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HAWKE'S BAY. Sic, — Education Office, Napier, 2lst May, 1888. In reply to your circular letter dated the 17th instant I have the honour to report that no reductions have been made by the Board of this district in the salaries or allowances paid to teachers and other officers in consequence of retrenchment made in the education vote in the last session of Parliament. The scale of salaries paid to the teachers in this district you will find on pages 22 and 23 of the Appendices to the Board's report, a copy of which is posted herewith. The salaries are exclusive of house-allowances, which are paid to all principal teachers, and a few assistant teachers where no house is provided (see page 7, Board's report). In addition to salaries, the Board, with a view to thoroughness in the preparation of the standard work, has hitherto given a bonus to teachers for " work done "in the standard examinations. The bonus has varied in amount from £30 to £10, according to the size of the school and the percentage of standard passes. Although the Board does not guarantee the annual payment of a bonus to teachers, I do not anticipate that any alteration will be made at the close of the present year in consequence of the lowering of the capitation allowance, as the surplus school fund, after payment of all liabilities, estimated on the average attendance for the March quarter, will provide for this special service should the Board decide to continue the practice of paying a bonus, as heretofore. I have, &c, The Secretary, Education Department, Wellington. H. Hill, Secretary.

MAELBOEOUGH. The Board as yet has only reduced salaries when new appointments have been made, as the balance will enable the present salaries to be maintained for a few months, the greatest economy having been practised hitherto. The Secretary, Education Department, Wellington. Jno. T. Eobinson, Secretary.

• • • NELSON. Sm, — Education Office, Nelson, 21st May, 1888. In reply to your circular letter of the 17th instant I have the honour to inform you that the Nelson Board has not deemed it necessary, in consequence of the recent reduction of the education vote, to formulate any general scheme of retrenchment, trusting rather to a judicious lowering of salaries from time to time as vacancies occur. Subjoined is a list of reductions already made in this manner. I have, &c, The Secretary, Education Department, Wellington. Stead Ellis, Secretary.

GEEY. Sm,— Education Office, Greymouth, 28th May, 1888. Herewith please receive statements of the reductions made by the Board. School requisites are still issued to Committees free of charge; and a charge is made to parents to cover cost of fuel, &c. I have, &c, The Secretary, Education Department, Wellington. E. T. Eobinson, Secretary.

Abolishment of all payments and bonuses on account of pupil-teachers—approximate amounts, to take effect from the Ist January, 1888 : J. A. Bromley, head teacher, Hatters' School, £15 ; Leopold De Bakker, head teacher, Notown School, £15 ; James Malcolm, head teacher, Taylorville School, £28; E. A. Scott, head teacher, Dobson School, £28; E. Thornton, head teacher, Greymouth School, 74; Thomas F, O'Day, head teacher, Dunganville School, £15: total, £175. Seduction of Staffs. —Notown School—W. Bundle, pupil-teacher, £30 ; Greymouth School—• Jane Sotheran, removed to Hatters' School, £60; Taylorville School—Eemoval of Miss Harrison to Campbelltown School, replaced by pupil-teacher from Notown School, £40; Dobsou School— Assistant teacher resigned, alteration in staff, £10; Dunganville School—Eemoval of Miss Billett to Westbrook School, replaced by pupil-teacher, £55 : total, £195. Total Seductions, 1888. —Seduction of salaries, £245 ; reduction of staffs, £195 ; abolishment of payments on account of pupil-teachers, £175; abolishment of all grants to Committees, £220: total, £835.

I Former : Present Salaries. Salaries. Mastership, Dovedale Ceachership, Gape Foul wind 3ead-teachership, Denniston 5ead-teachership, Charleston Boys' ilead-teachership, Charleston Girls' Substitution of a probationer for an assistant (transferred to fill a vacancy at Toitoi Valley) at Hardy Street Girls' Assistant in Bridge Street, resigned, not been replaced... salary abolished, and capitation allowance of £4 a head substituted, Fern Flat £ 112 136 170 180 160 100 £ 100 100 150 160 130 18 150 84 56