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Hawera, Wanganui Boys', Greatford, and Marton Schools. Additions and repairs have also been made to the residences at Normanby, Matarawa, Upper Tutaenui, Momohaki, Brunswick, Ashurst, Warrengate, and Foxton, besides fencing and numerous smaller repairs. The Board has also enlarged and improved its offices by adding to the public office and erecting two new rooms for the Inspectors. These improvements were much needed, and proved to be a great boon to the staff. Training op Teachers.—The teachers' Saturday classes are still continued at Palmerston North and Wanganui. In addition to these, the Board has established a second grade drawingclass at Palmerston North, held on Saturday, for the benefit of teachers in the surrounding school districts who would find it inconvenient to travel to Wanganui. The teacher who gives this instruction is under the supervision of the Art Master of the Technical School, and his classes are well attended. Pupil-teachers.—At the pupil-teachers' examination in June, seventy-five candidates presented themselves, with the following result: First Class—l 4 passed, 3 failed; Second Class— 17 passed, 8 failed; Third Class—2l passed, 8 failed. Fourth Class—2 passed, 2 failed. Scholarships.—For the senior scholarships thirty-nine competed—viz., twenty-seven girls and twelve boys. Three scholarships were awarded—to two boys and one girl. Five boys and five girls qualified. For the junior scholarships sixteen competed—viz., nine boys and seven girls. Ten qualified—viz., four boys and six girls. Four scholarships were awarded—to three boys and one girl. The Board has amended the Scholarships Eegulations to the extent of raising the age of the candidates six months. Compulsory Attendance.—A number of the School Committees have applied to the Board to appoint Truant Inspectors, and in every case the Board complied with the request, but without incurring any responsibility as to payment for services rendered. New Distbicts. —A new district has been formed at Mangamahu, and Committees have been elected at Eewa, Mangawhero, and Anderson Eoad (Ngaire). Technical School. —The school is to be enlarged with the idea of extending its usefulness, and the Board hopes that when the improvements are complete it will be found that their expectations of an increased attendance were justified. A committee of the Board ha 3 been appointed to inquire into the general working of the insticution. Subjoined I beg to hand you the Art Master's report for the year.* Finance. —The general statement of receipts and expenditure shows a credit balance of £2,293 6s. lid. in the General Account, with liabilities amounting to £386 17s. 9d., leaving a net credit balance of £1,906 9s. 2d. The Building Account is overdrawn to the extent of £750 18s. 7d., with liabilities amounting to £1,824 13s. The Board regrets that despite continued representations to the Minister of Education no adequate sum has been set apart for the necessities of outlying districts, where, in some places, tents have been used for schoolhouses. The report of the Inspectors of Schools upon the state of education in this district is forwarded herewith, to which I have the honour to refer you for further information. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. James W. Bakee, Chairman.

Genebal Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1896. Receipts. £ s. d. ! Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance— By Office Staff—Salaries .. .. 413 0 0 On Building Account .. .. 2,080 10 4 Technical School—Transfer.. .. 100 0 0 On General Account .. .. 2,641 2 6 Departmental contingencies.. .. 241 12 9 Technical School.. .. .. 36 11 4 Members' expenses .. .. .. 185 16 9 Government grant for buildings .. 2,110 0 0 Inspectors' salaries.. .. .. 697 18 4 Subscriptions and donations for build- Inspectors' travelling-expenses .. 275 7 0 ings .. .. .. .. 310 0 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 78 5 3 Other receipts for buildings— Standard examination expenses .. 55 10 9 School sites leased .. .. 11 6 6 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inContractors'deposits .. .. 134 2 3 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. .. 26,419 10 11 Old material sold .. .. 10 0 Incidental expenses of schools .. 1,482 18 9 Transfer from General Account .. 1,000 0 0 Training of teachers .. .. 79 17 2 Government statutory capitation .. 29,160 10 11 Scholarships— Scholarship grant .. .. .. 482 4 5 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 456 13 4 Scholarship refund .. .. .. 113 4 Examination expenses .. .. 27 4 5 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 300 0 0 Transfer from General to Building AcTraining of teachers—Pees received .. 27 15 0 count .. ' .. .. .. 1,000 0 0 Payments by School Commissioners, Sohool-buildings— for primary education .. .. 1,190 0 2 New buildings .. .. .. 1,674 17 8 School fund refunded .. .. 316 0 Improvements of buildings .. 2,507 16 10 Technical School— Furniture and appliances .. .. 630 18 11 Government grant .. .. 200 0 0 Sites .. .. .. .. 363 6 9 Government capitation .. 27 10 8 j Plans, supervision, and fees .. 160 10 0 School fees .. .. .. 69 18 0 Office additions .. .. .. 495 3 9 Education Board, training of teachers 100 0 0 Contractors' deposits .. .. 88 19 9 Loan refunded .. .. .. 170 0 0 Technical School— Teachers' salaries .. .. 259 19 8 Furniture .. .. .. 28 16 2 Scholarships .. .. .. 710 0 General expenses .. .. 94 2 6 Balance — General Account .. 2,293 6 11 Technical School .. 43 11 8 2,336 18 7 Less Building Account, Dr. .. 750 18 7 1,586 0 0 £39,581 17 5 £39,581 17 5 A. A. Beowne, Secretary. Examined and found correct. — J. K. Wabburton, Controller and Auditor-General.

* Printed in E.-lc, Sess. 11., 1897.