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Committees' Allowances.—The Committees are also receiving a capitation allowance for incidental expenses which they would not have received under the old regulations. Grants of £3 15s. per head are made to assist all schools where the attendance is below fifteen. Pupil-teachers.—The last pupil-teachers' examination shows that no less than eighteen failed to pass into the next higher grade, but of these four had joined the service during the year, and a failure was not recorded against them. Four others were absent from instruction class so often that the Inspectors could not recommend their promotion, even where their examination work was fairly satisfactory. The subjects of examination were: English (composition, grammar, reading, recitation, writing, &c.); geography (political and physical) ; science (chemistry and electricity); school management; and drawing. In addition, pupil-teachers of the third and fourth years were examined in one of the following optional subjects : Latin, Euclid, and French. Of the 163 pupil-teachers in the Board's service sixty-eight have passed all their examinations; thirty-two of these hold full certificates and are qualified for promotion as assistants or teachers in charge of small schools, and twenty-one have obtained partial success at their certificate examinations. Twenty-one are in their fifth year, eighteen in their fourth year, thirty-three in their third year, nine in their second year, and fourteen in their first year. Attendance. —The attendance during the year has increased from 13,048 to 13,541, with an average of 11,202 against 10,736 for last year. Of the children at the schools at the end of the year, 101 were Maoris, sixteen half-castes living in Native fashion, and fifty half-castes living in European fashion —a total of 167. Tbuancy.—The Board felt that the time had come when they must take some action to meet the difficulties in the way of enforcing the provisions of the School Attendance Act, and they therefore appointed a Truant Officer to take up his duties when the schools resumed after the Christmas holidays. The efforts of this officer should show a material improvement in the average attendance, and be the means of placing in the schools a considerable number of children whose attendance is extremely irregular, or who do not appear to be receiving any education. If the Board's anticipations are realised, the question of more adequate school accommodation in the city will have to be considered at an early date. Scholarships.—The annual examination for the scholarships offered by the Board brought together 174 candidates to compete, but of these 114 failed to obtain half marks in both English and arithmetic; forty-one failed in English and 110 in arithmetic. Of the sixty candidates who obtained 50 per cent, in English and arithmetic, twelve belonged to the Wairarapa district, seven to the country districts, and forty-one to the schools of the city. With a view to more evenly distribute these scholarships, the Board proposes to classify schools somewhat on the basis of their attendances, so that small schools with one or more teachers shall not be called to compete somewhat unfairly against the larger schools. Past experience has shown that under the existing regulations the scholarships are generally taken by children from schools where the attendance admits of most attention being given to the higher standards by the head master, or more especially by the first assistant, schools under one teacher only being rarely represented among the winners. School Districts. —In consequence of the improvement of several of the country schools, and the opening of schools in the new settlements, the Board constituted separate school districts for Eakanui, Pongaroa, Nikau, Makomako, Mangahao, Makairo, Coonoor, Tiraumea, Waikanae, and a new district was constituted at Wellington South in accordance with the wishes of the householders. Inspection.—From the exhaustive report of the Inspectors of Schools, it will be seen that special stress is laid on the importance of regular attendance in all our schools. The Inspectors strongly urge the need of a central school to meet the case of very backward and neglected children, whose school life under existing circumstances is nil or very brief, and whose attendance is extremely irregular. There were 8,977 children actually examined in standards, exclusive of 349 who had previously passed the Sixth Standard, and of those 7,559 or 84 per cent, passed the examination. In many schools the Inspectors have to commend exceptionally good classes in which model systematic work was done. Special menti6n is made of several teachers in whose classes there is a style of ready fluency and correct emphasis of reading taught, which seems to approach the Inspector's ideal of perfect work. The report, which is unusually interesting and suggestive, contains a summary of results for the whole district and a summary of the results for each school. Technical. —The annual report of the Director of the Technical School* gives a full account of the work done in this department. In the first grade drawing examination, 6,109 papers were issued ; 5,526 were worked, of which 3,593 were passes; 437 papers were taken by schools not under this Board. A total of 6,991 papers in all subjects were examined, and 4,244 certificates were issued. The results of the examination by the Science and Art Department of South Kensington were again satisfactory. Free instruction is given to eighty-two teachers, sixty-two scholarship-holders in day classes, and nineteen teachers in evening classes. The Director regrets the lack of interest shown in the technical classes by many of the employers. Singing.—Mr. Robert Parker, the Board's instructor in singing, submits his report. He shows the continued interest and satisfactory progress in the subject which has been entrusted to him. From eighty to one hundred teachers attend the Saturday class held in the lecture-hall of the Board offices, and about thirty-five teachers attend the monthly class held at the school at Masterton. Mr. Parker speaks in the highest terms of the enthusiasm shown by the teachers who attend his classes, and points to the fitness with which many young teachers who attend now come to the examination in music held in connection with the certificate examination. His report is interesting and valuable. Evidence of the good work now generally done in singing was shown by the performance at the opening ceremony of the Industrial Exhibition of 350 children selected from the city schools. Mr. Parker suggests the issue of a special certificate to those teachers who show the necessary aptitude and attainments.

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