EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

73

A.—No. a

being occupied as school sites and others leased or intended to be leased under the Regulations of 6th April, 1867. I will, on Monday next, hand in a return showing how each reserve is disposed of. (Saturday, 30th April.) —In continuation of my evidence given yesterday, I hand in a Report on Education Reserves, showing the manner in which each separate lot is disposed of, and the amount of revenue derived from those that are leased. The whole of these funds, after deduction of necessary expenses, are paid over to the Provincial Treasurer, and are subject to appropriation by the Provincial Council, for the support of the public schools generally throughout the Province; the balance required for the support of tho schools being supplied from the ordinary revenue of the Province. The income of the Education Board for the year 1869 was as follows : — School Books sold ... ... ... ... ... ... £68 4 7 Education Reserves Fund ... ... ... ... ... 990 0 1 High School fees ... ... ... ... ... ... 712 0 0 From Provincial Revenue ... ... ... ... ...12,544 8 10 « .. , , £14,314 13 6 The number of schools in operation in the Province in 1869 was 80 elementary and 1 high school; employing 84 masters, 19 mistresses, 7 teachers of sewing, 2 male pupil-teachers, and 14 female pupil-teachers. A drawing master and a music master are also employed for the schools generalty. The average attendance at the elementary schools during the year was 3,776 ; the number on the books having been 5,863. The attendance at the high school was 84.

EDUCATION RESERVES.—YEARLY ABSTRACT of ACCOUNTS from 13th November, 1867, till 31st March, 1870.

Regulations and Conditions of the Education Board for the Leasing of the Education Reserves, 6th April, 1867. 1. Every person desirous of obtaining a lease of any unleased reserve or reserves shall lodge with the Secretary of the Education Board an application in the form in Schedule A, or to the like effect; and every reserve so applied for shall be submitted to public competition, in manner hereinafter mentioned. 2. The Secretary shall from time to time, as he may be directed by the Board, publish a list of reserves intended to be let, with a notification of the time and place at which the leases of such reserves will be disposed of by public auction as hereinafter provided. Such notice shall be published at least fourteen clear days before the day of sale. 3. The Board shall from time to time, as it may see fit, cause the leases of such reserves as shall have been so advertised, to be disposed of by public auction, which shall be open to all competitors. Such auction shall be conducted by such person as may be appointed by the Board in that behalf. 4. Conditions of sale will be prepared as occasion shall require, fixing the upset price and providing for such other matters and things as may bo necessary. 5. In the case of land in pastoral districts which in the opinion of the Board is fitted for grazing purposes only, the conditions of lease Nos. 3, 5, 6, and 8, and so much of condition No. 4 as provides that the boundary fence at the expiration of the term shall be a " sufficient fence," shall not apply.

*This includes £6 18s. paid for engrossing Crown Grants ; the rest is for registration fees for Crown Grants.—J. H.

Disbursements. Yeaks. Receipts. Sundry Expenses. Paid to Provincial Treasurer. Total Expenditure. iast Quarter of 1865 ... 1866 ... 1867 ... 1868 ... 1869 ... 'irst Quarter of 1870 ... £ s. d. 97 12 0 367 4 0 239 7 0 466 14 9 1,195 2 11 269 17 11 £ s. d. 12 4 0 24 15 3 118 16 0 78 1 8 205 2 10 7 16 6 £ s. 85 8 342 8 120 11 388 13 990 0 262 1 d. 0 9 0 1 1 5 £ s. d. 97 12 0 367 4 0 239 7 0 466 14 9 1,195 2 11 269 17 11 Totals 2,635 18 7 446 16 3 2,189 2 4 2,635 18 7 Note. —The total of the " Sundry Expenses" is thus made up : — 1. Crown Grants Office, for Deeds* 2. Auctioneers'Commission and Expenses 3. Surveying of Boundary Lines, &c. 4. Advertising 5. Printing and Stationery 6. Claims for Boundary Fencing 7. Extirpation of Thistles at Otepopo ... £22', ... 61 ... 4c ... 4S ... 2f ... 2i c 0 0 8 3 14 0 5 6 2 0 16 6 10 0 Total of Sundries, as above John Hislop, 28th April, 1870. Secretary ... £44( y, Educ; 16 3 ition Board.