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E.—l

Committees.—The Board has the highest appreciation of the good services rendered by Committees in promoting the interests of the schools in their respective districts, and in fostering a due care for the protection of the school buildings and other property It is satisfactory to report that cordial relations have been maintained between the Committees and the Board in the- exercise of the functions respectively devolving on them. E. Udy, Chairman.

General Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1894. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance at beginning of year — By Office staff—Salaries 1 113 0 0 On Building Account 3,565 12 1 Clerical assistance 64 7 0 On General Account 6,456 18 0 Departmental contingencies 805 6 2 Government grant for buildings 8,000 0 0 Inspectors'salaries 1,887 10 0 Government grant (special) for rebuild- Inspectors' travelling expenses 551 17 2 ing Newton East closets 29 5 10 Examination of pupil-teachers 83 3 7 Other receipts for buildings— Teachers' salaries and allowances (thirProceeds of sale of teacher's house, teen months) . 70,535 3 4 Whakahara 21 1 0 Incidental expenses of schools 8 151 12 8 Contributions to cost of buildings and Scholarships— sites 16 7 0 Paid to scholars 1,453 6 8 Kent of reserve 15 0 0 Examination expenses 40 7 1 Forfeited deposits .. 7 0 0 School buildings— Government statutory capitation 75,086 3 9 New buildings 2,178 7 8 Scholarship grant 1,823 14 8 Improvements of buildings 3 727 12 11 Inspection subsidy— Furniture and appliances 86.0 15 11 Ordinary 500 0 0 Sites 232 8 2 For Native schools. 150 0 0 Plans, supervision, and fees 573 2 9 Payments by School Commissioners 1,678 10 0 Interest on overdraft 19 11 3 Interest from fixed deposit 7 10 0 Balance— Befunds—Overpayments on vouchers 4 4 0 On Building Account 4,081 18 6 On General Account 1,00116 0 £97,361 6 10 £97,361 6 10 E. Udy, Chairman, Vincent E. Eicb, Secretary Examined and found correct. —James Edwaed FitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-General.

TABANAKI. Sir,— New Plymouth, Bth March, 1895. In compliance with the provisions of section 102 of " The Education Act, 1877," I have the honour to submit the following report of the Board's proceedings for the year ending 31st December, 1894 :— The Boabd.—At the annual election in March, Mr H. Faull was re-elected, and Messrs. W Ambury and J Mackay were elected in the place of the Hon., Thomas Kelly, M.L.C., who did not offer himself for re-election, and the late Mr E. Olson, who died shortly before the time fixed for the election. The Board then consisted of Mr E. G. Bauchppe (Chairman), MissHeywood, Messrs. E. G. Alls worth, G A. Adlam, W Ambury, H. Faull, S. Hill, J Mackay, and J Wade. The Board held twenty-three ordinary and one special meeting during the year, and the attendance of members has been as follows . Miss Heywood, 21, Mr Bauchope, 22 , Mr Allsworth, 23; Mr Adlam, 24, Mr Ambury, 16, Mr Faull, 24; Mr Hill, 23, Mr. Mackay, 15, and Mr J Wade, 24. Schools. —There were forty-nine schools open at the beginning of the year, and three have been opened during the year—viz., Waihi, Salisbury Eoad, and Palmer Eoad—and contracts have been let for buildings at Stanley Eoad and Purangi (Matau) , when these two buildings are completed there will be fifty-four schools in operation in the district. Teachers. —The number of teachers in the employ of the Board at the end of last year was 114, classified as follows Head teachers—l 7 males, 2 females, sole teachers—l 7 males, 17 females, assistant teachers —4 males, 8 females pupil-teachers —3 males, 23 females, sewing teachers —23 females total, 41 males, 73 females. The following comparative table will be found interesting, as it shows from one point of view the increase in the Board's operations during the last decade : — 31st December, Slst December, 1884. 1894. Teachers holding certificates 18 57 Teachers holding partial success 3 3 Teachers holding licenses to teach 2 2 Teachers uncertificated 23 3 First year's pupil-teachers 12 7 Second year's pupil-teachers .. 4 8 Fourth year's pupil-teachers 0 11 Sewing teachers .. .. 0 23 62 114 A satisfactory feature in the above table is the decrease in the number of uncertificated teachers, thus showing that the revision of the scale of salaries from time to time has had the desired effect of attracting a better class of teachers,