E.—2.

[Appendix A.

Tkaoheks. At the close of the year there were in the service of the Hoard twenty-seven male teachers, seventy-seven female teachers, one male pupil-teacher, five Female pupil-teachers, and three female probationers, making a total <>i' 113. Of the 1(1+ teachers, eighteen males an I twentj two females are certificated, and one other holds a license to teach. Training of Teachers. —Saturday classes for teachers were again conducted under the oontro] of the Board, the subjects being cookery, woodwork, dairying, physical measurements, and vocal music. The attendance at the classes was. on the whole, satisfactory. Physical Instruction. —The Inspector of Schools in his repori for the year says: In fifty three schools drill was considered satisfactory, and in twenty-one others was passable. In nine ii was defective; the last mentioned are all very small schools. In some schools the drill inighl lie more vigorous. Miniature rifle ranges are cither formed or under way at llaveloek. Grovetown, Renwiok, ami Blenheim. There are two or three Scout troops or patrols in the district. SCHOLARSHIPS.—There were in force at the close of the year sixteen Board Scholarships, four National Scholarships, anil a one-year private scholarship of C2~> given l>\ Mr. John Duncan. M.P. On the results of the Junior National Scholarship Examination, held in December, nine Board Scholarships, one Junior t National Scholarship, and two private (Duncan) scholarships were awarded. Manual and Technical. —Classes in elementary agriculture were conducted at about twenty schools, and. in a few instances, swimming and elementary physical measurements were taught. Handwork continues to form a prominent part of the training of the pupils throughout this die trict. The school classes in woodwork, cookery, and advanced plain needlework conducted at the Blenheim Technical School were well attended. BUILDINGS. —The expenditure under this head during l!) 10 totalled £2,(1.") 1 18s. .'id. The more important works completed were the erection of new schools at I! iverlands. Tahiiahua. and Nopera Bay, additional class-room at Carluke, and a teacher's residence at Grovetown. The programme for I!MI at present provides for a new school at Onahuku, and additions to the schools at Ward ami Uai Valley. Finance. —The credit balance on all accounts at the 31st December was £333 17s. Details of the receipts ami expenditure for the year are appended. I have. Ac. The lion, the Minister of Education, Wellington. R. McCallum, Chairman.

NELSON. Sir, — Education Office, Nelson, May, 1911. 1 have the honour to lay before you the report of the proceedings of the Nelson Hoard of Education for the year ending -'list December, lilll). The Board.- The members of the Board are: Messrs. A. T. Maginnity (Chairman), \Y. Nock, and V. O. Smith (East Ward); W. X. h'ranklyn. J. I). Beuko. and 1.. D. Easton (Middle Ward); J. L Munson. <i. l>. Shepherd, and J. W. T'air (West Ward). Mr. T. J. Baigent, who was a member of the Board for sixteen years, died in May last, and Mr. 1.. I). Kaston was elected to fill the extraordinary vacancy. In July last the three retiring members, Messrs. Maginnity, Beuke, and .Munson, were re-elected unopposed. The twenty-four meetings (luring the year were well attended. Primary Schools.—One hundred and sixteen schools were open during the year, including twenty-two schools each having an average attendance of under nine. The matter of providing an adequate teaching staff occasioned some serious consideration, a number of the smaller schools having to be closed for short periods through inability to secure teachers possessing some experience. In order to obviate as far as possible the insufficient supply, the Hoard, when revising the regulations for the appointment and service of pupil-teachers, included a provision whereßy pupilteachers complete their course at the end of the fourth year, instead of at the end of the fifth year, thus giving more opportunities for young people to enter the service. Several students from the Wellington 'I raining College have entered the Hoard's service, but it is apparent that trained teachers are not offering themselves for positions as teachers of schools carrying salaries of less than £130, and the difficulty of providing efficient teachers for small schools is still witli us As will be seen Iron' the Inspectors' report, the number of uncertificated teachers employer! is still large -sixty-sis out of a total teaching stall' of 186 (excluding pupil-teachers and probationers). The urgent necessity of qualifying for the certificate examination has been made known to all uncertificated teachers by special circulars, and the time is not far distant when steps will be taken to see that positions in Grade I and upwards are held only by qualified persons. The Inspectors in their report give details of the work accomplished in the schools. District High Schools. —The secondary divisions at Motueka, Takaka, Reefton, and Westport have maintained satisfactory attendances, though the day Technical School at Westport, no doubt, has somewhat affected the attendance in the District High School at that place. Progress has been made in the direction of providing that the instruction in the Motueka and Takaka Schools shall more specially bear on rural pursuits, and the Instructor in Agriculture has given a good deal of attention to these schools. A laboratory has been erected and equipped at Motueka, and 1 am glad to report that Takaka School will soon be similarly provided for. .Manual and Technical. —This department of instruction has greatly extended operations during , the year. A day Technical School at Nelson was inaugurated under satisfactory con

XII