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In Otago additions have been completed at Pine Hill School, Dunedin. A new Consolidated school to serve the Clutha Valley is nearing completion. Mosgiel Primary School is being rebuilt and additional accommodation is being erected at Wakari. The new training college in Dunedin is now under way, and a new intermediate school is to be provided in South Dunedin. In Invercargill a new school is being erected for the children in the eastern portion of the city, and plans are being prepared for the erection of intermediate schools to give relief to overcrowding in the public schools. The Department has also made substantial progress with the improvement of the accommodation provided for the children attending the Native schools under its control New schools have been erected at Moehau and Punaruku. Additional class-rooms have been provided at Awarua, Huiarau, Maraeroa, Oromahoe, Paeroa, Rangitahi, Te Kaha, Te Whaiti, Tokomaru Bay, and Waimamaku. Work is nearing completion at Ahipai'a (additions), Hiruharama (new), Okauia (school and residence), Ruatoki (new), and is proceeding at Te Kao (additions) and Te Waotu (addition and residence). A new residence has been provided at Waimamaku, while special works have been completed as follows : Erection of model cottage at Horohoro ; manualtraining facilities at Paeroa and Rangitahi; dining-hall, also facilities for bathing and teaching of cookery at Te Hapua ; and a dental clinic at Tokaanu. Consideration is being given to the following works : Matihetihe (school and residence), Papamoa (school and residence), Te Kotukutuku (additions), Te Matai (school and residence); Te Teko (new school), Tikitiki (school and residence), Wharekahika (school arid residence), and a new school and residence on a new site at Whakarewarewa. Further substantial progress has been made with the building of the new science block at Auckland University College, while the biology and administration block at Victoria College and the second lecture theatre at Otago University are practically completed. Consideration is to be given to the erection of University Libraries at Canterbury College and at Otago University. During the year £12,240 was expended on the replacement of school buildings destroyed by fire, while £13,240 was recovered from the Government Fire Insurance Fund, part of which was on account of expenditure incurred in the previous year. These amounts are not included in the figures below. The following table shows the capital expenditure on new buildings, additions, teachers' residences, and sites for the financial years ended 31st March, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, and 1939 :— 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. 1938-39. £ £ £ £ £ Public schools .. .. 35,105 87,908 162,894 331,558 467,255 Secondary schools .. 14,679 23,516 24,092 58,924 56,819 Technical schools .. .. 12,851 59,350 77,836 97,740 82,568'. Training colleges 610 6,730 1,984 27,071 Native schools .. .. 5,419 8,399 12,172 34,180 39,632 University Colleges .. .. .. 3,022 39,086 58,710 Massey Agricultural College . . . . 525 Child-welfare institutions . . . . 221 .. 351 School for the Deaf .. .. .. .. 4,841 6,295 Schools for feeble-minded .. .. .. 2,473 312 840 Kindergartens .. .. .. .. •• 881 1,181 N.Z. Institute for Blind .. . . .. .. .. 1,000 Wellington Education Board office building . . . . . . . . . . • ■ 5,350 Gross total .. 68,054 180,004 289,744 569,857 746,721 Less credits-in-aid 10,894 48,547 7,848 8,325 *66,598 £57,160 £131,457 £281,896 £561,532 £680,123

* Includes £51,000 sale of Education Board's office building, Wellington.

5- NUMBER OF SCHOOLS. The following table gives the number of public primary schools in December, classified according to range of roll. The total average attendance for each grade and subgrade of school for the year ended 31st August, 1938, is also given.

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