E.—2,

[Appendix A.

CANTERBURY. Slß,— Christchurch, 7th May, 1919. I have the honour to present the following report of the proceedings of the Education Board of the District of Canterbury for the year ending 31st December, 1918 :— The Board. —During the year Mr. T. W. Adams, who had been a member of the Education Board for twenty-five years, resigned through failing health, and Mr. W. M. Hamilton, who had been a member for fifteen years, withdrew from the Board on account of business engagements. In July an election was held to fill these vacancies, and also those caused by the biennial retirement of members in each ward and urban area in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act. The following were elected unopposed : Christchurch Urban Area —Messrs. Ernest Herbert Andrews and John Jamieson; Timaru Urban Area—Mr. John Maze; North-west Ward — the Hon. Joseph Grimmond. For the Middle Ward Mr. William A. Banks was re-elected, and Mr. William Pritchard Spencer and Mr. Thomas Hughes were elected to fill the respective vacancies caused by the resignations of Mr. Adams (Middle Ward) and Mr. Hamilton (South Ward). The membership of the Board is now as follows : Christchurch Urban Area—Messrs. E. H. Andrews, J. Jamieson, C. H. Opie, and A. Fever ill; Timaru Urban Area—Messrs. C. S. Howard and J. Maze; North-west Ward—Mr. J. H. Bignell and Hon. J. Grimmond; Middle Ward—Messrs. W. A. Banks and W. P. Spencer; South Ward—Messrs. G. W. Armitage and T. Hughes. At a special meeting of the Board held on the 4th September, 1918, Mr. W. A. Banks was elected Chairman of the Board. The following standing committees were also set up, the Chairman of the Board being ex officio member of each committee: Agriculture—Mr. Howard (chairman), Mr. Bignell, Hon. Mr. Grimmond, Messrs. Hughes, Maze, and Opie; Appointments—Mr. Andrews (chairman), Messrs. Bignell, Howard, Hughes, and Opie; Buildings—Mr. Jamieson (chairman), Mr. Armitage, Hon. Mr, Grimmond, Messrs. Maze, Peverill, and Spencer; Finance—Mr. Peverill (chairman), Messrs. Andrews, Armitage, Bignell, Hon. Mr. Grimmond, and Mr. Jamieson. Mr. Armitage subsequently resigned, Mr. Spencer being appointed in his place. Board's Representatives. —At the end of the year 1918 the Board's representatives on the several public bodies were as follows : —High School Boards : Akaroa —Messrs. W. K. Virtue and It. Latter; Ashburton —Messrs. J. Tucker and W. B. Denshire; Greymouth —Mr. W. R. Kettle; Hokitika—Mr. W. H. Michel; Rangiora—Messrs. H. Boyd and W. A. Banks; Timaru—Mr. C. S. Howard; Waimate—Messrs. W. Lindsay and G. J. A. Shackleton. Boards of Managers of Technical Classes: Christchurch —Messrs. C. H. Opie, M. Dalziel, and S. C. Owen; Banks Peninsula (Akaroa) —Mr. J. D. Bruce; Ashburton—Messrs. J. Tucker and G. W. Andrews; Kaiapoi — Messrs. J. H. Blackwell and T. Doud; Timaru—Messrs. G. J. Sealey and J. G. Gow; Temuka— Messrs. G. W. Armitage and G. Thompson; Waimate —Messrs. T. W. Manchester and E. Hassall; Fairlie—Mr. T. Foden; Pleasant Pomt —Mr. J. Maze. Buildings —During the year new schools were erected at Jack's Mill, Lagmhor, Parnassus, and Rewanui; arrangements were made for the building of new schools at Culverden and Teschemaker's; and additions were completed or authorized at Cameron's, Cashmere, Highbank, Fairton, Ouruhia, Sutherland's, and Waikuku. Part of the teacher's residence at Clarkville was rebuilt, and the erection of a teacher's residence at Fairton and the rebuilding of the Pleasant Valley School were authorized. The largest work undertaken was the rebuilding of the Ashburton School, towards the cost of which Mr. H. Friedlandcr generously donated £1,000. The building, which is of brick with slate roof, contains six large class-rooms with all modern improvements. The Board also commenced the rebuilding of Sydenham and St. Albans Schools. In the former case four rooms are being erected, forming the first portion of a two-storied brick building to replace the present old wooden school. At St. Albans three rooms have been erected as the first section of a modern one-storied brick school, which will be completed as funds permit. Application has been made to the Department for its share of the cost of rebuilding parts of the Opawa and Christchurch West Schools, and at date of writing this report a favourable reply has been received in the former case. The Board sent one of its members and its architect to the Chatham Islands to report on the condition of the schools there. As a result of this visit it was decided to make application to the Department for a grant for the erection of new schools at Owenga and Te Roto, and to have the most necessary repairs at the other schools and residences there carried out. A workshop was erected on the Board's section in Moorhouse Avenue, and machinery installed for the making of school furniture, and the providing of better facilities for the carrying-out of building and repair work. Repair staffs are now stationed in Christchurch, Timaru, and Greymouth, and most of the work is carried out by them. This arrangement has proved satisfactory, and the Board is now extending the operations of its building staff and erecting many of its new schools by its own workmen. In the case of over sixty schools a sum of £50 or over was expended either on repairs, renovations, or furniture, or on improvements to school-grounds. Owing to the present high cost of material, the Board, in the interests of economy, is holding over as much rebuilding and repair work as possible. This particularly applies to painting and renovations, and consequently considerable arrears of such work will have to be carried out when conditions become more normal. A school-site of 4 acres was purchased in Lyttelton Street, Spreydon. The North New Brighton leasehold site was converted into freehold by special legislation. The Department has now granted the Board permission to purchase a new and larger site for the Cobden School, and 2J acres are being secured from the Public Trustee. The old school-site at Akaroa was sold to the Akaroa War Memorial Association. Finance. —The close of the year 1918 witnessed a further improvement in the Board's financial position. After making provision to meet the debit balances on all special accounts except the Technical Account, the Board's General Fund, taking into consideration assets and liabilities, showed a credit balance of £5,366 2s. 3d. As the Technical Account is expected to recover itself,

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