E.-9.

34

3. Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31st December, 1883. Assets. £ s. d. : Liabilities. £ s. d. Balance in bank .. .. .. .. 212 90 j Loan on mortgage .. .. .. 4,000 0 0 Balance, petty cash in hand .. .. 18 9 Home commissioners, re Headmaster .. 212 16 0 Rents unoollected .. .. ..378 511 Salaries.. .. .. .. ... 62 10 0 Fees uncollected, as per teachers' returns .. 12.1 17 0 School buildings. Beserves vested in Board by " Waitaki High School Act, 1878." These amounts are correctly stated. —H. Livingston, Auditor.

OTAGO BOYS' AND GIELS' HIGH SCHOOLS. 1. GoVEENOBS' RePOKT. Sib,— Dunedin, 3rd May, 1884, In accordance with section 8 of " The Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools Act, 1.877," and in terms of Circular No. 83 of the 19th December last from the Secretary, Education Department, I have the honour to forward report of the Board of Governors of the Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools for the year ended the 31st December, 1883. The Board expected to have been able to commence the first quarter of 1884 for the Boys' School in the new building, but it regrets to have to report that, owing to the delay in obtaining possession of the site, through the new asylum at Seacliff not being sufficiently completed for the reception of patients from the old asylum buildings, the Board's contractor was greatly delayed in his building operations, and in consequence the new school cannot be made use of till the first quarter of 1885. In addition to the inconvenience arising from this delay the Board has suffered a very considerable pecuniary loss through having to compensate the contractor for loss of time and increase in value of building materials. During the year the Board submitted for sale about seven thousand acres of agricultural land and 550 quarter-acre sections at Strath-Taieri. Of these, 4,081 acres and 37 town sections were sold, averaging £3 18s. 4d. per acre and £7 Bs. per section respectively. The terms were 10 per cent, at sale, 15 per cent, within three months, and the balance extending over seven years with interest at 6 per cent, per annum. The Board also sold 3,383 acres at Mokoreta, being some of the agricultural sections passed at the sale in January, 1882. The price obtained averaged £2 3s. lid. per acre. In order to assist pupils wishing to participate in the benefits of secondary education, the Board decided to offer free education at the high schools to all boys and girls who, in the examination for the Otago Education Board's Senior Scholarships, make 50 per cent, of the attainable marks. The Board is glad to report that both schools, as regards attendance and efficiency, are in a satisfactory condition. The Board acknowledges its indebtedness to the Agent-General for valuable services in connection with the selection of the mathematical teacher for the Girls' High School, and the gymnastic master who has just been appointed. The Board has pleasure in reporting that George Gray Russell, Esq., of Dunedin, has placed at its disposal the sum of £1,000 for the purpose of founding two scholarships for the Boys' High School, tenable for three years at the University of Otago. Annexed hereto are reports from the Hector and the Lady Principal, showing the work done during the year in the schools; also examiners' reports, and statement of receipts and expenditure of the Board for the year ending 31st December, 1883, duly audited. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. D. M. Stuabt, Chairman.

2. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1883. Income. £ s. d. . Expenditure. Balance in hand on Ist January, 1883 .. 13 7 9 Salaries— £ s. d. Boys' School fees .. .. .. 1,881 7 6 Boys' High School .. .. .. 4,861 i 9 Girls' School fees .. .. .. 1,369 6 0 Girls' High School .. .. .. 1,579 13 7 Rectory boarding fees .. .. .. 1,684 15 0 Janitor, &c, High School .. .. 145 0 0 Rents from reserves .. .. .. 2,481 9 4 Secretary .. .. .. .. 137 10 0 Proceeds of land sales (including the sum Incidentals .. .. ~ .. 171 3 6 of £2,420 Bs. Bd., being interest on pur- ! Legal expenses .. .. .. 13 16 6 chases of lands sold on deferred pay- | Printing and advertising .. .. 98 2 3 ment) .. .. .. .. 14,507 15 7 j Insurance premiums .. .. .. 59 12 0 Miscellaneous receipts .. .. .. 36 9 5 j Appointment of teachers .. ~ 185 15 8 Balance (overdraft), Colonial j Prizes, certificates, medals, &c. .. .. 62 17 10 Bank .. .. .. £352 19 3 Examiners' fees .. .. .. 84 0 0 Less credit balance, Bank of Office expenses and potty cash .. .. 14 1 2 New Zealand .. 3 8 8 Interest on overdraft .. .. .. 19 17 5 349 10 7 Interest on land bills discounted .. 1,000 0 6 Expenses land sales, auctioneer's commission, advertising, &c. .. .. 395 11 1 Advertising perpetual leases .. .. 70 6 6 Survey expenses .. .. .. 286 0. 7 New High School buildings .. .. 11,150 5 0 Old school buildings (repairs) .. .. 33 15 8 Rectory building, ground rent, &c. .. 869 0 9 I Rectory supplies, wages, &c. .. .. 1,136 6 5 £22,324 1 2 £22,324 1 2 I have compared this abstract with the Treasurer's books and vouchers, and certify it to be correct. —H. Livingston, Auditor.