E.—2,

34

Scholarships. —Again this year a remarkably large number of scholarships were awarded, no less than twenty-one Junior National Scholarships being gained in the district. It is particularly pleasing J;o record that thirteen of these were gained by pupils in primary or district high schools. Buildings. —A considerable amount of building-work was carried out during the year. The new two-story brick school at Auckland Point, Nelson, was completed. New schools were erected at Pakawau (Grade II), Rahu (Grade I), Wangapeka Track (Grade I). The Clifton Terrace School was remodelled and enlarged. The Motueka School (wooden portion) was remodelled and the cookeryroom converted into a class-room. Additions were made to the original Manual building providing for a cookery-room in addition to the existing woodwork-room and science laboratory. A combined class-room and science laboratory was erected at Granity. Two additional class-rooms were erected at Hampden Street, Nelson, and a portable building, which was used for an infants' room, was transported and erected at Hira to replace a worn-out school-building. An additional room was built at the Millerton residence. All this work was carried out by contract. Conveyance and Board. —Parents of children in the backblocks continue to take advantage of the allowances towards the cost of board and conveyance in order to attend schools. Conveyance allowance was paid during the year on behalf of 196 children in attendance at twenty-eight schools, and boarding-allowance to seventy-two children attending twenty-seven schools. There were in addition contracts arranged for the conveyance of forty-eight children to three schools. Voluntary Contributions and Subsidies. —School Committees have rendered excellent service during the year in raising funds to enable improvements to be carried out in the school-grounds, the establishment of school libraries, and other activities in connection with their schools. Many Committees are taking advantage of the Department's supplies of gramophones and records, and a large number of schools are now equipped with these machines. During the year fifty-three Committees claimed subsidies on cash contributions amounting to £561 Is. sd. The Board paid £28 7s. 9d. from its General Fund by way of supplementary grants towards school libraries. Health of Children. —The thanks of the Board are due to the School Medical Officer and his assistants for the good work done in the direction of improving and safeguarding the health of the children. Excellent work has been accomplished throughout the district by the Dental Officers. An up-to-date surgery has been installed and equipped in the Education Office buildings, Nelson, and clinics are also established in Murohison, Motueka, Westport, and Stoke. A clinic is now being erected at Reefton. Appreciation is expressed to the Committees who raised funds towards establishing suitable buildings and towards the necessary expenditure to enable the Dental Officers to efficiently carry out their work. Physical Instruction. —The Board regrets that no appointment of a physical instructor for this district has been made. The instruction is given by periodical visits from the Wellington District instructors and our own organizing teachers. Technical Instruction. —Most of the technical classes in the district are under the control of Boards of Managers, but the Board conducts technical classes in cookery, woodwork, and dressmaking at Motueka and Takaka. During the year a small class of instruction in woodwork was inaugurated at Murchison. Finance. —After taking cash assets and liabilities into account, the net credit balance at the end of the year was £5,816 9s. 4d. The actual bank balance on the 31st December was £3,583 7s. 6d., of which £2,000 was on fixed deposit. General. —During the year arrangements were made whereby the Board was enabled to move into new offices. The whole of the staffs of the Education Board, Inspectors, Child Welfare Branch, School Medical Branch, and Dental Clinic are now housed in the one building, under conditions which allow of more efficient work to be carried out with a greater degree of comfort. The building previously in use had been occupied for over seventy years. School Committees throughout the district rendered splendid service in improving the schools and grounds, and in general promoted the children's welfare in no small degree. To the teachers, Inspectors, the Secretary, the Architect, and their staffs, and the manual instructors, the thanks of the Board are due for the loyal and efficient manner in which they carried out their duties. I wish also on behalf of the Board to convey to the Minister, Director, and officers of the Department appreciation of the courteous attention extended during the year. I have, &c, F. W. 0. Smith, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.

CANTERBURY. Sir — I have the honour to present the report of the Board for the year ending 31st December, 1927. The Board. —During the year the respective wards were represented by the members named : Christchurch Urban Area —Messrs. E. H- Andrews, W. Johnson, C. S. Thompson, and W. H. Winsor ; Timaru Urban Area—Messrs. J. G. Gow and J. Maze ; Middle Ward —Messrs. W. A. Banks and W. P. Spencer ; South Ward —Messrs. G. W. Armitage and T. Hughes ; North-west Ward—Messrs. H. J. Bignell and R. Wild. At the August meeting Mr. C. S. Thompson was elected Chairman. During the year the Board held one special and twelve ordinary meetings.