___.—__.

A PPENDIX A .

increase the salaries of such teaohers as arc at present inadequately remunerated, or towards providing for better instruction in country schools. Attendance. The following wore the attendances for the year: —

The roll-number at the end of the year is 144 liigber than at the end of 1909, and the yearly average attendance (4,875) is [08 higher, and constitutes another record for the district. The average attendance expressed as a percentage of the mean average weekly roll-number for the four quarters is 88"2. This is slightly higher than last year and equal to the previous highest in 1905, and shows that the children attended more regularly than during the previous two years. It remains to be seen whal effeel the provisions of the Education Amendment Act, L9lO, requiring attendance every time a school is open will have upon the regularity of school attendance. The following table* shows the attendance at the schools of the district since the Board was established at the beginning of 1878:—

l!i 1 1.him;s. The system of carrying out all repairs and painting to the Board's buildings !>\ day-labour was continued during the pasi year, with results that gave the greatest satisfaction when the quality and thoroughness of the work are taken into consideration. The Board frequently receives letters Prom Committees speaking of the new system in terms of the highest praise. Often the cost is below former contract prices, and occasionally it may be greater, but on the average it may be taken as not exceeding the cost under the contract system. The following school buildings were thoroughly repaired and painted: Burkes Pass, Claremont, Esk Valley; Fairlie, Gapes's Valley. Hilton, Eakahu Itttsh. Kohika, Orari Bridge, Orari South, Otaio, Salis bury, Silverstream, Springbook, Timaru Main (residence and cottage), Waimataitai (residence). and Waituna Creek. During the past year the Board decided to build some additions and new schools by day-labour, and most of the work on the new schools ai Pareora, Washdyke, and Orari Gorge, and on the addition at Albury, were carried out by the Board's men. The results more than justify the experiment, and reflect credh on the foreman and his staff. Besides the buildings already mentioned, the following are the principal works undertaken during the year: An addition to the secondary department at Temuka, a new infant-room at Waimataitai, and the removal of the Redcliff School to Ikawai. Finance. —A statement of the Board's receipts and expenditure is sent herewith. I have. iVc. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. W. M. Hamilton, Chairman.

* Table condensed into five-yearly periods, from 1878 to 1808. : Strict average.

XX

Quarter. larch line leptember )eoember .. Schools. '■ Teachers. 81 L76 8'2 176 82 176 83 176 Roll. 5,436 5,470 5,576 5,684 M. 2,532 2,525 2,545 2,711 Average Attendance. * 2,263 2,230 2,239 2.453 Total. 4,795 4,755 4.784 5,164

Year. 1878 .. 1883 .. 1888 .. 1893 .. 1898 .. 1901 .. 1902 .. 1903 .. 1904- .. 1905 .. I ( .»O6 .. 1907 .. 1908 .. 1909 .. 1910 .. . Roll-numbers. early Average Attendance. * § 111 U i s * S = I Is s : III ° t "8 . I 4> "'-'- H "y- <-' irls - Tl,tal - - a . : I I SIS ; Id -I I §£.§ |«i * * - - -.- -1 .. 17 56 2,666 .. 941 813 1,764 ..39 95 3,644 1,797 1.521 3,920 3,907 1.535 1,417 2,952 75-0 .. 50 125 4,375 1,696 1,368 4,703 4,726 1,902 1,773 i 3,675 77-7 .. 60 143 4,096 1,755 684 5,167 5,169 2,120 1,996 ! 4,116f 79-6 .. 67 144 4,914 1.493 1,210 5,197 5,182 2,351 2,141 4,492 86-7 .. 71 145 4,925 1.833 1,684 5,074 5,128 2,334 2,104 4,438 86-6 .. 71 148 5,075 1,506 1,453 5,128 5,129 2,347 2.108 i 4,455 86-9 .. 71 144 4,899 1,468 1,372 4,995 5,054 2,244 2,036 I 4,280 84-7 .. 74 144 4,787 1,648 1,321 5,114 5,077 2,331 2,113 4,444 87-5 .. 74 147 4,888 1,524 1,266 5,146 5,104 2,360 2,141 4,501 88-2 .. 77 152 4,884 1,700 1,389 5,195 5,176 2,396 2,169 4,565 88-2 .. 76 153 4,894 1,625 1,234 5,285 5,244 2,389 2.117 4,506 87-8 .. 76 156 4,888 1,741 1,241 5,388 5,350 2,475 2,181 4,656 87-0 .. 80 175 4,960 1,758 1,178 5,540 5,462 2,522 2,245 4,767 87-3 ..83 176 5,068 1,886 1,270 5,684 5,525 2,578 2,296 4.874 88-2 i I I