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teachers, twenty-eight in the fifth year, seventeen in the fourth year, thirty-seven in the third year, fourteen in the second year, and twenty-two in the first year. Inspection.—The Inspector's annual report shows that at the time of the examinations there were 14,684 children on the books, an increase of 490 on the previous year. The total number of passes was 8,500, 89 per cent, on the number examined in standards, the high proportion of passes being again mainly due to the exceedingly good work of the large schools. The report refers to the useful work done by the Truant Officer, but points out that there is a widespread indifference on the part of parents to the need of regular attendance. It has been found impossible of late years to inspect annually a proportion of the more distant schools. The appointment of a third Inspector, Mr. F. H. Bakewell, M.A., will now remove that difficulty, and enable the staff to do full justice to the whole of the schools. Deill.—With a view to having efficient military drill taught in the various schools, the Board appointed Mr. T. W. McDonald drill-instructor, his duties being, where the attendance is sufficient, to organize and form companies, to give instruction in company and battalion drill, and form classes for the instruction of teachers. He will be required to give instruction in all the schools within easy access, but will not be called upon to visit the smaller schools in the outlying districts. Arrangements are to be made whereby the teachers of these schools will receive class instruction to enable them to teach drill thoroughly. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. J. B. Blaie, Chairman.

Geneeal Statement of Beceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1898. Receipts. £ a. d. Expenditure. £ a. d. To Government grant for buildings .. 9,800 0 0 By Balance .. .. .. .. 5,242 411 Other receipts for buildings— Office staff —salaries .. .. 922 10 9 Sale old school site, Otaki .. .. 250 0 0 Departmental contingencies .. 552 14 6 Rent from reserves .. .. 30 18 6 Inspectors' salaries .. .. .. 925 0 0 Unclaimed deposit .. .. 710 0 Inspectors' travelling-expenses .. 292 19 0 Refund, overpayments .. .. 1 0 11 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 9 14 6 Government statutory capitation .. 43,081 17 9 Teachers' salaries and allowances (ii.Soholarship grant .. .. .. 812 18 7 eluding rent, bonus, &o.) .. .. 37,753 12 9 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 300 0 0 Incidental expenses of schools .. 4,047 8 4 Payments by School Commissioners .. 1,673 13 8 Scholarships— Donation from Industrial Association 1,500 0 0 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 800 7 6 Subsidy from Government thereon .. 1,500 0 0 Examination expenses .. .. 22 13 9 Interest on £1,500 from Industrial Asso- School buildings— ciation .. .. .. .. 1115 11 New buildings .. .. .. 3,286 011 Government grants for manual and Improvements of buildings .. 2,525 19 10 technical instruction classes .. 468 19 4 Furniture and applianoes .. .. 304 1 3 Fees, &c, Technical School .. .. 1,072 7 8 Sites .. .. .'. .. 534 5 0 Capitation, cheque outstanding since Plans, supervision, and fees .. 117 13 0 1897 .. .. .. . • 410 0 Bank interest .. ~ .. 102 11 7 Balance — £ s. d. Technical School — Maintenance Or. 402 12 10 Salaries.. .. .. .. 1,875 11 4 Buildings .. Dr. 704 7 5 Incidental .. .. .. 719 7 7 301 14 7 BuildingsNew .. .. .. .. 500 0 0 Furniture .. .. .. 144 19 3 Plans .. .. .. .. 137 11 2 £60,817 6 11 £60,817 611 A. Doeset, Secretary. Examined and found correct—J. K. Waebueton, Controller and Auditor-General.

HAWKE'S BAY. Sib,— Education Office, Napier, 2nd March, 1899. I have the honour to forward the following report of the proceedings of the Hawke's Bay Education Board for the year 1898 :-— The Board consists of the following members, viz.: Bey. Dr. Sidey (Chairman), Messrs. C. A. Fitzroy, J. G. Gilberd, W. L. Knight, S. McLernon, F. Sutton, T. Tanner, F. W. Williams, and Dr. Moore. School Attendance, —The following return shows a comparative statement of the children on the roll and the average attendance in the schools under the Board for 1878, 1888, 1897, and 1898:—

Average Weekly Number on the Bo .1. Average Attendance. ear. March. June. Sept. I Dec. Average for Four Quarters. Percentage. Increase Previous Years. March. June. Per X age Sept. Deo. Pour Increase .878 .888 .897 ■898 1,520 5,902 7,604 7,732 1,797 1,854 1,985 5,968 5,841 5,758 7,618 7,582 7,593 7,788! 7,753 7,782 1,789 5,867 7,599-25 7,763-75 6-4 1-27 2-15 1,259 4,686 6,331 6,515 1,612 4,733 6,381 6,712 1,580 1,6491,525 4,673 4,6274,679-75 6,448 6,3966,389 6,684 6,2916,550-5 8-3 2-1 2-52