 11 5 20,282 4 11 5 26,616 11,410 2 11 5 Marlborough 1,907 7,628 15,301 12,855 6 14 10 5,227 2 14 10 11,442 1,413 0 14 10 Nelson 5,945 23,780 37,316 33,403 5 12 4 9,623 1 12 4 35,670 2,267* 0 7 8* Westland-Grey 2,811 11,244 53,101 46,364 16 9 11 33,120 12 9 11 10,866 29,498 10 9 11 Canterbury, North and South.. 23,929 95,716 187,624 169,273 7 16 73,557 3 16 143,574 25,699 116 Otago-Southland 29,704 118,816 195,377 168,000 5 13 1 49,184 1 13 1 178,224 10,224* 0 6 11* I 1 Totals £742,597 £308,685 £650,868 £91,729 108,478 £433,912 £852,778 * Deficienc;