E.—2.

[Appendix A.

took the responsibility of raising the funds required for the work and for the purchase of a site of half an acre adjoining the new school-site. A subsidy of £200 was granted by the Department. Two acres of land were purchased as an addition to the Gonville site, the residents contributing £100. Suitable sites were given free at Nukumaru, Omahine, Mount Richards Road, and Upper Retaruke. The cost of building-materials continues to advance, and but for the fact that we have been able to lay in good stocks of some lines at fairly reasonable rates it would have been necessary to curtail our maintenance works. Manual and Technical Instruction. —The Board desires again to express its appreciation of the generous assistance given by local bodies and individuals throughout the district to technical education. The war has greatly interfered with the attendance of adult pupils at technical classes, but there was an increase in the numbers who attended manual-training classes during the year. The residents of Feilding have for some time been steadily working for the establishment of a technical high school, and it is pleasing to know that the Council of Education has approved of the proposal and has recommended that such an institution bo established when a suitable site is provided. It is expected that the efforts to procure a site will be successful. General. —l wish to thank Senior Inspector Strong for assisting and advising the Board in matters in which expert advice was required, and for continuing to fill the position of editor of The Leaflet. This little publication must be of immense assistance to teachers, and the wonder is that other districts have not taken up the idea. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. Fred. Pirani, Chairman.

HAWKE'S BAY. Sir, — Education Office, Napier, 31st March, 1918. In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, the Education Board for the District of Eawke's Bay has the honour to submit the following report of its proceedings during the year 1917 : — Board. —In October last Mr. J. 11. Sheath, who had for eight years been a member of the Board, and who during the past three years had been Chairman, died. The Board desires to record its appreciation of the untiring and conscientious service rendered by the late Mr. Sheath, to whose upright and tactful supervision the smooth working of the Board's administration during the past few years was largely due. Mr. Sheath was succeeded on the Board by Mr. R. L, Paterson, so that the personnel of the Board at the end of the year was: Napier Urban Area— Messrs. J. Clark Thomson and R. L. Paterson; Gisborne Urban Area—Messrs. G. Wildish and J. H. Bull; North Ward—Captain J. R. Kirk and Mr. W. Oates; Middle Ward—Messrs. G. F. Roach and G. McKay; South Ward —Messrs. P. G. Grant and R. Soundy. Mr. J. H. Sheath was Chairman until his death, when Mr. G. F. Roach was elected to succeed him. Captain J. R. Kirk is still absent on leave with the Expeditionary Forces in France. The Rev. A. Grant, Messrs. W. G. Hunter and S. Ashcroft represented the Board on the Dannevirke High School Board of Governors; Messrs, G. F. Roach and R. L. Paterson on the Napier High School Board; Messrs. H. Bull and G. Wildish on the Gisborne High School Board; Messrs. R. L. Paterson, M. Chadwick, and A. L. Beattie on the Napier Technical College Board; and Messrs. G. McKay and W. J. Pellow on the Waipawa Technical Classes Association. Number of Schools. —The number of schools in operation at the end of 1916 was 157. During 1917 new schools were opened at Ihungia and Waitio, while schools were closed at Ellingham's, Eskmount, Eatuma South, Huanui, Lower Hangaroa, Ohuka, Poututu, Tamumu, Waimata, Waiwhenua, and Wharerata, leaving in operation at the end of <the year 148. Attendance. —The number on the roll at the end of the year was 13,176, an increase of 175 during the year. Kpidemies of diphtheria and influenza again seriously affected the attendance, which averaged 11,614, being 89 - 2 per cent, of the average roll. The average roll and attendance for the year were as follows: Average on roll, 13,021; average attendance, 11,614; percentage of attendance, 892. Teachers. —On the 31st December, 1917, there were in the Board's service 391 teachers, classed as follows :—

VI

Certificated. Licensed. Uncortificated. Total :Iead teachers . . Sole teachers Vssistant teachers M. 51 3 23 F. 11 23 122 M. 2 0 0 F. 0 1 4 M. 0 5 1 F. 46 37 M. 53 8 24 F. 12 70 163 Total adults.. Pupil-teacliers Probationers 85 6 1 245 31 23 Totals 92 299