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open to scholars attending public schools in the Grey Education District there were fourteen competitors—eight from town schools and six from the country Gertrude Anne Warms and Florence Castle, of the Greymouth District High School, won the first and second town scholarships respectively , and Colin Algie, of the Ngahere School, and Leonard de Berry, of the Dobson School, secured the first and second country scholarships. Committees.—ln two instances—Taylorville and Arnold—the householders failed to elect Committees, whereupon the Board, in the exercise of its powers, appointed Commissioners, with the very best results. The Board has endeavoured to meet the wishes of the Committees in a reasonable manner, and it is satisfactory to state that their co-operation has been readily given. Building Operations.—The Board received during the year £1,497 17s. 7d., including a credit balance of £297 17s. 7d., and expended during the same period £405 3s. lid., leaving a credit balance of £1,092 13s. Bd. Included in the expenditure was £76 3s. 6d. for a new school building at Moana, Lake Brunner, Greymouth School, repairs and improvements, £43 15s. 3d., Eichardson School, clearing ground and repairs, £44 Is. 9d., Cobden School, erecting new fence and general repairs, £42 19s. 6d., Totara Flat, addition to teacher's residence, £19 9s. 6d., Orwell Creek, painting schoolhouse and fence, £15 , Ahaura, repairs to building, £10, Ngahere, erecting new chimney and repairs, £17 os. Bd. Taylorville, repairs, &c, £9 10s., Dobson, repairs, £6 10s. , Maori Gully, addition to teacher's residence, £15 10s. , Kokiri, school site and repairs to building, £16 12s. A suitable site for a school at the Blackball having been acquired by the Board, a contract for the erection of a school building to accommodate sixty children was let in December, which, it is estimated, will cost £300. The Board desires to record, its appreciation of the action of the Government in providing an increased grant during the past year for building purposes. The extra amount received has made it possible to undertake some very urgent and necessary w T orks, some of which —the erection of a school at the Blackball, for instance—have been delayed for the want of funds. On the General Account the Board received during the year £5,238 18s. There was a debit balance of £21 13s. lid. at the beginning of the year The Board expended during the same period £5,292 6s. 10d., leaving a debit balance of £53 Bs. 10d on 31st December The total amount expended on salaries, exclusive of allowances, was £4,566 10s. 4d., and including allowances, £4,596 17s. 10d. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. W E. Kettle, Chairman.

General Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1894. Receipts. & s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance—On Building Account 297 17 7 By Balance—General Account 21 13 11 Government grant for buildings 1 200 0 0 Office staff—Salaries . 189 12 6 Government statutory capitation 4,843 15 0 Clerical assistance 32 10 0 Government scholarship grant 102 8 3 Departmental contingencies .. 134 3 3 Inspection subsidy . . 125 0 0 Inspector's salary . .. 208 6 8 Payments by School Commissioners 110 0 0 Examination of pupil-teachers 16 10 0 District High School fees 52 10 0 Teachers'salaries and allowances 4,596 17 10 Stationery sold 15 9 Incidental expenses of schools 127 3 0 Stationery for examinations 2 2 0 Scholarships— Miscellaneous (being cheque outstanding Paid to scholars 112 10 0 for five years, and placed to credit, Examination expenses .. . 5 5 0 by direction of the auditor, Build- School buildings— ing Account) 1 17 0 New buildings 224 8 1 Contractors' deposits received 14 0 0 Improvements of buildings 113 4 0 Proceeds of sale of buildings 280 5 6 Furniture and appliances 35 7 10 Balance— Rent 7 2 6 General Account . 53 8 10 Sites . 16 2 0 Unpresented cheques 108 0 10 Retention money . 4 17 0 Miscellaneous .. 4 2 0 Advertising 1 17 6 Rent . .. 40 0 0 Members' travelling expenses 54 10 0 School requisites . 19 15 1 Printing 52 12 9 Advertising 28 5 0 Interest 3 14 6 Contractors' deposits refunded 5 0 0 Deficiency in accounts of late Secretary 35 6 8 Balance— On Building Account 1,092 13 8 On Deposit Account 9 0 0 £7,192 10 9 £7,192 10 9 F W Eiemenschneider, Secretary. Examined and found correct. —James Edward FitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-General.

WESTLAND. Sir,— Hokitika, 19th February, 1895. I have the honour to submit the report of the Westland Education Board for the yea? ending 31sfc December, 1894. The Board.—At the beginning of the year the Board consisted of Messrs. J. McWhirter (Chairman), J Chesney, J Grimmoud, J B. Hudson, McL. W Jack, H. L. Michel, J Staines, J. L. Smith, and J. A. Boys. In March Messrs. Grimmond, Staines, and Jack retired, and were all 11—E 1.