E.—l

90

£ s. d. Under Commissioner's original award ... ... ... ... 1,999 6 10 Arrears of School Committee's grants... ... ... ... 99 9 1 Arrears of teachers' salaries ... ... ... ... ... 32 2 4 Board's Secretary—Salary for one month ... ... ... 25 10 0 Board's Inspector of Schools—Salary for eight days ... ... 11 12 3 Half cost of railway fare, Wallsend School teacher ... ... 5 5 0 Commissioner's expenses ... ... ... ... ... • 43 3 0 Legal expenses ... ... ... ... ... ... 46 17 10 Unexpended ... ... ... ... ... ... 86 13 8 Total vote ... ... ... ... 2,350 0 0

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the thirteen months ending 31st December, 1884. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Government statutory capitation (£3 By Office staff, salaries .. .. S2S 19 0 155.) .. .. .. .. 9,303 13 10 Clerical assistance .. .. .. 314 0 Special capitation (55.) .. .. 628 9 7 Departmental contingencies .. .. 125 9 7 Scholarship grant (Is. 6d.) .. .. 112 10 0 Inspector's salary .. .. .. 430 0 0 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 325 0 0 Inspector's travelling expenses .. 140 0 0 Payments by School Commissioners— Teachers' salaries and allowances (inFor primary education .. .. 123 911 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. 8,766 6 3 Bent .. .. .. .. 26 16 0 Incidental expenses of schools .. 613 0 6 Scholarships: Paid to scholars .. 112 10 0 £10,51919^ £10,519 19 4 E. T. Robinson, Secretary.

OTAGO. Sm, — Dunedin, 31st March, 1885. In accordance with section 102 of " The Education Act, 1877," the Board of the Education District of Otago has the honour to present the following report on the state of the educational affairs of the district under its control for the year 1884. Boabd.—At the commencement of the year the Board was composed of the following members : Professor John Shand, Messrs. Alexander C. Begg, William Elder, Michael Fraer, Keith Eamsay, James Green, Henry Clark, John McKenzie, and Thomas Fergus. Professor Shand and Messrs. Begg and Elder retired in terms of section 15 of the Education Act. Seven candidates were nominated for the vacancies, and the voting resulted in the return of Professor Shand, the Eev. James McGregor, D.D., and Mr. Begg; Professor Shand and Mr. Begg being re-elected. Mr. Fergus resigned his position as a member in May; five candidates were nominated for the vacancy, and Mr. William Elder was elected to the vacant seat. At the first meeting of the Board in April, Professor Shand was re-elected Chairman. Fifteen meetings of the Board have been held, twelve meetings of the Finance Committee, and twelve meetings of the Appointments Committee. Numbee op Schools.—On the 31st of December, 1883, there were 159 schools in operation. In the course of the year new schools were opened at Tahora, Coal Creek Flat, Lowburn, Waiwera Township, and Leith Valley. The school at Ida Valley was reopened, and worked as a half-time school in conjunction with a school in the Poolburn District. A temporary school building was provided at Whare Kuri, which has also been worked as a half-time school with the Kurow school. A subsidized school was established at Rae's Junction. There were consequently 166 (or 169, if half-time schools are counted separately) schools in operation at the end of the year, being an increase of seven. New buildings were in course of erection at Maerewhenua, Purekereki, and Waitepeka Township, when the year closed. At the present time there are several applications for the establishment of schools under consideration, all from newly-settled districts. The greatest caution is exercised by the Board in establishing small schools, but, owing to the rapid settlement of the lands in the interior, the demands of the settlers for the means of education for their children are numerous. Teachers. —There were employed on the 31st December 472 teachers, being an increase of twenty-six teachers for the year—viz., ten male teachers, seven female teachers, and nine pupilteachers. The following table shows the classification of the teachers:—

Partially Classified. Total in Class. Al ... 1 131 ... 3 Cl ...14 Dl ...11 El ... 6 Licensed to) teach \ Unclassified A2 ... 0 B2 ... 3 C2 ... 5 D2 ...35 E2 ...43 A3 ... 0 B3 ... 4 C3 ... 4 D3 ...28 E3 ...53 A4 ... 0 B4 ... 0 C4 ... 1 D4 ...12 E4 ...22 A5 ... 0 B5 ... 0 C5 ... 0 D5 ... 0 E5 ... 1 1 3 8 29 2 13 24 94 159 13 13 318