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re-elected. Mr. McWhirter was reappointed as Chairman, Mr Jack was appointed Treasurer, Mr Grimmond School Commissioner, and Mr Michel representative on the High School Board. In May Mr. Chesney retired, and Mr E. Stennard was elected to fill the vacancy The Board has held twelve ordinary meetings and one special meeting. The attendance of members has been as follows Mr McWhirter, 13, Mr Grimmond, 12 , Mr Smith, 12 , Mr Boys, 11, Mr Hudson, 11, Mr Jack, 11; Mr. Michel, 10, Mr Staines, 10 Mr Stennard, 5 , Mr Chesney, 3. Schools.—Throughout the year thirty-four schools have been open. Of these, three are side schools, four half-time, and eleven aided. Of the last, seven are household schools. Attendance.—The total roll-number for the district on 31st December, 1894, was 1,574, a decrease of 59 on that of the previous year The average attendance for the year was 81-7 per cent, of the average roll-number Teachers. —The number of teachers under the Board is sixty-one, including sixteen pupilteachers and one monitor. In accordance with regulations adopted by the Board, the number of pupil-teachers is being gradually reduced, as it has been found possible to thus secure a saving without impairing the efficiency of the schools. At the examination of pupil-teachers held at the end of the year all the fourteen candidates were successful. Scholaeship.—As the result of the annual examination, held in December, scholarships of the value, one of £23, two of £8, and one of £10 10s., were awarded. During the year seven Board's scholars have attended the Hokitika District High School. Finance.—During the year £961 17s. 3d. has been expended in connection with the Building Account. A balance of £840 remains for the expenditure of the present year. A reduction in the staffs of a few schools has been effected during the year On the other hand, the presence of epidemics in the district, and the decrease in the roll-number during the latter half of the year, have considerably reduced the receipts of the Board. It is, therefore, pleasing to state that the overdraft on the General Account has been reduced from £287 9s. to £184 12s. 10d. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. John McWhirteb, Chairman.

General Statement of Beceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1894. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance—Building Account . 952 14 0 By Balance—General Account 287 9 0 Government grant for buildings 850 0 0 Office staff—Salaries 165 0 0 Government statutory capitation 5,024 1 3 Clerical assistance 10 0 Scholarship grant 124 9 1 Departmental contingencies . 138 19 2 Inspection subsidy . 175 0 0 Inspector's salary .. 175 0 0 District High School fees 82 0 0 Inspector's travelling expenses. .. 44 16 0 Hokitika High School Board 75 0 0 Examination of pupil-teachers. 12 8 0 Other receipts 22 10 9 Teachers'salaries and allowances 4,565 12 8 Balance : General Account— Incidental expenses of schools 217 5 8 Outstanding cheques 117 0 0 Scholarships— Bank balance . .. 67 12 10 Paid to scholars . 87 6 0 Examination expenses 10 10 0 School buildings, improvements, &c. 939 4 8 Other expenses 5 0 0 Balance Building Account— Bank balance .. 240 16 9 Fixed deposits .. 600 0 0 £7,490 7 11 £7 490 7 11 John McWhikteb, Chairman. A. J Morton, Secretary Examined and found correct. —James Edward FitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-General.

NOETH CANTEEBUEY Sib,— Christchurch, 30th March, 1895. 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, 1894: — The Boabd.—The three members who retired by rotation at the end of March, 1894, were Mr T H. Anson, Hon. W. Montgomery, and Mr E. G. Wright, of whom Mr Wright did not present himself for re-election. At an election held on the Bth March, Mr Anson, Hon. Mr Montgomery, and Mr. J Munnings were returned to fill the three ordinary vacancies. At a meeting held on the 19th April, Mr. Meredith was elected Chairman of the Board for the ensuing year At the same meeting, Mr Saunders, Mr Joyce, Hon. Mr. Montgomery, and Mr Peryman were elected members of the Appointments Committee, and Mr Peryman, Mr Adams, Mr Munnings, Mr Anson, and Mr Westenra members of the Buildings Committee. About the middle of the year the Board suffered a severe loss through the death of Mr Anson, which took place on the 14th June. Mr Anson had been a member of the Board since March, 1885, and had three times been re-elected. He had served on both the Appointments and Buildings Committees, and in 1892 was Chairman. The Board unanimously passed a resolution recording its high appreciation of the assiduous attention Mr. Anson always gave to the discharge of his duties, and its sense of the loss the district had sustained through the death of so zealous and trusty a representative. On the 9th August the vacancy on the Board was filled by the election of Mr John Eennie, who on the 6th September was elected