E.—l

104

Liabilities.

T. King, Chairman. Examined and passed.—C. Bennell, Auditor. W. Nobthceoft, Secretary.

WELLINGTON. Sib, — . Wellington, 20th February, 1885. In reply to your Circular Memorandum, No. 84/17, dated 3rd January, 1885, in which you request the School Commissioners for the Wellington Provincial District to report, for the information of the Government and the General Assembly, as to their administration of '' The Education Beserves Act, 1877," for the year ended the 31st December, 1884, I have the honour to inform you that, at a meeting of the Commissioners held yesterday (19th February), I was directed to report as follows,- namely : — 1. The Commissioners having observed the efforts made to secure reserves for school sites in private townships, desire to thank the Government for acting on the suggestion of the Commissioners made in their report of the 31st January, 1884. 2. The Commissioners having been requested by the Wellington Waste Lands Board to sell certain of their reserves, desire to place on record their unwillingness to sell, believing this to be contrary to the intention for which the reserves are made. 3. The Commissioners in their endeavours to lease their reserves, met with at least two very grave difficulties—viz., (a) the want of roads giving easy access to the reserves, (b), the want of power to let on application. As regards the latter, (b), the Commissioners, after advertising for the period specified in- section 14 of " The Education Eeserves Act, 1877," are prevented from entertaining any application which may be received after the expiration of this period, or until further advertised, as required by the section of the Act referred to ; and they not only lose opportunities of letting, but are put to trouble and expense, which the Commissioners wish to avoid, and they will feel obliged if the Government will assist them in the matter. 4. The Commissioners regret to report the death of their late Chairman, Mr. J. G. Holdsworth, on the 16th August last. 5. The Commissioners desire to point out that formerly the late Chairman was accustomed to frank the correspondence of the School Commissioners, and the business of the Commissioners was greatly facilitated thereby; in December, 1883, this frank was discontinued under instructions from the Crown Lands Department, Mr. Holdsworth continuing to frank the correspondence of that department in his capacity of Commissioner of Crown Lands. Since the withdrawal of the franking power, the School Commissioners have been put to very great inconvenience on several occasions; and as they have observed that the correspondence of similar bodies is franked by officers holding the power to frank in another capacity, they would like the same privilege extended to their Secretary, who is already authorized to frank on the business of another department. Under this privilege their administration of " The Education Eeserves Act, 1877," will be greatly assisted. The Commissioners will therefore feel obliged if the Hon. the Minister of Education will secure the authority to frank for their officer referred to. The Commissioners have made no alterations in their regulations. I have, &c, Secretary, Education Department, Wellington. J. E. Blaib, Chairman.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1884. Receipts.

Ilerical assistance I "' L £ s. 10 19 a. 4 £ s. 3 13 a. 2 £ s. 14 12 a Total liabilities 10 19 4 3 13 3 13 2j 2j 14 12

Primary Education Eeserves. Secondary Education Eeserves. Total. 'o Credit balances on 1st January, 1884 Arrears of revenue for previous years ... Eents for current year Transfer from secondary receipts in adjustment ... V £ s. 344 14 88 6 492 16 39 14 a. 6 3 2 7 £ s. d. 61 7 1 24 19 6 £ s. 406 1 88 6 517 15 39 14 d. 7 3 8 7 Total receipts 965 11 6 86 6 7 1,051 18 1