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visiting teachers. Uncertificated teachers in the country are also instructed and guided in their studies by means of correspondence. Separate classes for teachers are held at the Thames. Disteict High Schools.—The district high school at Cambridge was closed for six months during the year. The school at Hamilton was continued without interruption. The number of pupils in the higher subjects was—at Hamilton, fourteen, and at Cambridge, twelve. A grant of £250 was voted by the Commissioners of reserves for secondary education in aid of the cost of maintenance. The number of pupils has fallen very far short of the promises made by the residents previous to the establishment of these schools. Scholabships.—Forty scholarships were held during the year. Of this number eighteen were held by girls. The reports on the conduct and progress of the holders have been very satisfactory. At the annual examination held in August twelve scholarships were awarded, and certificates of proficiency were gained by twenty-nine candidates. The examination is very much the same as that prescribed for the Sixth Standard; but candidates are required to gain at least half marks in each subject in order to qualify for a scholarship or certificate. The Board has recently adopted a new scheme, under which it is proposed : (1) To offer junior scholarships, tenable for three years, to be competed for by pupils of primary schools of the age of thirteen and a half years and under ; (2) to offer senior scholarships of a higher value, tenable for two years, and open to all comers of the age of sixteen and a half years and under. The examination for junior scholarships will be limited to the subjects taught in the primary schools; that for senior scholarships will be selected from the subjects prescribed for the entrance examination of the University. It is also proposed that the number of senior scholarships shall not exceed one-half the number of junior scholarships to be offered for competition in the same year. These proposals have yet to be submitted for the Minister's approval and validation. School Committees.—The Board gratefully acknowledges the assistance and co-operation afforded by School Committees during the past year. It has been the constant endeavour of the Board to allow the fullest freedom to Committees in the exercise, of their functions, and to give due consideration to their wishes and recommendations. The grants voted to Committees have for the most part been expended by them with care and discretion; and due forbearance has been exercised by them in refraining from making claims upon the Board at a time when the funds of the Board were low. The grants paid to Committees during the year were: (1) incidental expenses, £3,425 Bs. 9d.; and (2) for special objects, £1,676 4s. 5d.; making a total of £5,101 13s. 2d. The total income of Committees from all sources was £5,255 11s. 4d., and the total expenditure was £4,177 Is. 5d., leaving a balance of £1,078 9s. lid. unexpended at the end of the year. Eeference was made in last year's report to the frequent disputes arising at the elections of School Committees, owing to the imperfect definition of the term "householder" in the Act. It is satisfactory to report that very few disputes of the kind arose at the elections held in January last, and that in no single instance has the Board found it necessary to order a fresh election. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. Samuel Luke, Chairman.

Genebal Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditube for the Year ending 31st December, 1884. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance on 31st December, 1883*— By Balance of account on 31st December, Building Account.. .. .. 1,500 0 0 1883 .. .. .. .. 3,535 6 2 General Account .. .. .. 3,051 11 7 Office staff, salaries .. .. .. 1,255 0 0 Government grant for buildings .. 9,682 0 0 Clerical assistance .. .. .. 23 0 0 Subscriptions and donations for bilild- Departmental contingencies .. .. 748 10 0 ings .. .. .. .. 71 0 0 Inspectors' salaries .. .. .. 1,700 0 0 Price of buildings sold .. .. 7 5 0 Inspectors' travelling expenses .. 549 19 2 Government statutory capitation (£3 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 33 18 1 155.) .. .. .. .. 51,089 10 9 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inSpecial capitation (55.) .. .. 3,527 15 0 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. 49,217 13 0 Scholarship grant (Is. 6d.) .. .. 905 17 3 Incidental expenses of schools .. 3,425 8 9 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 500 0 0 Audit of School Committees' accounts 50 0 0 Grant for training of teachers .. 2,022 17 5 Training of teachers .. .. 2,307 3 1 Payments by School Commissioners— District high school —stationery .. 12 3 9 For primary education .. .. 1,504 3 3 Scholarships— For secondary education ~ .. 250 0 0 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 993 13 i Fees for district high schools.. .. 136 10 0 Examination expenses .. .. 56 13 10 Bents of buildings .. .. .. 56 0 2 School libraries .. .. .. 54 19 6 Deposit—Flavell .. .. .. 50 0 0 School-buildings— Balance of account on 31st December, New buildings .. .. .. 6,868 8 6 1884 —Buildings Account .. 4,492 0 5 Improvements of buildings.. .. 1,676 4 5 Furniture and appliances .. .. 1,535 0 6 Sites .. .. .. .. 192 6 5 Plans, supervision, and fees .. 444 19 5 Bank interest .. .. .. 151 0 6 , Credit balance of account on 31st December, 1884 — Playgrounds Account .. .. 1,500 0 0 Flavell's Deposit Account .. .. 50 0 0 General Account .. .. .. 3,065 2 5 £79,446 10 10 £79,446 10 10 Samuel Luke, Chairman. Vincent E. Rice, Secretary. I hereby certify that I have examined the books and vouchers of the Education Board of the District of Auckland for the year ended 31st December, 1884, and that I find them to be correct, and the expenditure according to law.—L. A. Dukrieu, Auditor. 25th February, 1885.

' On all the Board's accounts the year 1884 began with a credit balance of £1,016 ss. 5d., and closed with a credit balance of £123 2s. (See Appendix, Tables 1 and 2.)