E.—2.

i Appendix A.

XIV

Si-hools. —At the beginning of the year thirty-six public schools were in operation. A household school was open for a short period at Little Waitaha, that at Rotokino was closed, and schools were eipened at Lake Kanieri, Haast, Mananui, and Wataroa, making thirty-nine at the end of the year. The schools were graded as follows : Seven in Gradeo (1-8); eighteen in Grade I (9-20); six in Grade II (21-35); four in Grade lIIa (36-80); two, with a side school, in Grade lIIb (81-120) ; and one in Grade Vc (321-360). Attendance.-- -The roll number at the end of the year was 1,322, an increase of sixty-eight on that of the previous year. The average attendance was 89T per cent, of the average roll number. There were sixty-four pupils on the roll of the secondary classes of the Hokitika District High School at the end of the year, the average roll number for the year being eighty. These included three holders of Junior National Scholarships and twelve of Board Scholarships. Teachers. —The number of teachers under permanent engagement was sixty-three, including eight head teachers, thirty-one sole teachers, seventeen assistants, three pupil-teachers, and four probationers. The qualifications of these teachers were : Certificated—Seven head teachers, six sole teachers, eleven assistants; licensed —one head teacher, two sole teachers.; Matriculatiem or intermediate examinations —Five sole teachers, three assistants, three pupil teachers, four probationers; no special ejualification —three assistants, eighteen sole teachers. Manual and Technical- Instruction. —ln addition to the elementary handwork classes in the majority of the schools the following classes were recognized : School classes in-—Elementary agriculture, 4 ; home science, 2 ; physical science, 4 ; woodwork, 3 ; cookery, 2 ; swimming and life-saving, 3 ; teachers' class in elementary science and hygiene; special classes in commercial subjects, inoluding shorthand, typing, book-keeping, English, arithmetic, and algebra. The classes in commercial subjects, woodwork, and cookery were carried on by instructors whose services were obtained by arrangement with, the Grey Education Board. Physical Instruction.— During the year special instructors visited the district and cemductcel classes fen - teachers in the new system eif physical training, and this has now been introduced into most of the schools with satisfacteny results. Finance. -The balance-sheet shows that, with the exceptiem of the Building Fund, all accounts are in debit. However, when grants due for the year are received all will be in credit except the Technical Account. At the same time the Board desires to emphasize its representations made to the Department during the year to the effect that the grants received freim the Government will be inadequate for administration purposes. New Districts. —The present Westland District will be absorbed into the Canterbury District during the current year. The change may be beneficial from some points of view, but the district will be practically disfranchised as far as representation on the governing body is concerned. While the area is large, the school attendance is insufficient to provide the number required to constitute a separate ward. Even with the addition of the neighbouring Grey District, only about half the required number will be available, and unless special consideration is given by legislation the district will be; in a worse; position than under the old conditions. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellingtem. Geo. W. Perry, Chairman.

NORTH CANTERBURY. Sir, Christchurch, 3rd May, 1916. I have the honour to present the following report of the proceedings of the Educatiem Beiard of the. District of North Canterbury for the year ending 31st December, 1915. The Board. —The members who retired- —namely, Mr. W. A. Banks (North Ward), Mr. E. H. Andrews (Central Ward), and Mr. M. Dalziel (South Ward) —were all re-elected, the last two mentioned being unopposed. At the Board's annual meeting on 18th August Mr. C H. Opie was elected Chairman. The following Committees were also elected, the Chairman being ex officio member' of each Committee : Buildings—Mr. Andrews, Mr. Banks, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Collins, Mr. Jamieson ; Appointments —Mr. Adams, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Banks, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Rennie ; Norman School and Techincal —Mr. Adams, Mr. Collins, Mr. Dalziel, Mr. Jamieson, Mr. Rennie. During the year the Board held eighteen meetings, the; Buildings Committee met seventeen times, the Appointments Committee thirty-five times, and the Normal School and Technical Committee eighteen times. Boards oj Managers oj Technical Classes. —As under the provisions e)f subsection (2) of section 164 of the Education Act, 1914, the representatives elected the previous year have continued to hold office, the Board's representatives on the several Boards have remained the same, as feillows: Christchurch—Mr. CH. Opie, Mr. E. H. Andrews, Mr. S. C Owen; Banks' Peninsula (Akaroa)— Mr. J. D. Bruce; Ashburton—Mr. W. H. Collins, Mr. J. Tucker; Kaiapoi—Mr. J. H. Blackwell, Mr. T. Douds. High School Boards. —Mr. It. Latter was re-elected to represent the Board on the Akaroa High School Board, Mr. W. B. Denshire and Mr. J. Tucker on the Ashburton High School Board, and Mr. E. R. Good on the Rangiora High School Board. Buildings.—'Hie, total expenditure on buildings during 1915 was £15,266 19s. Iod., being £5,732 2s. lid. on maintenance, £1,776 I Is. 2d. on rebuilding, and £7,758 ss. 9d. em new buildings. During the year the sum of £928 Bs. Bd. was expended on sites. New schools have been erected at Aranui (Breeze's Road), Hororata, Lyndon, Lynton Downs, New Brighton (Infants), and Shirley ; and substantial additions have been made to the schools at Anama, Arthur's Pass, Glentunnel, Mayfield, New Brighton, and Tinwald; at Taitapu the teacher's residence has been practically rebuilt.