Appendix A.]

E.—2.

W. Morris, from the Hawkesbury College, lias been engaged to take charge of the agriculture and science classes. Special instructors are also appointed for woodwork, drawing, and domestic science. The laboratories at Hastings and Waipawa have been equipped with modern fittings and apparatus, and it is expected that in a few months similar facilities will be provided in Woodville. Scholarships.—The scholarships in tenure at the end of 1910 were: Junior National, '.); Hoard Junior, 53; Board Senior, 10. At the December (1909) examinations sixty-seven candidates qualified for Junior Board Scholarships and forty-eight for Senior Scholarships. Scholarships were awarded as follows: Junior National, 3; Board Junior, 23; Board Senior, 7. Tkachers' Classes. —Saturday training classes for teachers were held as follows, the average attendance being shown m parentheses : (Jisborne —Cookery (9), agriculture (19), dressmaking (8), agricultural chemistry (29); Napier—Agriculture and chemistry (24), drawing (17), physiology and first aid (13); Waipawa—Agriculture and chemistry (13); Dannevirke —Drawing (19), agriculture (21). Good work has been accomplished in all classes. The several classes in agriculture have been excellently attended, and the enthusiasm of the students has been well maintained throughout. Buildings.—New schools were erected at Wairoa, Otoko, anil Una Etoa; an addition was made to the Puha School, and a residence was erected at Mangatahi. A 1 the end of the year buildings were in course of erection as follows: Schools—Te Sapara, Eanakanaia, Kaiteratahi, Opoutama, Wanstead, and Ti Tree; residences — Frasertown anil Porangahau. Most of the buildings have been erected by the Board's workmen, but, though every effort has been made to get the work done as cheaply as is consistent with efficiency, the grants provided by the Department have in nearh every case proved insufficient to cover the cost of the buildings. The sum of £3,273 I9s. Id. has been expended in the maintenance and replacement of buildings and furniture; and the schools ami residences are, as a whole, in good order. During the year ten schools and residences have been painted and thoroughly renovated inside and outside by the Board's painters. Finance.— The credit balance on all accounts on the 31st December, 1910, was £7,029 6s. 6d., an increase of £4,291 13s. 2d. on that of the previous year, This increase is accounted for by the fact that, with the exception of about £1,000, the whole of the assets have been converted into cash. A detailed statement of receipts ami expenditure is appended hereto. 1 have, iV-c The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. C. M. Whittinoton, Chairman.

MARLBOROUGH. Sir, — Education Office, Blenheim. [3th March, 1911. In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1908, the Marlborough Education Board has the honour to present the following report of the proceedings for the year 1910:— Board. —The members in office at the beginning of the year were: Eastern Ward —.Mr. John Conolly, Mr. D'Arcy Chaytor, and Mr. W. B. Parker; Central Ward —Mr. R. McCalluin. Mr. E. H. Penny, and Mr. J. J. White; Western Ward—Mr. H. M. Reader, Mi. John S. Storey, and Mr. John Smith. The members who retired by efHuxion of time were Messrs. Parker. McCallum, and Storey. Mr. John Smith resigned his seat owing to his departure from the district. At the election to fill the vacancies Mi-. Charles Ferguson was returned for the Eastern Ward, Mr. McCalluin and Mr. Storey were returned unopposed to represent the Central and Western Wards respectively, and Mr. James Fulton was elected unopposed to the extraordinary vacancy in the Western Ward caused by Mr. Smith's retirement. At the annual meeting Mr. McCalluin was leappointed Chairman, being the fifth time in succession. Twelve meetings of the Board were held during the year. Schools —Tlk number of schools in operation at the close of the year was 85, being an increase of 6 over the figures reported for the previous year. Four private schools were visited by the Board's Inspector during the year. Attendance. —The average attendance for thevear was 2,021, the figures for the four quarters being—March, 1,994; June, 2,020; September, 2,033 ; December. 2.038. The number on the roll at the close of the Fear was 2,244, being a decrease of 26 on the figures for 1909. The percentage for the year, 89-2, is a further improvement on the previous figures in this district. With the coming into operation of the amendment to the Education Act, which makes it compulsory for a child between the ages of seven and fourteen years to attend school every time it is open, the percentage of attendance should, under ordinary circumstances, easily exceed 90 per cent. In a few districts the attendance was not satisfactory, and the Truant Officers had difficulty in impressing some parents with a due sense of their responsibility in the matter of the education of their children. While welcoming the amendment referred to above, the Board regrets that the recommendations of the Education Conference to raise the standard of exemption were not also embodied in the Act. The Board now employs two Truant Officers, with centres at Blenheim and Havelock respectively, and the results obtained have been very satisfactor\-. The Court figures for the year are: Blenheim—Number of informations, 32; convictions recorded, 32. Havelock —Informations, 10; convictions, 10. The total amount of fines received by the Board during the year was £2 12s.

XI