8.—2.

Appendix A.

System was reconstructed at five residences and four schools. It is i<. be noted here that the cost Hi' connection of the sanitary conveniences with a public system of drainage, involving, as it often does, the construction of new buildings owing to the unsuitability of the old, is effected at a oosi so vci \ heavy that if prudent provision is to-be made for future rebuilding the grant for maintenance of buildings is insufficient. This remark equally applies to payments required on account of new sites. The steady increase in the Hoard's liability, cm account of rebuilding schools erected over twenty years ago, led the Board during the year to cover by insurance risks exceeding .£lOO. The Board strongly approves the policy of improving such of the teachers' resi (lences as are below a reasonable standard of comfort. In this district, largely by reason of the mode of settlement and the small funds available at the time, a large number "i , the residences require substantial expenditures to raise them to the standard desired. FINANCE. — The year began with a debit balance of t-'S.-'SOT 12s. 2d. ; the receipts were £117,393 Is. Id., the disbursements t\ 14,961 16s. 4d., leaving a debit balance of .£966 7s. sd. Si BBIDIKS. —Subsidies were obtained by fifteen schools on account of donations to their funds in aid of manual and technical instruction —for the most part agriculture —and by nine district high schools on account of donations to district high school funds. By the grant of .subsidies the Board has endeavoured to encourage the formation of scl 1 libraries. With a view to encouraging Committees in the improvement of their schools, the Board granted a large number of subsidies for other approved purposes. 1 have. Arc, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. Robkkt Lee, Chairman.

HA WEE'S BAY. Sir, — Education Office, Napier, -'list March, 1911. 11l accordance with the provisions of section 174 of the Education Act, 1908, 1 have the honour to submit the following report of the proceedings of the Education Board of the District of Hawke's Bay for the year 1910 : — Board. —At the beginning of the year the members of the Board were : North Ward — Mr. W. Morgan, Mr. G. E. Darton, Mr. M.' McLeod; Middle Ward—Sir. William Russell, Mr. C. M. Whittington, Mr. T. Tanner; South Ward —Rev. A. Grant, Mr. W. G. Hunter, Mr. O. Erickson. In April, Mr. G. F. Roach was elected in place of Sir William Russell, who resigned in view of an extended trip to England; in August, Messrs. Darton and Grant were re-elected for the North and South Wards respectively, and Mr. J. S. Sheath was elected to succeed Mr. Tanner, who did not offer himself for re-election. The Hoard records its appreciation of the valuable services rendered by Mr. Tanner as Chairman of the Hoard for many years, and as a member since 1878; also of the services of Sir William Kussell as Chairman of the Hoard for the past three years. Pastor H. Jiies, Rev. A. Grant, and Mr. W. Armstrong represented the Board on the Dannevirke Sigh School Board of Governors, Messrs. Tanner and S. McLernon on the Napier High School Hoard. Messrs. C. M. Whittington and S. McLernon on the Hawke's Bay School Commissioners, and Messrs. S. McLernon and H. Hill on the Board of Managers of the Napier Technical School. Schools.- — r l he number of schools in operation at the end of the year 1909 was 122. During 1910 five were opened ami six were closed, leaving 121 (including eleven household schools) at the end of the year. Teachehp.—The teachers employed in December, L9lO, numbered 306. Of these, sixty were pupil-teachers and nine were probationers. Forty-nine of the adult teachers were uncertificated. The Hoard regrets that it was unable to obtain the services of a sufficient number of young persons qualified for appointment as probationers; seven positions remained unfilled throughout the year. Attendance.—The average weekly number of scholars on the roll was 10,135. The average attendance for the year was 8,894, and the percentage of attendances was 878. There were 658 Maori and half-caste scholars in attendance at forty-eight schools. Physical Instruction.—Due attention has been given to the requirements of the Act in the matter of physical and military instruction. The cadets continue to increase in number and efficiency. Manual \m> Technical Instruction. —During , 1910 the numbers of schools in which special classes in manual and technical subjects were conducted were: Handwork, 76; elementary agriculture, 58; agrioulture and dairying, 14; physical measurements, t; elementary chemistry, 4; woodwork, II; dressmaking. I.; cookery" 12. Special attention lias this year been devoted to instruction in elementary agriculture, classes in .which are carried on under the general supervision of Mr. E. Loten. At the beginning id' the year the Hoard issued to the teachers a pamphlet. containing Mr. Loten'e general schemes of work for a two-years course in nature-study, agriculture, and dairying for primary schools. A continuation course for a further two years has also been prepared for the secondary classes of district high schools. Tt is estimated that during 1911 agrioulture will form part id' the syllabus of not less than three-fourths of the schools. Mr. Loten'B report of the work of the agricultural classes is appended hereto.* DISTRICT HIGH Schools. —The roll-numbers of pupils in attendance at the secondary classes of the district high schools at the end of the year wvvr : Hastings. 38; Waipawa, 41; Woodville. 18. At the beginning of 1911 these classes will take up an approved scientific course. Ml , .

* Reprinted in E.-5 (Manual and Technical Instruction Report).

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