57

E.—l

School. A new school has been built at Waitara West, in the place of one formerly kept in a hired building. At Oakura a new school has been erected, and the old school added to the teacher's house. At the Egmont village, a new school has been built, and the old school enlarged and fitted for a teacher's house. Works Needed. —New schools are much needed at Omata, Midhirst, Stratford, Sentry Hill, and Opunake; teachers' houses at the West School (Town of New Plymouth), at Omata, Waitara West, Lower Egmont Road, Wortley Road, Huirangi, Sentry Hill, and Stratford. Double closets and screens have been furnished to all new schools. The fencing of school sites has been done, as far as funds permitted. Works in progress not completed are described in Return No. 1: the amount is £323 10s. Bd., which sum is provided for in the unexpended portion of grant. Teaching Staee. —The teaching staff consists of 20 male teachers, 15 female teachers, 6 assistant teachers, 6 pupil-teachers. School Committees.—There are at present 11 districts : 8 managed by Committees, and 3 managed by Commissioners appointed by the Education Board. Only three Committees elected to expend their share of the capitation allowance, the remainder preferring the Board to administer it. High School.' —The High School has been reported on separately. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister of Education. Benjamin Wells, Chairman.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1880. Receipts. £ c. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance, Ist January, 1880 — By Offices and Board — Maintenance Account ... . ... 641 1 10 Office staff, salaries ... ... 136 12 3 Special Buildings Grant ... ... 186 3 2 Clerical assistance ... ... ... 9 0 0 Grants from Government — Departmental contingencies ... 96 3 8 Statutory capitation (£3 155.) ... 3,569 11 6 School inspection, salaries ... ... 197 10 0 Grants to Committees (10s.) ... 292 13 4 Teachers' salaries and allowances ... 3,347 2 4 Inspection subsidy ... ... 100 0 0 Teachers' rent allowances ... ... 186 5 0 - Specially for buildings ... ... 3,800 0 0 School Committees — Payments by School Commissioners from For educational purposes ... ... 322 16 1 education reserves ... ... 314 12 3 Bents of buildings ... - ... 25 0 0 From Public Libraries Vote ... ... 81 15 6 School-Buildings— Bents of cottages ... ... ... 814 8 New buildings ... ... ... 2,770 1 0 Books sold ... ... ... 0 5 0 Enlargement, improvement, and repairs 654 15 9 Materials sold ... ... ... 2 4 0 School furniture and appliances, not inBooks and stationery —Refund ... 98 2 6 eluded in preceding ... ... 116 12 6 Plans, supervision, &c. ... ... 118 16 6 Library Committees, out of Public Libraries Vote ... ... ... 81 15 6 Store—School appliances ... ... 125 4 4 Balance Maintenance Account ... 790 12 5 Balance School-building Account ... 116 16 5 £9,095 3 9 £9,095 3 9 B. Wells, Chairman. Examined and passed. —C. Rennell, Auditor. Wm.- Northcroft, Secretary. Statement of Assets and Liabilities on 31st December, 1880. Assets. £ s. d. Liabilities. £ s. d. In hand Education Fund ... ... ... 790 12 5 Office staff ... ... ... ... 11 5 0 In hand school-buildings ... ... ... 116 16 5 Teachers'salaries ... ... ... 99 5 0 Store Account ... ... ... ... 27 110 No. 3 Committee... ... ... ... 3119 11 No. 11 Committee ... ... ... 21 711 No. 6 Committee... ... ... ... 016 11 Sundry unpaid accounts ... ... ... 25 40 School works under contract ... ... 271 0 8 School works sundry accounts ... ... 43 17 0 Balance ... ... ... ... 472 10 1 £955 18 7 £955 18 7

WANGANUI. Sic, — Wanganui, 22nd Eebruary, 1881. In pursuance of the provisions of the Education Act, I have the honor to present to you the report of the Education Board of the District of Wanganui for the year ending 31st December, 1880. The Board has met regularly once a month on the usual meeting-day, and has besides convened two extraordinary meetings for special business. It has also been very materially assisted in its duties by the Einance and Appointment Committees. Schools and Attendances. —At the close of last year there were under this Board 51 schools open, with an average attendance of 2,850 children. The December return for 1880 shows that there are 56 schools in existence, with an average attendance of 3,403, being an increase of 194 per cent., as compared with the same quarter last year. School Districts. —During the year new school districts have been formed at Campbelltown and Jackeytown, in the Manawatu County, and at Whakamara, Patea; and application has been made for the formation of a district at Woodville, Patea, to which the Board has assented. Buildings.—The new schools mentioned in last year's report as being in course of erection at Makino Road, Otaki, Ashurst, and the Wanganui District High School for Girls, have all been completed, and extensive additions and repairs have either been made or are in course of execu-