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Wanganui District High School. The money is lent on the mortgage of freehold lands situate in the colony, and an ample margin is always required to meet any depreciation in value. Finance.—The.general statement of receipts and expenditure, together with the accompanying details, give a full account of the Board's operations during the year It will be recollected that the last statement showed that the Board had been enabled to transfer the sum of £434 16s. 3d. from the General to the Building Account, with a view of meeting some of the more urgent works. The Building Account now shows an overdraft of £2,790 13s. 6d. and liabilities amounting to £65 18s. Bd., making a total indebtedness in this account of £2,856 12s. 2d. The greater portion of this is, however, balanced by the Government grant (since allocated) of £2,736, leaving a liability of £120 12s. 2d. The General Account shows a credit balance of £1,532 45., with liabilities for one quarter's school fund amounting to £318 65., leaving a net balance of £1,243 18s. There is also shown in this account a balance of £800 13s. 4d. which belongs to the Capital Account of the Rees Bequest, and is now awaiting investment. The departmental expenses are heavier than usual, owing to two or three causes. First, the Truant Inspector's salary is charged against them, and, secondly, the charge for advertising is swelled by the cost of advertising for an Inspector and teachers, and also in advertising the boundaries of the school districts. The printing, too, is a heavy item in consequence of new rules having been published. In other respects every possible economy has been observed. The Board has paid over to the School Committees during the year the sum of £1,218 3s. 6d. for school fund, &c, as shown in returns. Considering the many nonpaying schools which it maintains, the Board believes that the accounts display a very satisfactory state of things. It has hitherto exercised every care in the administration of its affairs, and will continue to do so in the future. The Board cannot, however, conclude this report without bringing under your notice the fact that the grant for buildings, which has lately been allocated, is utterly inadequate for the requirements of the district, and it would urgently impress upon you the necessity of bringing under the notice of Government the need which exists for making further and speedy provision in this direction. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. W H. Watt, Chairman.

General Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1883. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balances on December 31st, 1882— By Balance of account on December 31st, Bees Bequest Account 013 4 1882—Buildings ... 1,908 11 3 General Account .. 1,442 8 4 Office staff, salaries . 382 15 10 Government grant for buildings .. 4,376 19 0 Departmental contingencies 503 10 10 Statutory capitation (£3155.).. 14,654 9 2 Inspector's salary 400 0 0 Special capitation (55.) 497 15 0 Inspector's travelling expenses 100 0 0 Scholarships grant (Is. 6d.) ~ 260 14 0 Examination of pupil-teachers 54 3 7 Scholarships (see assets last year) 61 13 9 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inJnspection subsidy 300 0 0 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) 18,530 17 5 Payments by School Commissioners for Incidental expenses of schools .. 1,218 3 6 Primary Education 386 5 7 Scholarships— Payments by School Commissioners for Paid to holders . 235 0 0 Secondary Education 89 16 2 Examination expenses .. 25 14 0 Fees for district high schools 79 0 0 School buildings— Bees Bequest, Capital Account* .. 800 0 0 New buildings .. 1,471 13 3 Bees Bequest, Interest Account 210 7 2 Improvements of buildings. 3,319 15 11 Furniture and appliances 7 9 9 Sites 35 17 6 Plans, supervision, and fees. 403 5 3 Painting and repairs of offices 20 19 7 Credit balance on 31st December, 1883 — Dr. Balance of Building Account, 31st Bees Bequest, Capital Account 800 13 4 December, 1883 . 2,790 13 6 On General Account 1,532 4 0 £25,950 15 0 £25,950 15 0 * Mortgage paid oil: awaiting investment. ™™ I — l ™ M '" „— m W H. Watt, Chairman. A. A. Browne, Secretary Examined and passed.—R. Macaeister, Provincial District Auditor

Statement of Assets and Liabilities on 31st December, 1883. A. Exclusive of Building Fund. Assets. £ s. d. Liabilities. £ s. d. Cash in bank on this account, 31st Decern- Balance on this account ber, 1883 . 1,532 4 0 Due to Committees' School Fund for DecemDue from Bees Bequest, Interest Account 30 0 0 ber, 1883 318 6 0 Balance ~ 1,243 18 0 £1,562 4 0 £1,562 4 0 B. Building Fund only £ b. d. £ s. d. Cash in bank, 31st December, 1883 Balance, 31st December, 1883 . 2,790 13 6 Due from Government . .. 2,736 0 0 Balance of amounts due or to fall due under Balance , 120 12 2 contracts . .. 23 0 0 Due on account of grants to Committees 13 0 0 Due on account of furniture 10 11 0 Due on account of sites .. 19 7 8 £2,856 12 2 • £2,856 12 2 A. A. Browne, Secretary