E.—2.

[Appendix A.

elections Messrs. Kerr, McCarthy, and Kettle, representing the Northern, Eastern, and Western Wards respectively, retired from the Board, and on recandidature were returned again without opposition. At the annual meeting following, Messrs. Kettle and Bignell were re-elected Chairman and Treasurer respectively for the ensuing term. Schools. —During the year there were in operation thirty-five schools, graded as follows : Grade 0, 9; Grade I, 7; Grade 11, 5; Grade 111, 4; Grade IV, 5; Grave V, 1; Grade Vlb, -'i; Grade IXb (inclusive of a side school), 1. During the last quarter of the year, Granville and Poerua, two Grade 0 schools, owing to falling attendance, were declared temporarily closed. Attendance.—During 1910 the average roll-number of pupils was 1,970, and the average attendance 1,669. For the preceding year the numbers were 1,911 and 1,657 respectively. Teachers. —On the 31st December, fifty-six adult teachers, seven pupil-teachers, and four probationers were in the employ of the Board. Of the adult teachers, eight males and eighteen females are holders of full certificates, and two males and-twenty-eight females are uncertificated. Holders of licenses were nil. Scholarships.—At the December examinations twenty candidates sat for Junior National and Board Junior Scholarships. Of these, five qualified for the Junior National and six others obtained over the 40 per cent, of marks necessary to qualify for Board Scholarships. Manual and Technical.—During the year handwork classes were held at Blackball and Cobden Schools and Greymouth D.H. School; a sewing class at Ahaura School; a first-aid class at Cobden School; elementary agricultural classes at Poerua Estate, Dobson, Hatters, and Blackball Schools; and cookery classes in connection with Kunanga and Cobden Schools and Greymouth D.H. School. Special classes were held in cookery (Convent pupils), engineering (steam and mechanical drawing), carpentry, and woodwork; and teachers' training classes in connection with plrysical measurements, plasticine work, and drawing were also held. Including cost of administration, &c, the expenditure on school classes amounted to £23 12s lid., on special classes £51 16s Bd., and on teachers' training classes £106 Is. 10d. A further sum of £59 12s. lid. was expended in furniture, fittings, and apparatus in connection with special classes generally, a grant of £33 Bs. being received for this purpose. Building Additions.—During the year much-needed additions to Cobden and Blackball Schools were completed out of special grants authorized for these purposes. Finance. —The year opened with a debit balance of £701 Bs. 5d., and closed with a credit balance of £175 9s. Id. on all accounts. This result was achieved only by the exercise of the most drastic economy in all departments. General. —The Board most heartily approves of the educational legislation of last session of Parliament, and is of opinion that, in the main part, it is a great forward step in the march of educational advancement. The Board also desires to express its most sincere thanks to yourself and the officers of your Department for the unvarying courtesy and consideration ever extended. I have, (fee, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. W. 11. Kettle, Chairman.

WESTLAND. Sir, — Education Office, Hokitika, 6th February, 1911. I have the honour to present the report of the Westland Education Board for the year ending 31st December, 1910. The Board.—The following members constituted the Board at the beginning of the year: North Ward —Messrs. T. W. Duff, T. T. Jones, and R. Rouse; Middle Ward —Messrs. T. W. Beare, J. J. Clarke, and G. A. Perry; South Ward—Messrs. A. Cumming, J. Grimmond, and H. L. Michel. In August Messrs. Duff, Clarke, and Grimmond retired and were re-elected. Mr. Perry was re-elected as Chairman and Mr. Clarke was reappointed as Treasurer. During the year Mr. Michel acted as representative of the Board on the Hokitika High School Board of Governors, and Mr. Grimmond as School Commissioner appointed by the Board. Twelve meetings have been held during the year. Schools.—During the year thirty-five schools have been in operation, including the Rotokino Household School, opened in November. In addition, five private schools were under the Board's inspection. Of the public schools ten at the end of the year were in Grade 0 (1-8), eleven in Grade I (9-15), six in Grade II (16-25), five in Grade IV (36-80), one (including a side school) in Grade V (81-120), and one in Grade VIII (301-350). For the ensuing year eight schools —viz., one in Grade 0, three in Grade I, three in Grade 11, and one in Grade IV—will be promoted to the next grade, while one will be reduced from the second to the first grade. The only alteration in the teaching staff as a result of these changes will be the appointment of one pupil-teacher. The number of pupils that have during the whole or part of the year attended the secondary classes was fifty-four. The number at the time of the annual examination was forty-one, and at the close of the year thirty-nine. Seven of these were holders of Board Scholarships and three of Junior National Scholarships. The Inspector's annual reports on these classes are presented separately. Attendance. —The roll-number of the schools at the end of the year was 1,151, an increase of forty-six. The average attendance was 891 per cent, of the average roll-number. The regularity of attendance, of which this high percentage furnishes evidence, has been maintained ■with very little recourse to the compulsory clauses of the Education Act. Further evidence of

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