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owing to the large proportion of aided schools, this Board, and other Boards in charge of similar districts, are under a great disadvantage when endeavouring to make provision in the schools for adequate staffs and salaries. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. John McWhirter, Chairman.

General Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1897. Receipts. £ a. A. Expenditure. £ a. A. To Balance on General Account .. 14 10 11 By Balance on Building Account .. 100 11 9 Government grant for buildings (includ- Office staff—Salaries.. .. .. 346 0 0 ing £70 for Technical Class) .. 820 0 o Departmental contingencies— Sale of Arawata School building .. 3 0 0 General Account .. .. .. 45 6 3 Government statutory capitation .. 4,947 3 9 Building Account.. .. .. 21 5 6 Scholarship grant .. .. .. 99 13 3 Inspector's travelling-expenses .. 93 8 6 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 175 0 0 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 7 9 0 Capitation on Kumara Technical Class 5 16 10 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inDistrict High School fees .. .. 249 6 9 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. .. 4,660 12 5 Interest on fixed deposits .. .. 312 6 Incidental expenses of schools .. 180 3 7 Rent of reserve .. .. .. 4 0 0 Scholarships— Deposits on tenders .. .. .. 22 0 0 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 103 0 0 Book sales .. .. .. .. 19 2 Examination expenses .. .. 10 10 0 High School Board subsidy .. .. 72 10 0 School buildings— New buildings .. .. .. 158 11 6 Improvements of buildings.. .. 393 14 2 Furniture and appliances .. .. 55 8 2 Sites .. .. .. .. 75 12 8 Plans, supervision, and fees .. 8 15 6 Members'travelling-expenses.. .. 37 5 0 Deposits returned .. .. .. 22 0 0 Books .. .. .. .. 1 13 0 Refund of grant in aid of Kumara Technical Class " .. .. .. 5 16 10 Balance— On Building Account .. .. 9 0 9 On General Account .. .. 81 18 7 £6,418 3 2 £6,418 3 2 John McWhirter, Chairman. A. J. Morton, Secretary. Examined and found correct —J. K. Warburton, Controller and Auditor-General.

REPORTS ON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS. Hokitika. During the examination there were present twenty-six pupils. Three were absent part of the time attending the matriculation examination. Consequently the pupils of the third and fourth years were tested briefly on the first day in the more important subjects, with very satisfactory results. The seven pupils of the second year had received instruction in all the compulsory subjects, and six obtained satisfactory marks, the following securing over 75 per cent, of the total: M. Houston, 88-3 per cent.; E. Benton, 85-3 per cent.; G. Shaw, 85-1 per cent. D. Sullivan, 778 per cent. Of the junior division three pupils have joined only recently, and their marks have not been recorded. Of the twelve remaining, four omitted Latin at the request of the parents. Each pupil obtained satisfactory marks, and of those taking the full course the following secured 75 per cent, of the total: D. Schramm, 84-6 per cent. ;L. Michel, 82-4 per cent. ; Edith Clarke, 75-6 per cent. The various subjects have throughout the class received even and thorough treatment; in none did more than two scholars show weakness; and in English and algebra none were deficient. In addition, the course set was prepared efficiently by one pupil in French, and by the large majority of the class in chemistry. The duties of the Eector have been further increased by the preparation of a fourth-year pupil for the University scholarship examination. It will be seen that while the work of the teacher has been very exacting, owing to the number attending and the extent of the course of studies, the year's work of the class has again been brought to a very satisfactory conclusion. A. J. Morton, Inspector. Kumara. This class was formed in August, 1896, and, with the exception of one, the pupils commenced work in secondary subjects since that date. Two pupils, A. Owens and E. Stark, who required to attend the matriculation examination were tested more briefly on the first day. Both secured high marks (over 90 per cent.) in Latin and were very successful in other subjects, in which marks were not recorded in their case. Of the remaining nine pupils two were weak, obtaining an average percentage below 50. The remainder obtained satisfactory results, and the following have secured a good position. The marks of the first on the list are exceptionally good, and there is every reason to suppose that the two already mentioned would have secured equally good results : E. Mcintosh, 93-6 per cent. ; W. Lamason, 86 per cent.; G. Andrews, 85-3 per cent.; M. Jamieson, 83-6 per cent. The instruction in the subjects of the course has been given by the head master and the first assistant master: to the former being allotted Euclid, algebra, arithmetic, and geography; and to the latter, English, Latin, and chemistry, with French in the case of one pupil. With the exception