E.—l

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formerly, and these have since been studying in the Bector's class at the Hokitika District High School, in accordance with the new regulations of the Board. Finance. —The Building Account shows a credit balance of £471 55., but this includes the departmental grant of £420 just made, and which is all the Board has obtained as its share of the building vote for the year The requirements which this grant is intended to meet amount to £831. Owing to the fact that all the Board's buildings, with one exception, are of wood, and most of them of some years' standing, the demands on the Board for repairs are both constant and large, and are likely to become more so in the near future. The Board's income for the year on General Account alone, including a credit balance of £31 Is. 6d. at the commencement, has been £5,621 Os. Bd., and its expenditure £5,698 Bs. 7d. thus leaving a debit balance on this account of £77 7s. lid. The Board views the existence of this debt, small as it is, with regret, although aware that it has come about in spite of the most vigilant and habitual regard to the claims of economy The difficulty lies in the fact that the population of the district is so scattered, less than 1,700 school-children being dispersed over nearly two hundred miles of sea-coast, and hence the number of schools to be maintained is out of all proportion to the number of scholars on whom capitation is received, so that nearly all the schools have to be worked at a loss to the Board. How great is the disadvantage under which the Board labours in this respect will become manifest by comparing the ratio of schools to scholars in this and some other education district—say the neighbouring one of North Canterbury In the case of this latter district the average roll-number for each school will be found to be 130, whilst in that of Westland it is only fifty-two, so that, proportionately, more than twice as many schools have to be maintained in this district as in the one cited. I have, &c,

The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. J Bevan, Chairman. Geneeal Statement of Beceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1891 Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance at beginning of year — By Office staff—Salaries 172 10 0 Building Account 85 17 9 Departmental contingencies— General Account 31 1 6 Furniture and repairs 27 7 8 Government grant for buildings 1,023 0 0 Fuel, light, and cleaning 27 5 6 Government statutory capitation 5,118 15 0 Printing 25 10 0 Scholarship grants 77 9 3 Stationery 8 1 10 Inspection subsidy 175 0 0 Advertising 21 6 0 District High School fees 130 0 0 Legal expenses 3 13 0 Hokitika High School Board, annual Allowances to members of Board 14 5 0 subsidy 60 0 0 Subscription to West Coast Times 1 17 6 Deposit (on tenders) 5 0 0 Cheque-book 15 0 Book-sales .. 14 13 11 Petty cash 5 0 0 Interest on fixed deposits 7 17 6 Kent of post-office box 10 0 Sale of harmonium 6 3 6 Interest on bank overdraft 0 7 6 Balance at end of year — Inspector's salary 175 0 0 General Account (outstand- Inspector's travelling expenses 66 11 6 ing cheques) £150 15 9 Examination of pupil-teachers 16 7 0 Less balance in bank 73 7 10 Teachers' salaries and allowances (in- ■ 77 7 11 . : eluding rent, bonus, &c.) 4,770 17 7 Incidental expenses of schools 237 13 10 Scholarships— Paid to scholars 96 0 0 Examination expenses 10 10 0 School-buildings— New buildings 205 11 6 Improvements of buildings 270 2 6 Furniture and appliances 53 18 1 Sites (fencing, &c~.) 73 7 0 Plans, supervision, and fees 10 16 6 Books 9 10 9 School requisites .. 35 6 1 Balance at end of year— On Building Account (in bank) 171 5 0 On Building Account (on fixed deposit) 300 0 0 £6,812 6 4 £6,812 6 4 John Bevan, Chairman. John Gammell, Secretary Examined and found correct.—James Edwaed FitzGebald, Controller and Auditor-General.

NOETH CANTEBBUBY Sir,— Christchurch, 31st March, 1892. I have the honour to present the following report of the proceedings of the Education Board of the District of North Canterbury for the year ending the 31st December, 1891. The Board.—The three members who retired at the end of March, 1891, were Mr. Anson, Mr. Euddenklau, and Mr Wright, of whom Mr. Euddenklau did not offer himself for re-election. At an election held on the 12th March Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Anson, and Mr Wright were elected. Mr Montgomery was one of the members originally elected in 1878, but retired in October 1887 At the same meeting Mr Weston was elected Chairman of the Board , Mr. Peryman, Mr. Wright, Mr Westenra, and Mr Joyce were elected members of the Buildings Committee, and Mr Anson, MiMeredith, Mr Saunders, and Mr. Montgomery members of the Appointments Committee. The Chairman is ex officio member of both these Committees. Later in the year, in the absence of