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give immediate intimation to its officers and school committees of the necessary reductions, so as to prevent the incurring of further liabilities at former rates until your Board has had time to make necessary adjustments. Eeferring to last paragraph of Departmental Circular No. 50, I must again press upon Board absolute necessity for positively refraining from incurring liabilities on school-buildings beyond what can be covered by moneys already in their possession or expressly authorized. Government will not be responsible for any other expenditure. .Reduction takes effect from Ist proximo. The Chairman, Education Board, Wm. Eollestost.

(Circular No. 58.) Education Department, Wellington, The Secretary to the Education Board, 2nd August, 1880. I have the honor, by direction of the Minister of Education, to request the Board to be good enough to furnish the Government with a report on the readjustment of expenditure in the several branches of the Board's service which it proposes to make with a view to the carrying out of the intentions of the General Assembly as made known to the Chairman by telegram from Mr. Rolleston, dated the 28th ultimo. I am to take this opportunity to explain that the reduction is at the rate of 10s. per annum for each average attendance from the Ist instant, until the General Assembly shall otherwise resolve. In other words, instead of £4 ss. per average attendance as formerly, Boards will now receive at the rate of £3 15s. for Board and School Funds. I am further to say that the General Assembly clearly intends that the reduction shall be applied proportionally and fairly to all the branches of the Board's service, including inspection and the training departments as well as Board salaries and expenses, and that it be made to operate as lightly as possible in respect of expenditure necessary for the efficient carrying on, by the Committees and the teachers, of the schools themselves. John Hislop.

(Circular No. 59.) Education Department, Wellington, Sib,— . . 22nd September, 1880. In accordance with what was understood to be the determination of Parliament when the vote for inspection was passed, and with a view to a reduction of the general cost of education, Mr. Eolleston directs me to say that he hopes your Board will concur in an arrangement by which the services of the Inspectors of Schools may be placed at the disposal of the department for purposes connected with the examination of teachers. The ordinary work of school inspection will of course be carried on as usual under the direction of the Boards. The only alteration will be that, in addition to the duties required of them by Orders in Council, (Eegulations for Examination, &c, of Teachers, 24th September, 1878, Gazette No. 92, dated 26th September, 1878, section 12; and Eegulations for the Examination of Teachers, 7th July, 1880, Gazette No. 70, dated 16th July, 1880, section 3,) the Inspectors will be expected to take such part in the conduct of the examinations for certificates as may be found necessary. Their special knowledge renders them better able to undertake the local arrangements than any other local agents could be, and it is felt that in the present state of the colony special payment for such work is not justifiable. I have, &c, The Chairman, Education Board, John Hislop.

(Circular No. 60.) Education Department, Wellington, The Secretary to the Education Board, 23rd September, 1880. I have the honor, by direction of the Minister of Education, to inform you that the General Assembly has voted a sum of £50,000 for public and Native school-buildings; that the Government have apportioned this amount after careful consideration of the relative circumstances and necessities of the several education districts as regards schoolhouses and teachers' residences; and that the sum proposed to be granted to your Board is £* * You will therefore be good enough to forward the usual certificates (up to the above-mentioned amount) from time to time as the money may be wanted for the payment of work done. I am further directed to impress upon Boards the necessity which exists for their refraining from anticipating the votes of the General Assembly for school-buildings, and from incurring any liabilities on account of buildings beyond those which can be covered by the moneys already authorized by the Government or available for the purpose out of the ordinary Board Fund. John Hislop.

(Circular No. 61.) Education Department, Wellington, The Secretary to the Education Board, ■ 28th September, 1880. Eefebbing to the Order in Council of 7th July last, Gazette, No. 70, page 1,027, requiring every candidate for examination for a certificate to present a certificate from an Inspector, I am directed to say that in cases in which an Inspector has already a sufficient knowledge of the candidate, it is not necessary to go through the form of an examination in reading, spelling, writing, and dictation. Forms which Inspectors can fill up as certificates will be forwarded to you in a few days. John Hislop.

(Circular No. 65.) Education Department, Wellington, The Secretary to the Education Board, 13th December, 1880. I hate the honor, by direction of the Minister of Education, to forward three forms of returns relating to school-buildings, and to request that your Board will cause them to be filled up and sent to this office as soon as convenient after the close of the year.

* Auckland, £14,000; Taranaki, £750; Wanganui, £2,000; Wellington, £2,500; Hawke's Bay, £1,000; Marlborough, £750; Nelson, £1,200; North Canterbury, £6,000; South Canterbury, £2,000; Westland, £4,500 j Otago, £6,000; Southland, £2,000; Natiye Schools, £7,3oo—Total £50,000,