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REPORTS OF EDUCATION BOARDS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1884.

[Note. —Minute details relating to school districts are in some cases omitted. Tables are not all reprinted, the substance of most of them being embodied in the tables in or attached to the report of the Minister.]

AUCKLAND. Auckland, March, 18S5. In accordance with section 102 of "The Education Act, 1877," the Board forwards this report of its proceedings during the year 1884. Board. —The Board held forty-nine meetings, with an average attendance of six members. The average duration of each meeting was two and a half hours; and the average number of subjects dealt with at each meeting was sixty. Mr. James William Carr was elected a member of the Board in January. At the annual election in March, 1884, Mr. Theophilus Cooper and Mr. Eichard Hobbs were re-elected, and Mr. William Pollock Moat, after an absence of twelve months, was elected a member in place of Mr. W. F. Buckland. Mr. Hobbs was re-elected Chairman. In September Professor Tucker was elected a member in place of Mr. D. H. McKenzie, resigned. Mr. Hobbs also resigned his office as Chairman and member. Mr. Samuel Luke was elected Chairman in his stead, and the vacant seat was filled by the election .of Professor Aldis. The members who retire in March, 1885, are Mr. Carr, Mr. Clark, and Mr. Moss. Mr. Moss retires, after having been connected with the Board for twelve years. Mr. Carr and Mr. Clark have been re-elected, and Mr. John Henry Upton has been elected as the third member. The last two elections have not been contested. The representatives of the Board on the Board of Governors of the Auckland College and Grammar School are Mr. J. M. Dargaville, Mr. J. M. Clark, and Mr. S. Luke; Mr. Clark and Mr. Moat represent the Board as Commissioners of Education Reserves. Public Schools. —The number of schools in operation during the whole or any part of the year was 230, or, reckoning two half-time schools as one school, 205. The number of school districts has increased from 175 to 183. The schools at Pakiri and Euapuke were closed during the year: the last-named school has since been reopened. New schools were opened at Richmond Road. (Ponsonby), Newmarket (branch school), Churchill, Tamahere, Tawhare, Te Kirikiri (aided), Kaitara, Maunu, Upper Otonga, Whareora, Maketu (East Coast), and Tryphena (Great Barrier Island). The schools of Waihou and Te Aroha West, Maungatapere and Kaitara, Maunu and Otaika, Wade and Wainui were respectively combined together as half-time schools ; and the halftime schools previously existing at Brookside and Kariaotahi, and Ararimu New and Old, were placed under separate teachers. The proportion of small country schools is 27'8 per cent, on the whole number in this district. This percentage represents the schools which have an average attendance under twenty-five, and for which the cost of maintenance and inspection largely exceeds the capitation grant earned by. average attendances. The Board is obliged to continue these small schools. The " half-time " system is adopted as far as possible, and the results are fairly satisfactory. Great caution is exercised in dealing with applications for the establishment of new schools. The issue of free railway tickets to school children will, in one or two instances, obviate the want of a separate school; but most cases arise far away from any railway communication, and where the distance to the nearest school is too great to be travelled on foot over roads which are unformed and at times almost impassable. Teachees. —The staff of teachers has increased from 529 to 593. A statement of their classification is subjoined: — Male. Female. Total. Head teachers ... ... ... 169 ... ' 77 ... 246 Assistant teachers ... ... ... 29 ... 75 ... 104 Pupil-teachers ... ... ... 14 ... 173 ... 187 Sewing-teachers ... ... ... 49 ... 49 Visiting teachers ... • ... ... 7 ... ... ... 7 219 374 593 Under the head " assistant teachers " are included forty-six probationers, or teachers in training. A register of teachers has been compiled, from which it appears that, of the 350 head teachers and assistants, 198 are certificated or licensed, fifty-three are " classified " for certificates, and ninety-nine are uncertificated. The Board gives a preference of employment to certificated teachers; and 10—E. 1.