I.—4a

17

Table A.

This table requires some explanation : (1.) Tne amounts stated in the second column as " Local contribution up to November, 1886," is virtually correct. (2.) The numbers in the third column, under " Members now on roll," is only approximately correct. The column represents the average number on the rolls since the formation of the schools rather than the members on roll at present, as I have no reliable information as to what the present numbers are. The numbers, however, do not include schoolboys, except, perhaps, in the case of Eoss. (3.) The amounts stated in the fourth column as " Fees now due " will not, of course, be paid, as the schools are announced to be abolished. (4.) lam not able to ascertain, without delay, what amounts are voted by County Councils, except for the Westland County schools. (5.) The amounts in the sixth column, " Local for buildings," is a good approximation. (6.) The " Value of buildings," in the eighth column, is also only an approximation. Indeed, lam not sure whether the building at Westport is yet completed. Besides, the buildings at Westport and Boatman's are, I understand, of a superior class, and designed to accommodate not only the schools of mines, but also to serve as a reading-room and atheneeum for the general public. (7.) The value of " Teaching-plant," in the last column of the table, includes assaying and chemical appliances and mineral collections and books on the subjects of study. An inspection of the table for the Middle Island shows— Total local contributions to date (provided the schools were to be continued, and therefore the fees now due available) ... ... £1,590 Total local contributions realised to date ... ... _ ... £1,108 Total value of assets, including buildings, chemicals, mineral collections. (Of this sum of assets £400 belongs to the Eeefton school and £1,535 to the others) ... ... ... ••• ••• £1,935 The total membership on rolls (average). (This does not include about three hundred schoolboys in Nelson and West Coast and Otago who enjoy the benefits of the classes) ... ... ... ... 1,006 Origin and Growth of Schools. —The growth of the schools has been very rapid, and has been going on during the last year much more vigorously on the West Coast than in the previous years. The movement began at Lawrence in November, 1884, just three years ago; and up to the Ist

3—l. 4a.

CO " 'la u o a* O O o . d "q" & a o .a ■*8 CO 5h P4 03 o a c/3 03 a 01 a . a 03 1§ o O 03 CO _g '3 m w o o o h3 o +3 "3 II ■3° 03 O D3 bO _a 2 '3 m o 03 "3 !> bo a £ . CD t> *+-< O C3h 03 Ph 3 c3 "3 Eoss Eimu ... Kanieri... Hokitika Stafford... Kumara £ s. 39 10 25 0 20 0 30 10 17 0 47 0 15 0 25 0 45 36 25 40 30 50 50 50 40 30 50 40 40 50? 40 20 20 £ s. 22 10 18 0 12 10 20 0 15 0 25 0 25 0 50 0 20 0 15 0 25 0 20 0 20 0 25 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 £ 10 9 6 10 7 10 ? ? ? ? ? ? £ Free 20 15? 50? Free 60? 80 150 100? 75 50 20 £ 62 72 53 110 39 142 120 225 120 104 100 40 20 60 20 30 80 £ Free 20 15 Free 75? 150 300 200 75 100 £ 30 25 10 120 60 80 70 100 Greymouth Beef ton... Boatman's Westport Denniston Lyell ... Takaka ... Nelson ... Orepuki Eiverton 14 0 25 0 60 25 35 Free "70 10 0 20 0 70 0 1 Included ] in J LawrenceJ 10 0 1 ? ? Free "20 120 Lawrence Wetherstones Waitahura Bluespur Waipori Eoxburgh Bendigo St. Bathan's Naseby ... Bannockburn Queenstown Skipper's Point ... Skipper's 3 "O 5 0 60 60 40 10 20 30 50 20 20 40 30 0 15 0 10 0 5 0 10 0 15 0 25 0 10 0 10 0 20 0 30 25 10 8 15 15 50 10 10 20 15 5 10 60 70 50 25" 0 Totals for West Coast and Otago I 401 0 1,006 493 0 52 655 1,590 935 1,000