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REPORT ON NORMAL SCHOOL. Sir, — Normal School, Christchurch, 28th February, 1898. I have the honour to report as follows on the work of the Normal School for 1897 :— We commenced the year with thirty-seven students, of whom twelve were males and twentyfive females. Of these, two withdrew during the year—one to take up missionary work abroad, and one from ill-health. At the examinations twenty-five sat for matriculation, of whom twenty-two passed ; and thirtyone sat for the departmental certificate examination (or part of it), of whom twenty-nine have passed wholly or in part. Mr. W. A. Eobinson, 8.A., B.Sc, the part-time lecturer, left us at the end of the year, and Mr. F. J. Wilkes, 8.A., was appointed to take his place. I should here like to place on record my very high appreciation of the efficiency and zeal with which Mr. Eobinson discharged his duty. With one or two exceptions, the male students attended for two quarters a class in manual training, and, as attendance at this class took up nearly the whole of one evening per week, it must of necessity have affected somewhat the preparation of other subjects. We endeavoured this year to give the female students some practical knowledge of kindergarten work ; but here again the difficulty arose of how to find time for this valuable work without detriment to the subjects required for the certificate examination. As a matter of fact, we have not time enough at our disposal to cover a thorough course of work in the many subjects necessary or advisable in the Normal School course. The Inspectors' reports on the Boys', Girls', Infants', and Model Departments show that good work has again been done, though the staff in the past year has been smaller than in recent years. I have, &c, Edwin Watkins, 8.A., The Chairman of Normal School Committee. Principal of Normal School.

SOUTH CANTEEBUEY. Sir,— Education Office, Timaru, 31st March, 1898. I have the honour to submit herewith the report of the Education Board for the District of South Canterbury for the year ending with the 31st day of December, 1897. Board. —At the commencement of the year the Board consisted of the following members : Messrs. W. B. Howell, J.P., Chairman; John Talbot, J.P. ; John Jackson, J.P. ; Melville Gray, J.P.; Peter Keddie, J.P.; Major W. M. Moore, J.P.; W. J. Sahnond, LL.B.; the Eev. W. J. Comrie ; and the Eev. George Barclay, J.P. The three members retiring by rotation in March were Messrs. Talbot, Gray, and Moore. Six candidates were nominated by the School Committees to fill these vacancies : Messrs. Talbot, Gray, Moore, Keith, Bussell, and Manchester. Messrs. Talbot, Moore, a.nd Keith were elected. In April Mr. Salmond resigned his seat, and the following gentlemen were nominated to fill the vacancy : Messrs. In wood, Bussell, and Pielden. The election resulted in the return of Mr. Daniel Newman Inwood, J.P. Eighteen meetings of the Board were held during the year, the day of meeting for the ordinary monthly sitting being the second Wednesday in each month at 11.15 a.m.; the number present at each meeting being, on the average for the year, 7-6. The officers of the Board were the same as last year. Schools. —At the end of the year there were sixty-five full-time schools in operation, the classification of which was as follows : Under 25 pupils, sixteen schools ; under 50 pupils, twenty-seven schools ; under 75 pupils, eleven schools, under 100 pupils, three schools; under 150 pupils, one school; under 300 pupils, three schools ; under 500 pupils, three schools; over 500 pupils, one school. Number of aided schools included —sixteen. There were twelve Native or half-caste scholars attending at three schools : Geraldine Flat, Eangatira Valley, and Waihao. Attendance. —The accompanying table shows the number of scholars attending the Board's schools since the year 1888 : —

The working average for the four quarters gives 4,589 against the strict average of 4,570, whilst the average roll-number for the year is 5,275, against 5,366 in 1896. 11— E. 1.

Quarter ending I Number of Number of Number on Schools. I Teachers. Rolls. Strii Male. Strict Average Attendance. ict A Average At Female. Yearly Average. Total. 1888. 51st March 50th June SOfch September ... ilst December ... 49 49 50 50 119 120 123 125 4,704 4,689 4,714 4,703 1,895 1,921 1,832 1,964 1,785 1,784 1,660 1,857 3,680 3,705 3,492 3,821 I 3,674 1896. list March iOth June 10th September ... ilst December ... 65 65 65 65 163 151 150 149 5,429 5,373 5,341 5,322 2,286 2,399 2,336 2,402 2,171 2,225 2,154 2,257 4,457 4,624 4,490 4,659 ■ 4,559 1897. list March iOth June iOth September ... ilst December ... 65 65 65 65 149 149 146 147 5,334 5,283 5,274 5,211 2,319 2,389 2,365 2,379 2,207 2,239 2,190 2,194 4,526 4,628 4,555 4,573 ■ 4,570