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Physical Instruction. —Full attention has been given, to this important branch of the work Special remedial classes have been conducted in many of the schools, with a most appreciable physical improvement to the children. Medical Inspection.—The work has proceeded steadily throughout the year. The School Medical Officer reports that there has been a general improvement in the standard of cleanliness amongst the school-children, and also in their dietary and general well-being, the result being a marked general improvement in the standard of health of the children in this district. The Board is pleased to record that on the whole the teaching staffs co-operate heartily with the medical staff and assist in every possible way in this important branch of school activities. The Board learns with regret of the impending departure of Dr. Clark, School Medical Officer. He is an enthusiast, and has done excellent work in the interests of the health of the children. His departure will be much regretted by the Board. Dental Treatment. —Dental clinics are now established at Napier, Hastings, Dannevirke, Waipuk au, Waipawa, and Gisborne, and are proving of great value to the community. Their value has been fully recognized by the parents in other parts of the district, and insistent demands are made for the establishment of additional clinics. The Board regards the expansion of dental treatment, particularly to the children in the country districts, as one of the most pressing matters requiring attention. It is understood that the bar to expansion at the present time is that insufficient nurses are available, and the Board would urge on the Minister the necessity of providing additional facilities for the training of more nurses. Admittedly, considerable additional expense is involved, but the demands for extension are so great that the Board feels confident that the parents would gladly approve of the extra expense if the Government decided to make a definite move to provide the means for a comprehensive extension of the system throughout the Dominion. Conveyance and Board of School-children.—At the end of the year the number of children in respect of whom allowance was paid (excluding those conveyed on the railways) was as follows : Conveyance allowance, 520 ; horseback allowance, 23 ; board allowance, 121 ; total, 664. The total expenditure on the above services in 1926 was £4,071 14s. 2d. compared with £3,228 14s. lid. in 1925. A number of fresh contracts for conveyance have been arranged during the year. The Board is pleased to note an increasing tendency on the part of parents to have their children conveyed to an established centre, where such is possible, rather than to have a small school established locally. Buildings, &c.—A comparatively large programme was undertaken during the year. Extensive remodelling, with the provision of additional accommodation, was carried out at Dannevirke South School. Additions to schools, involving minor remodelling, were made at Frasertown, Hastings Street (Napier), and Tolaga Bay. Additions were made to schools at Mangateretere, Napier South, and Pakipaki. An open-air classroom was erected as an addition to Parkvale School. The Porangahau and Tahoraiti Schools were improved in several respects. New schools were built at Kaiwaka, Kotemaori (railway settlement), Putere, and Terapatiki, and a movable residence at Raukawa. A new residence was erected at Whakaangiangi; the residence' at Tikokino was remodelled and brought up to date ; small additions were made to Ongaonga residence ; and the washhouse at Puketapu, which had been destroyed by fire, was rebuilt. Installation of hot-water service was effected in thirteen residences. An efficient water-supply was provided at Clive Grange ; septic tanks were installed at Te Arai and Tokomaru Bay ; shelter-sheds erected at Mangaheia and Mangatu ; additional outoffices provided at Hastings West; whilst out-offices at Waipukurau were rebuilt in brick. The Board's workshop has manufactured a large quantity of joinery and school furniture. In addition to ordinary manufacture of desks to meet increased enrolments, five hundred desks were made for replacement of long desks and forms. As well as carrying out most of the building programme mentioned above, the workshop staff also undertook the removal of portable school buildings to Waikoau (railway settlement) and at Hastings High School. In view of the provisions of the Town-planning Act, attention is being given to the matter of providing suitable school sites, which will be required when the existing towns increase in population and area. Subsidies on Voluntary Contributions.—During the year the sum of £2,023 18s. lOd. raised by School Committees was subsidized £1 for £1 by the Government for the purposes specified in the regulations. In this connection it may be noted that the general improvement in the school-grounds recorded in previous reports has been well maintained, this being almost entirely due to the School Committees, who, with the assistance of the teaching staffs, have raised large sums of money voluntarily in order to obtain the Government subsidy for the purpose of carrying out effective beautifying schemes. In addition, there has been displayed a greater appreciation of the need for wider reading by the pupils, with the result that Committees freely raise funds for the establishment of, or additions to, school libraries. Very few schools are now without well-stocked libraries of books specially suitable for pupils' reading. During the year also funds have been raised in many instances for the provision of gramophones and records, and for pianos. General.—The Board greatly appreciates the valuable co-operation of the School Committees, who have practically without exception taken the greatest interest in their schools, and who have cooperated with the Board and the teaching staffs in every possible way for the well being of the children. The most cordial relations which have existed between the Board and the Senior Inspector and his colleagues have assisted greatly the Board's work. The Board is indebted to the Inspectors for the zeal and enthusiasm with which they have carried out their duties, and for their co-operation and advice on all matters concerning the advancement of education in this district. The Board also desires to record its appreciation of the courteous consideration received from the Minister and the officers of the Department on all matters put forward by the Board during the year. I have, &c., J. Clark Thomson, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.