85

E.—l

12— E. 1.

Technical Instruction. —Saturday classes for teachers were established during the year, and a course of work in physical measurements was taken. In August the Board received authority to erect a woodwork and a cookery room as portion of a technical-school building. Tenders were called, and the rooms will be ready shortly. Four schools took a branch of handwork as part of the year's syllabus. Finance. —The balance-sheet shows in the General Account a debit balance of £318 11s. 3d., and in the Building Account a debit balance of £100 2s. 6d. The Board found it absolutely necessary to rebuild its office, the old insanitary wooden structure which had done duty for many years being replaced by a small but substantial brick building. This expenditure is responsible for the debit balance. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. John Byrne, Chairman.

Gbneeal Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1905. Receipts. £ s. &. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance at beginning of year .. .. 178 13 11 Staff salaries and clerical assistance .. 462 14 2 Grants from Government for— Office contingencies .. .. .. 220 19 5 Teachers' and pupil-teaehera' salaries, and Teachers' and pupil-teachers' salaries, and allowances to pupil-teaohers .. 5,243 14 0 allowances to pupil-teachers .. .. 5,356 3 11 Reserves revenue for primary education 88 0 0 Relieving-teachers' salaries .. .. 2 0 0 Capitation at 11s. 3d., and grant of £250 1,029 1 3 Incidental expenses of schools .. .. 31110 8 Capitation at 6d. for relieving-teachers .. 34 12 9 Capitation, 9i. .. .. .. 51 18 0 Special grants for School Committees .. 51 18 0 ; Scholarships and expenses of examination 107 19 6 Grants from Government for— j Salaries of staffs of district high sohools .. 276 14 5 Scholarships.. .. t .. .. 107 19 6 Manual and technical instruction— District high schools .. .. 173 10 0 School classes .. .. .. 19 8 Receipts from other sources— Special classes .. .. .. 34 10 6 Grant from High School Board .. 75 0 0 Maintenance of school buildings— Grants from Government for manual and Repairs, repainting, &c. .. .. 61 13 6 technical instruction— Rebuilding .. .. .. .. 1,152 3 8 Capitation (general and scholarship) .. 32 10 6 House allowances .. .. .. 325 0 0 Instruction of teachers .. .. 75 0 0 New sohools, additions, furniture, sites, &c. 597 17 9 Grants from Government for— Other expenses— Maintenance of buildings, rebuilding, &o. 448 3 6 Insurance .. .. .. .. 112 0 House allowances .. .. .. 325 0 0 Unclassified, 125.; bank, £10 16s. 3d. .. 118 3 New schools, additions, furniture, &c. .. 690 11 6 Commission and advertising reserves .. 915 0 Other receiptsRent of school-sites .. .. .. 12 8 9 Refund, office contingencies .. .. 013 0 Balance at end of year— On General Account .. .. .. 318 11 3 On Building Account.. .. .. 100 2 6 £8,985 10 5 £8,985 10 5 John Bxkne, Chairman. 9th March, 1906. H. Smith, Acting-Secretary.

WESTLAND. Sir,— Hokitika, 13th February, 1906. I have the honour to present the report of the Westland Education Board for the year ending 31st December, 1905. The Board. —The members that retired in August were Messrs. Clarke, Duff, and Michel, who were re-elected. The retiring Chairman, Mr. T. W. Beare, and the treasurer, Mr. H. L. Michel, were reappointed. Mr. Grimmond continued to represent the Board as School Commissioner, and Mr. Michel as one of the High School Board of Governors. The Board held during the year thirteen meetings. Schools. —The number of schools open at the beginning of the year was 33. During the year one household school (Waikukupa) was closed and another (Cook's River) opened, leaving the total number unchanged. In addition to these 5 Catholic Schools of the district were examined by the Board's Inspector. The secondary class of the Hokitika District High. School had an average roll-number of 42, and the number at the end of the year was 39. Of these pupils five were holders of the Board's Scholarships, two of the Junior National Scholarships and one of a Queen's Scholarship. A separate report shows that the class has fully maintained its efficiency, and it may be added that in connection with examinations held near the end of the year 3 have passed the Matriculation Examination and 8 the Junior Civil Service (seven with credit). Attendance.—While the roll-number still shows a slight decrease, the average attendance of the pupils has again maintained a high standard, being 893 of the average roll-number. Teachers. —The 47 teachers in the employ of the Board at the end of the year include 5 headmasters, 27 sole teachers, 10 assistants, and 5 pupil-teachers. Of those other than pupil-teachers engaged in schools with an attendance above 20, seventeen are certificated and one uncertificated. In schools of the lower grade 7 possess certificates, licenses, or partial certificates, while 17 are uncertificated. Scholarships.—The scholarships held by pupils of the district are those mentioned as attending the secondary class. The annual value of the Board's scholarships in force is two of £24, one of £12, and two of £4. At the end of the year the Board allotted three scholarships, tenable for two years and of the annual value respectively of £20, £10, and £4. Manual and Technical Instruction. —During the year the following classes, recognised specially by the Education Department, have been in force : (1.) A teachers' instruction class in carton work correlated with geometrical drawing ; the average attendance during the six months of the existence