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Finance.—The Board learnt with regret that the capitation grant of 10s., hitherto received for Committees, had been disallowed by the Assembly. It consequently at once took steps to revise the whole of the salaries and allowances, and issued circulars to the teachers and Committees upon the subject. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee, who, after very careful consideration, brought up a report, and finally a supplementary report, of their proceedings, which the Board ultimately adopted. Copies of these documents, together with the new scale of salaries, and also payments to Committees, the Board has already had the honor of forwarding to you. Several of the teachers and Committees petitioned the Board respecting the reduction in salaries and allowances, but the Board explained that, the initiative having been taken by the Assembly, it only remained for it to readjust the payments in the fairest and most equitable manner. This, it believes, it has succeeded in doing, and a comparison of this Board's scale with those of some other Boards shows that it has founded its calculations upon a sound basis. The Board cannot dismiss this subject without expressing its regret that the reductions were necessary. The Government grant of £2,000 apportioned to this Board for buildings has proved totally inadequate to its requirements. The Board has already referred to this matter, and it trusts that during the ensuing year proper provision will be made for the necessities of the district. The general statement of receipts and expenditure shows that on the 31st December the Board had a credit balance of £681 ss. 4d. in the bank, and a further asset of £500 due from the Government grant for buildings, at that time undrawn, making a total available asset of £1,181 ss. 4d. The liabilities amounted to £896 14s. 6d., of which £162 6s. Bd. was for School Fund due to Committees for the quarter ending December, £702 14s. balance due on building contracts undertaken, and £31135. lOd. sundry small accounts, leaving a credit balance to the Board of £284 10s. lOd. It has not been without the most scrupulous care and economy that the Board has been enabled to bring its finances into this satisfactory condition. The accompanying tables, compiled according to directions, will give the returns required by Government. For any further information respecting the state of education in the district the Board respectfully begs to refer you to the Inspector's report. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. W. H. Watt, Chairman.

Geneeal Statement of Receipts and Expendituee for the Year ending 31st December, 1880. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d To Balance, Ist January 1880 — Special By Overdraft, Ist January, 1880 ... 816 0 2 Buildings Grant ... ... 355 18 8 Office and Board— Grants from Government— Office staff, salaries ... ... 291 13 4 Statutory capitation (£3 155.) ... 11,463 7 2 Departmental contingencies ... 428 7 9 Grants to Committees (10s.) ... 892 5 0 School Inspection— Scholarships (Is. 6d.) ... ... 124 4 4 Salaries ... ... ... 387 10 0 Inspection subsidy ... ... 300 0 0 Travelling expenses ... ... 50 0 0 Specially for buildings ... ... 5,500 0 0 Examination of pupil-teachers ... 32 2 3 Payments by School Commissioners from Teachers'salaries and allowances ... 10,161 110 education reserves ... ... 235 12 0 School Committees, for educational purSubscriptions and donations for ordinary poses... ... ... ... 960 14 10 purposes ... ... ... 500 Scholarships— Fees for District High Schools... ... 140 6 6 Paid to holders ... ... ... 106 13 4 From Public Libraries Vote ... ... 207 16 9 Expenses of examination ... ... 17 11 0 Transferred from Bees Bequest Fund, Insurance of school-buildings ... 59 7 0 not invested ... ... ... 013 4 School-Buildings— Interest on investments in the Bees Be- New buildings ... ... ... 2,580 3 5 quest Account ... ... ... 178 8 0 Enlargement,improvement,and repairs 2,115 19 5 School furniture and appliances ... 12 5 6 Balance due on new offices... ... 195 1 5 Plans, supervision, &c. ... ... 287 18 10 Library Committees, out of Public Libraries Vote ... ... ... 207 16 9 Plus balance due from last year 3 8 7 Truant Inspector ... ... ... 8 11 0 Balance in bank ... ... ... 681 5 4 £19,403 11 9 £19,403 11 9 W. H. Watt, Chairman. A. A. Beowne, Secretary. Attdttoe's Ceetieicate. —xludited and found correct.—W. B. Yaldwyn, Provincial District Auditor. Assets and Liabilities, 31st December, 1880. Assets. £ s. d. Liabilities. £ s. d. To Bank balance ... ... ... 681 5 4 By School Fund for quarter ending 31st Government grant for buildings undrawn 500 0 0 December, 1880 ... ... 162 6 8 Sundry accounts for printing, advertising, and cost of deeds... ... 31 13 10 Balance due on building contracts ... 702 14 0 Excess of assets over liabilities ... 284 10 10 £1,181 5 4 £1,181 5 4 W. H. Watt, Chairman. A. A. Beowne, Secretary. Examined 22nd Eebruary, 1881.— W. B. Yaldwyn, Provincial District Auditor.