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NELSON Nelson, 6th March, 1884. I have tho honour to lay before you a report of the proceedings of the Education Board of the District of Nelson for the year 1883. , . Meetings op the Board.—The Board has held twelve ordinary and two special meetings durin<*~the year, the average number of members present at each meeting being seven Members oe the BoW-After the election of throe new members m March, the Board was consSed as follows J W Barnicoat, Esq (Chairman), Messrs Shephard Tarrant, Clayden Wastney Campbell, Dencker, the Rev J C. Andrew, and the Rev J Beckenham. The death of Mr Campbell who had held a seat, first at the Central Board of Education, and subsequently at he Education Board, without intermission, for twenty-seven years, caused a vacancy which was filled up in Auo-ust by the election of the Bishop of Nelson. ~,..„ ™ t n P Number of Schools.-Eighty-two schools have been at work withm the year Three of these were closed during the December quarter, leaving seventy-nine actually at work at the end oi he year Attendance of Scholars.—The number of scholars on the roll at the close of 1883 was 4,500, the working average being 3,424. This return, which gives an increase of 408 to die roll-number, and of 202 to tho working average, as compared with last year, shows a larger rate of increase than has taken place for many years previously . Teaching Staff. -128 teachers of all grades were m the service of the Board at the end of 1883 Of these, 47 were male and 81 female teachers. They were subdivided into 1 8 head-teachers, "tiiS™ of this class of young teachers have proved so generally acceptable, both on the score of economy and of efficiency, that their number has doubled since last year, hroe-fourths of them being employed in country districts The difficulty of preparing Probationers systematically for the teachers' examination, which was the weak part of the scheme, has been met, to a certain extent, by a series of examinations conducted by the Inspector, who prepares half-yearly sets of examination papers, drawn up on the lines of the papers set to candidates for the E certificate. The probationers answer, under the supervision of their respective headteachers, the papers sent, which are then corrected by tho Inspector and returned to the probationers Several of the assistants also take part in these examinations It is hoped that the definite course of study exacted from all the students who enter their names for examination will, at the end of two years, enable most of them to approach the E examination of teachers with a reasonable expectation of success. This system has the additional merit of cheapness, the Board being put to no further expense than that of printing the examination papers Aided Schools —Twelve of these schools are now at work, although from time to time, when tho increased attendance of scholars appeared to warrant the change new school districts have been constituted in neighbourhoods which had begun with aided schools, which have always been regarded by the Board as tentative and provisional institutions. The forms now ofiered by the Board to aided schools aro more advantageous than they have hitherto been, the full capitation allowance of £4 £ given on account of each scholar in daily attendance. The quota contributed by the Board towards the erection of school buildings has also been increased from one-third to one-hall of the cost a maximum of expenditure being, however, fixed in every case. Household Schools.—lf the experience of the three household schools that have been at work during the year may be taken as a fair specimen of what may bo expected from this class of school, little can be said in their favour In one instance only did the scholars present themselves for examination at the appointed time and place, although ample notice, was given. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. J W Barnicoat, Chairman.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December 1883. " Receipts £ b. d. I Expenditure. £ s. d., T ° B SrS el "* 1882 - 32 16 2 * £ 18° ? . 1,«4 19 1 Inspector's salary and travelling exXTc^tf^uudS- 88 3, ° 90 ° IWSSS^--Jow»»l«W^ 200 0 0 Sionof steamer at Karamea 15 0 0 Compensation on account of lire at Teachers salaries and allowances (m-Eighty-eight Valley School 100 0 0 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) 11,076 6 1 From Telegraph Department 15 0 0 Incidental expensesGovernment statutory capitation (£3 g I,*» 7 0 Special capitation (55.) .. '™ 0 0 Training of teachers 3113 6 T| 183 5 0 .. "3 lS°O ' J Payments by School Commissioners for Now buildings ! > ! . primary education .. 883 6 4 Improvements of buddings. 49/ 310 E X ch P ange refunded . »J 0 Enrnituro and apphances 144 13 lofundfroTSmK Account .. I.OM *U 0 Loan to Building Account 200 0 0 Kefund from Building Account , Ecumd to Maintenance Account 1,000 0 0 Subsidy to schools library 10 0 0 Purchase of school material 720 13 11 Bank interest 3 6 10 Gicdit balance of accomit on 31st December, 1888 — Building Account 716 19 0 General Account 1,471 3 11 £20,533 15 6 J W Barnicoat, Chairman. Stead Ellis, Secretary The above accounts examined and found oorrect.-H. E. Curtis, Provincial District Auditor 3rd March, 1884.