E.—2.

[Appendix A.

The office-work has been carried on under very difficult conditions, owing to the enlistment of of several, of the staff, other changes, and illness, but the good record of the past has been more than maintained, and it seems a pity that, instead of the district being extended and the scope of work widened, the reverse has been the result of the decision of the Council of Education, in. regard to the boundaries. The thanks e>f the Board are due to the Secretary, Mr. W. H. Swanger, who has fully met the groat demand upon his time and abilities, and his capable assistants. The work of the teachers has been generally good, and I only regret that the action of the Council of Education will result in my severing my connection with the Board, after twenty years' service as a^member. I &c, Fred Pirani, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education,jWellington.

WELLINGTON. Sir— Wellington, 31st March, 1916. In accordance with the requirements of the Education Act, 19.1.4, I beg to submit the following report of the Education Board of the District of Wellington for the year 1915. Board. —At the annual election Messrs. W. Allen (city), J. Kebbell (Hutt-Horowhenua), and Sir W. C. Buchanan, M.L.C. (Wairarapa), were re-elected. The Hon. Mr. Aitken, M.L.C., was elected chairman at the annual meeting in August. The following was the membership of the Board at the end of the year : Wellington City Ward- —The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C, Messrs. W. Allen and. C. M. Luke ; Hutt-Horowhenua Ward—Messrs. H. Freeman, W. H. Field, M.P., and J. Kebbell; Wairarapa Ward—Sir Walter Buchanan, M.L.C, Messrs A. W. Heigg, and T. Moss. The Board's representative Managers of Technical Schools wore : Wellington-—The Hem. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C, Messrs. Allan, Field, M.P., C. M. Luke, and G. L. Stewart. Petone—Messrs. J. W. McEwan and D. McKenzic. Masterton—Mr. A. W. Hogg. The membership of the Committee of Advice of the Training College, which, remained unchanged, was : Wellington—The Hon. Mr. Aitken, M.L.C. (Chairman), Senior Inspector Fleming ; Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, and Wanganui—The Hon. G. Carson, M.L.C. ; Nelson, Marlborough, Grey, and Westland—Mr. W. Lock ; Professorial Board, Victoria College —Professor Brown. ;., oj Schools. —At the end of 1914 there were 167 schools in operation. During 1915 new schools were opened at Waihoki Valley, Poroporo, Ruawhata, Eastern Hutt, Berhampore, and Mangapakeha. Schools were closed at Mikimiki Valley, Waimanu, Wangaeh.u, Pori, Kaiwaka, and Aohanga. Thus at the end of the year there were 167 schools in operation. Attendance. -The average roll and attendance for the respective quarters and the year were : — Average Roll. Avorage Attenelance. March quarter .. .. .. .. .. 1.9,768 18,162 June quarter .. .. .. .. .. 19,922 18,350 September quarter .. .. .. .. 20,200 18,178 December quarter . . • ... .. .. .. 20,496 18,502 Year .. .. .. .. .. 20,097 18,298 The Board again reports a very satisfactory regularity of attendance. The average attendance' 91 per cent, of the average roll, and the numerical increase of 920 in roll and of 860 in attendance, are records for the district. The corresponding percentages for the years 1914, 1913, 1912, and 1911 were 90-9, 90-3, 90, and 90-1 per cent. It was, unfortunately, necessary to institute proceedings in a number of cases of culpable negligence. There is more than an impression, also, that in such work as the delivery of newspapers and milk in towns, and also on the farm in some dairying districts, too much in morning and evening labour is required of young children, with resulting unpunctuality and lack of mental alertness. Committees can do much, by sound personal influence, to discountenance unreasonable demands on young children. Teaching Staff. —The following are the numbers of teachers, pupil-teachers, and probationers who were in the Board's service at the end of the year :— Men. Women. Totals. Heads of schools .. .. .. 67 12 79 Sole teachers .. .. .. .. .. 22 65 k .. .< 87 Assistants .. 61 263Jf! ['-'.24 Total adults .. .. .. .. 150 340 490 Pupil-teachers .. .. .. .. .. 8 44 52 158 384 542 Probationers .. .. .. .. .. 5 36J1 41 Total, including pupil-teachers and probationers.. 163 420 583 Of the adult teachers, 140 men, 281 women, total 421, possessed certificates; sixty-nine were uncertificated, of whom six were holders of a license to teach. The percentage of fully certificated-teachers was 85-9, the same as in 1914. Of the uncertificated teachers many were partially qualified for the certificate, some being merely under age.

VI