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The Secretary for Education to the Secretary to the Education Boaed. Education Department, Wellington, 25th July, 1903. The Secretary, Education Board, Napier. I am directed by the Minister of Education to request that on the following grounds the Board will revise its annual report as sent in to the Department: — 1. The paragraph respecting schools at Mohaka and Waipiro does not accurately represent the facts. A grant of £435 for a school ac Mohaka was made in 1900, and has not yet been applied to the purpose. The Department has received no application for a grant for a school at Waipiro. Special grants are not made on account of the attendance of Maori children any more than for the attendance of any other section of the children. Under the Act the Board has to treat both races alike. 2. The reference to what has taken place in regard to Mahora does not fairly represent the facts. The Board asked for a grant of £790. My report to the Government, alter visiting the place and consulting with the Chairman of the Board, was that a grant of £375 would suffice, and with this I understood both the Chairman and the Committee were satisfied. 3. With regard to the paragraph on technical education, I am to point out that if the Board decides to have managers for the Technical School, it can, under the Act, have them by forming associated classes with the Borough Council or any other bodies concerned. The Department, however, has not been asked to sanction the classes as asssociated classes, but as special classes under the immediate management of the Board itself. There is evidently a misapprehension of the Act and regulations. 4. The paragraph with regard to scholarships would be clearer if it were shown which of the scholarships were given by the School Commissioners and which by the Board. 5. The construction of the report is defective in some places. I refer, for example, to the paragraph relating to the Mohaka and Waipiro Schools. I should be obliged by your bringing the matter before the Board with the least possible delay. The rest of the reports of Education Boards are in the Printer's hands, and will go to press in the course of a few days. G. Hooben, Secretary for Education.

The Secretary to the Education Boaed to the Secretary fob Education. Sir, — Education Office, Napier, sth August, 1903. Yours of the 25th July, requesting the Board to revise its annual report for certain reasons, is to hand. At a meeting of the Board yesterday, I was instructed to forward the annexed memo, in reference to Nos. 1 and 2 of your memo, for the information of the Hon. the Minister of Education. Yours, &c, Secretary, Education Department, Wellington. G. T. Fannin, Secretary. 1. Mohaka School was not built —first, because grant was insufficient; second, Board had no title to the land for two years after grant was made; third, Board pointed out to Department the inutility of erecting a school without a teacher's residence. You state the Department had received no application for a grant at Waipiro. An application was made, and the Department granted £430. This school is nearly finished, but a similar drawback as at Mohaka occurred here, only in November we were able to localise section upon which Board could erect school; and Board also pointed out the want of a teacher's residence. 2. In March. 1901, application was made supported by petition from settlers at Mahora for a school and repeated request for a reply, which when received stated Minister could not give a grant for a school at Mahora. Some short time afterwards a letter came to Board stating Department would reconsider application and that one of the Department's officers would be shortly up in the district and would report thereon—with result a grant of £375 was made on an officer's recommendation or report. Now, as to grant of £375— £ Tender accepted ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 289 Shelter-shed ... ... ... ... ... .. ... 27 Artesian well .. ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 Fencing, &c. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 21 Ground ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 70 Desks, maps, &c. ... ... ... ... .., ... ... 50 470 Department's grant ... ... ... ... ... 375 95 Leaving the Board to find £95, besides settlers had subscribed £30 for ground which cost £100. G. T. Fannin, Secretary.

The Secretaey for Education to the Secretary to the Education Board. Education Department, Wellington, 10th September, 1903. The Secretary, Education Board, Napier. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the sth ultimo, and to express my regret that, when writing on the 25th July, I overlooked the fact that three years ago a grant was made for the Waipiro School. With regard to Mahora, I can only add that I believe that the grant of £375 should have been sufficient for the purpose. My estimate for furniture, &c, was £30; and, in my opinion, the land should have cost the Board nothing. G. Hogben, Secretary for Education.

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