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School Committees. —The Board thanks Committees very heartily for their friendly co-operation, and for their praiseworthy honorary activities, which too seldom receive public recognition. The receipt of 109 applications for subsidy, or a total of £2,085 15s. 6d., in addition to many gifts of service and material, gives some indication of their efforts. •Junior High School.- -The Board awaits approval of its proposals for the establishment of a junior high school at Coutts Street to serve the eastern area. The growth of population here is so rapid that a new primary school must be established unless the rapidly growing schools of this district are relieved of their upper standards. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. T. Forsyth, Chairman.

NELSON. Sir, — In accordance with the requirements of the Education Act, 1914, I have the honour to present the following report of the activities of the Education Board of the District of Nelson for the year ended 31st December, 1924 : — Board. —The personnel of the Board at the end of the year was as follows : Nelson Urban Area — Messrs. F. W. 0. Smith (Chairman) and E. E. Boyes ; North Ward—Messrs. W. C. Baigent and S. B. Canavan; East .Ward — Messrs. H. J. Hill and E. J. Scantlebury; West Ward — The Hon. W. H. Mclntyre, M.L.C., and Mr. J. H. Harkness. The Board's representatives on other educational bodies were as follows : Nelson Technical School Board — Messrs. F. W. 0. Smith and E. J. Scantlebury ; Westport Technical High School Board—Mr. J. H. Harkness and Hon. W. H. Mclntyre ; Board of Governors, Nelson Colleges —Mr. F. W. 0. Smith ; Council of Victoria University College— Mr. F. W. 0. Smith. Two special meetings and nine ordinary meetings were held during the year. District High Schools.—There were 115 pupils on the roll of the secondary departments at Motueka, Reefton, and Takaka at the end of the year, an increase of fifteen. Towards the end of the year applications were received from Karamea and Granity for the establishment of district high schools in those centres, and in the case of Karamea provisional authority to establish the school has been obtained. Conveyance and Boarding-allowance.—Conveyance allowance was paid on account of 186 children attending thirty-three schools, and boarding-allowance to forty-two children in attendance at twenty schools. The total expenditure in respect of these allowances was £1,229 Bs., an increase of £191 lis. lid. over that for the previous year. Voluntary Contributions and Subsidies. —It is pleasing to again record the activities of the School Committees in raising moneys towards ground improvements, libraries, &c. Contributions were received from seventy Committees, and the subsidies paid by the Department totalled £830 14s. 9d. The supplementary grants paid from the Board's General Fund towards school libraries amounted to £21 9s. 6d. Health of Children. —To the School Medical Officer and his two assistants the Board desires to express appreciation of the excellent work carried out in all parts of the district. The dental clinics established at Nelson, Motueka, Murchison, and Westport continue to do splendid work, and are greatly appreciated, but the need is felt for extending the facilities to the more remote portions of the district. Physical Instruction.—Our efforts to secure the appointment of a permanent instructor have so far been unsuccessful. Two instructors come over from Wellington periodically, and during their short visits do excellent work, but it is hoped that in the near future an instructor will be allotted to the district. Manual Instruction. —Manual-training classes were conducted at Denniston, Millerton, Motueka, Nelson, Reefton, Takaka, Wakefield, and Westport. Classes in agriculture were conducted at 107 schools, and instruction given to 1,597 pupils. The agricultural instructor reports that much good work is being carried out. Handwork instruction was given in every school. The material supplied by the Department was of a better quality than that in the previous year, but in some lines the rate of supply is quite inadequate —particularly in regard to brushes and modelling-boards. Needlework and Dressmaking. —Special instructresses in needlework were employed at twenty-two schools which were in sole charge of male teachers. Technical Instruction. —The schools at Nelson and Westport continue to be controlled by Boards of Managers. The Board continues to conduct technical classes at Motueka and Takaka. Teachers' Classes.—Saturday instruction classes in elementary science, agriculture, drawing, and handwork were held at Motueka, Nelson, and Westport, and were attended by pupil-teachers, probationers, and uncertificated teachers. The efficiency of these classes is proved by the number of young teachers who obtained the D, and even C, certificates in the recent teachers' examinations, no less than eighteen of the Board's pupil-teachers and probationers having gained a full teacher's certificate. A winter school was held in Nelson from the 13th to the 22nd May, inclusive, at which classes in agriculture, hygiene, and first aid were conducted. Twenty-five teachers attended the agricultural classes, one student being recommended for exemption from examination in agriculture for Class D. Classes in hygiene and first aid were conducted during the evenings throughout the course. The teachers greatly appreciated the opportunity thus afforded of obtaining their practical certificates for science subjects. One of the country teachers who had previously been unable to complete his examination on account of inability to secure his practical certificate in agriculture obtained special mention at the examination held infAugust,

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