E.— 2.

42

Woodwork and Cookery. —Classes in these subjects were held during the year in Riverton for one term, Gore for two terms, and Invercargill for the whole year. In Riverton six classes drawn from thirteen schools were held in each subject, the number of pupils in attendance being 144 boys and 145 girls. In Gore ten classes in woodwork and a similar number in cookery were arranged, twenty-six schools being represented. The number of boys who received instruction was 232, and the number of girls 218. To the Invercargill centre came pupils from forty-seven schools for woodwork and from forty-nine schools for cookery, there being thirty-one classes in each subject, with a roll number of 716 boys and 713 girls. The total number of pupils receiving instruction throughout the district was, therefore, 1,092 boys and 1,076 girls, eighty-two public schools and six private schools being represented. Subsidies on Voluntary Contributions. —Applications for subsidy were received during the year to the number of 113, the contributions forwarded totalling £1,602 9s. lOd. The purposes for which such contributions were raised were as follows : Improvements to school gardens and grounds, £1,019 18s. Id. ; purchase of books for school libraries, £200 4s. 9d. ; purchase of pianos, £129 13s. 9d. ; school equipment and furnishings, £76 17s. 6d. ; fuel and water, £70 os. lOd. ; gramophones, £53 2s. 6d. ; pictures, £27 lis. sd. ; installation of hot-water services in residences, £25. From these figures it will be seen that about 63 per cent, of the contributions received were for improvements to school gardens and grounds, and the fact that the amount raised in this connection exceeds that for the previous year by about £335 is evidence of the growing interest being taken by School Committees in the betterment of school surroundings by the provision of shelter-belts, flower and shrub borders, concrete paths, and drilling-areas and improved playing-areas. School Libraries. —During the year forty-six applications were received for subsidy on contributions raised for the purchase of books for school libraries, the contributions totalling £200 4s. 9d. The grants from the Board in this connection amounted to £39 19s. Bd. It will be seen, therefore, that with the subsidies from the Department a sum of £440 9s. 2d. was available for adding to or establishing school libraries. This would indicate that the value of a good library as an adjunct to a school is becoming increasingly recognized. School Furniture. —The Board, anxious to make the conditions under which the pupils are housed as hygienic as possible, has replaced, as financial considerations permitted, the obsolete type of desks and forms with the modern dual desks. The sum of approximately £1,814 has been expended by the Board during the year on dual desks. Of this amount £1,014 has been provided out of the Maintenance Fund, £300 out of the Rebuilding Fund, and the balance, £500, by special grant from the Department. School Environment-. —The Board, while recognizing the excellent work done by many School Committees and teachers in improving their school buildings and surroundings, regrets to report that not a few Committees and teachers make practically no efforts to improve the interior of their schools or the grounds surrounding the buildings. Recognizing that the school environment plays a most important part in the right development of the child, the Board would urge Committees and teachers to co-operate with the parents and thus arouse a community interest in the school and its welfare. New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, 1925-26.—The Exhibition which was opened in Dunedin in November, 1925, and continued to May, 1926, was an unqualified success from every point of view. A large collection of school-work was forwarded to the Exhibition from this district and was very favourably commented upon by outsiders. The Board desires to thank most sincerely those publicspirited citizens—one of whom was Mr. A. W. Jones, a member of this Board—who were instrumental in providing ways and means whereby no child in Southland was denied the opportunity of visiting the Exhibition and reaping the educational benefits that undoubtedly accrued from the visit. Building Operations. —Several works of considerable magnitude have been undertaken during the year by the Board's staff. In addition to the ordinary maintenance of school buildings, erection of out-offices, &c., the following works have been undertaken : New school buildings at Ohai, Lora Gorge, and Port Graig, and. dental clinic at Gore ; completion of the South School; additions to schools at St. George, North Invercargill, Wyndham, and Limehills ; removal of teacher's residence at Pembroke to a new site ; reinstatement of school building at Limestone Plains, destroyed by fire ; while the new infant department for the Invercargill Middle School was nearing completion at the end of the year. Finance and Accounts. —For the year just closed the Board's operations have been quite satisfactory. The receipts from all sources for the year were £181,541 125., and the expenditure was £179,918 10s. Bd. Conclusion. —The Board wishes to return thanks to the Minister and the officers of his Department for the courtesy and attention given to the Board's requirements ; to the Inspectors for their valuable assistance ; and to the School Committees for the loyal co-operation in the promotion of the educational interests of this district. I have, &c., P. A. de la Perket.le, Chairman, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.