E.—l.

the several education districts are practically the whole Parliament, it is scarcely likely that a majority would not be in favour of a very much more liberal vote for school buildings. The perishable nature of even the best-constructed wooden buildings being taken into consideration, together with their liability to be injured or destroyed by fire, should lead the Minister to consider whether it would not be more economical to insist on all future schools in well-established and populated districts being constructed in brick, concrete, or some other durable material. The life of a wooden building is estimated by the Minister at from thirty-three to forty years, while a properly constructed building would probably last at least five times as long, and the perpetually recurring necessity for painting and repairs would be to a great extent avoided. The difference between the cost of a brick school and a wooden one of the same size would now be from 25 to 35 per cent, more, while the rapid decrease of native timber in all parts of New Zealand will gradually diminish this difference. "While timber has even now in some districts to be procured from a considerable and ever-increasing distance, bricks can be made almost anywhere, which is another factor to be taken into account when considering this proposal. Referring to this district, it has already been shown by correspondence to the Department that, with one exception, all the school buildings are wooden ones ; that a majority of these have not been repainted for twelve years, and others not since first erected ; that some have already reached the average age referred to by the Minister, and are in a very delapidated condition ; and that it is no longer possible to supplement an inadequate building vote by advances from the general fund. Scholarships.—There are eight scholarships now current under the Board's regulations, exclusive of those that expired at the end.of the year. These are all held at ths Marlborough High School, and it is pleasing to find that three of those scholars whose time has just expired have lately passed the Matriculation Examination, and that several others have passed the Civil Service Examination. The Board congratulates the Government on the movement made in the direction of secondary education, and hopes that a system of scholarships will be added that will extend the benefit to children who live at a distance from the secondary schools. Physical Drill.—The Board has not yet made any regulations under section 4 of " The Physical Drill in Public and Native Schools Act, 1901." In all the Board Schools a fair amount of instruction in drill and physical exercises has always been given, and in the larger schools the boys have dumb-bell exercises in addition to the military drill, and the girls wand or club drill. It has been considered unnecessary to insist on the small schools (of from two to ten children of all ages) adopting any system. I have, &c, A. P. Seymoub, Chairman.

General Statement of Beceu'ts and Expenditube for the Year ending 31st December, 1902. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Government grant for buildings .. .. 925 0 0 Dr. balance at beginning of year .. .. 295 19 'J Other receipts for buildings— : Office staff—Salaries and clerical assistSale of old building .. .. .. 7!J 10 0 | ance .. .. .. .. 80 0 0 .Rent of old building .. .. .. 60 0 j Departmental contingencies .. .. 166 13 3 Refund (Tuamarina Committee) .. 315 0 Inspector's salary and travelling-expenses Deposit on contract .. .. .. 2 0 0 (also secretary and treasurer) .. .. 408 9 0 Other grants from Government Truant officer's salary and expenses .. -18 16 8 Capitation for relieving-teachers .. 32 12 7 Scholarships—Paid to scholars .. .'. 163 0 0 Allowance, £250, and capitation at 11s 3d. 1,981 8 7 Teachers'salaries .. .. .. 6,845 3 4 Addition to Statutory Capitation—Bal- j Teachers' house allowances .. .. 20 0 0 ance, 1901 .. .. .. 127 5 6 I Incidental expenses of schools .. .. 587 810 Salaries and allowances of teachers and School buildings— and pupil-teachers:— New buildings .. .. .. 19 16 0 Net amount paid by Government .. 6,525 0 7 Improvements of buildings .. .. 143 611 Paid by School Commissioners .. 150 0 0 Furniture and appliances ~ .. 819 8 Scholarship grant , .. .. .. 230 13 7 Rent of buildings used for school purManual and technical instruction —Capi- poses .. .. .. .. 26 0 0 tation for special classes—Continuation 3 0 2 Sites .. .. .. .. 83 6 8 Other receipts— . Plans, supervision, and fees .. .. 13 16 0 Advance refunded .. .. .. 30 0 0 Other expensesBooks and stationery .. .. 201 18 3 Advance .. .. .. .. 30 0 0 Rents of school reserves .. .. 1 11 0 Books, &c. .. .. .. .. 42 19 0 Refunds .. .. .. .. 23 15 6 ! Deposit returned .. .. ■ .. 2 0 0 Refunds .. .. .. .. 5 10 0 Swimming vote .. ~ ~ 416 0 Credit balance at end of year— M s. d. On Building Account, Dr, 134 8 6 On General Account, Cr. 695 8 2 560 19 8 £9,573 10 9 £9,573 10 <J A. P. Seymour, Chairman. John Smith, Secretary. Examined and found correct. —J. K. Waebueton, Controller and Auditor-General.

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