Appendix A.]

E.—2.

of buildings, hitherto School Committees being relied upon for the most part to bring under notice all such matters requiring- attention. A comparatively large sum has been expended on repairs and maintenance, but the Board has the satisfaction of knowing that the buildings are now being placed in a thorough state of repair, and at the same time more adequate provision is being made for future rebuilding. Manual and Technical Instruction. —The reports of the Directors of the Technical Schools at Nelson and Westport indicate the progress made at these institutions! The usefulness of the Nelson School was increased by providing for day and evening classes in engineering. With the limited accommodation available good work was done in this branch of instruction. The Board was also grateful for the Department's action in providing a grant for the extension of the workshops, which work has now been carried out. In the matter of accommodation for the Nelson Technical School, the whole of the school-site is now covered with buildings, and additional accommodation for the classes will become a serious matter. In this connection it is to be regretted that the Board has so far been unable to secure the use of a portion of the Provincial Grounds adjacent to the school, on which the buildings could be extended. At Westport excellent work is being accomplished in (lie Engineering School despite adverse conditions due to the war. At this centre, too, the question of increased school accommodation has to be faced should the institution have to continue to be carried on under present auspices. It is confidently hoped, however, that a Technical High School proper may be established at Westport in the near future. Technical classes are also conducted at Reeftou. It is proposed to place the Nelson School under a Board of Managers, provided local bodies and others will contribute to the support of the school. Manual training is capably provided for at the principal centres, and the itinerant instructor supervises the classes in agriculture and dairy-work. A large number of schools also took up instruction in swimming, physiology, &c. The expenses necessarily incurred in carrying on the manual-training classes have steadily increased, and the Board desires to represent the urgent need of providing increased capitation to cover the cost of running the classes. In this matter the Board has been fortunate in securing the co-operation of the other Boards. Finance. —The credit balance on all accounts at the end of the year was £2,101 14s. Bd., of which a sum of £550 was on fixed deposit. The improved position hoped for in the General Account has, unfortunately, not been secured. The decreased capitation due to the fall in the average attendance for 1916 is partly responsible. The Rebuilding Account has a credit balance of £6,755 18s. 3d. The heavy debit balance on the Relieving Teachers' Account has been reduced slightly, and the Board is grateful for the Department's recognition of the fact that an increased capitation grant is required in order to place the account in a better position. I have, &c, Geo. H. Gotiiard, Chairman The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.

CANTERBURY. Sir,— Christchurch, 31st March, 1918. I have the honour to present the following report of the proceedings of the Education Board of the District of Canterbury for the year ended 31st December, 1917 : — The Board. —As the Education Act of 1914 provides for an election of members and Chairman every second year only, no election was held during 1917, and there is consequently no change in the membership, which is as follows: Christchurch Urban Area —Messrs. C. H. Opie (Chairman of the Board), E. 11. Andrews, J. Jamieson, A. Pcverill; Timaru Urban Area —Messrs. C. S. Howard, J. Maze; North-west Ward —Messrs. H. J. Bignell, J. Grimmond; Middle Ward —Messrs. W. A. Banks, T. W. Adams; South Ward—Messrs. G. W. Armitage, W. M. Hamilton. The following standing committees were elected at the annual meeting of the Board in August, the Chairman of the Board being ex officio member of each committee: Agriculture —Messrs. T. W. Adams, W. A. Banks (Chairman), 11. J. Bignell, J. Grimmond, W. M. Hamilton, C. S. Howard, J. Maze; Appointments—Messrs. T. W. Adams, E. H. Andrews (Chairman), H. J. Bignell, W. M. Hamilton, C. S. Howard; Buildings—Messrs. G. W. Armitage, W. A. Banks, J. Grimmond, J. Jamieson (Chairman), J. Maze, A. Peverill; Finance —Messrs. E. H. Andrews, G. W. Armitage (Chairman), W. A. Banks, H. J. Bignell, J. Grimmond, A. Pcverill. Constitution, of District. —It is felt that under the existing provision for the division of the Canterbury Education District the representation of the various wards is not satisfactory. After careful consideration the Board has recommended the Government to amend the Act so as to give eight representatives to the rural area, in accordance with the report adopted by the General Council of Education at its sitting in September, 1916. Under such provision both the West Coast and North Canterbury would receive equitable representation. The Board is informed that the Minister has caused the necessary amendments to be prepared for consideration by Parliament at the first opportunity. Board's Representatives. —At the end of the year 1917 the Board's representatives on the several High School Boards and Boards of Managers of Technical Classes were as follows : High School Boards —Akaroa, Messrs. W. K. Virtue, R. Latter; Ashburton, Messrs. J. Tucker, W. B. Denshire; Greymouth, Mr. W. R. Kettle; Hokitika, Mr. H. Michel; Rangiora, Messrs. H. Boyd, W. A. Banks; Timaru, Mr. C. S. Howard; Waimate, Messrs. W. Lindsay, W. M. Hamilton. Boards of Managers of Technical Classes—Christchurch, Messrs. C. H. Opie, M. Dalziel, S. C. Owen; Banks Peninsula (Akaroa), Mr. J. D. Bruce; Ashburton, Messrs. J. Tucker, G. W. Andrews; Kaiapoi, Messrs. J. H. Blackwell, T. Douds; Timaru, Messrs. G. J. Seal}', J. G. Gow; Temuka, Messrs. D. Mclnnes, G. Thompson; Waimate, Messrs. T. W. Manchester, E. Hassall; Fairlie, Mr. T. Foden; Pleasant Point, Mr. J. Maze.

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