E.—l

X

The returns of school accommodation, compared with those relating to attendance, show that there is an increase for the year in the number of overcrowded schools, whidh has risen from 56 to 81. On the other hand the number of schools without residences has been reduced from 366 to 339 ; and the number of schools not belonging to Boards from 94 to 88. Nine Boards had assets amounting to £8,500 available for the provision of new accommodation, and the other four Boards had nothing specially applicable to this purpose, but deficits amounting to £5,000 on account of buildings. A comparison of Table Q with the corresponding table in the last report shows, by the example of Marlborough and Nelson, that a small increase of attendance suffices to bring a considerable number of schools into the category of overcrowded. Last year in the two districts named there were no overcrowded schools, and now there are six in Marlborough and nine in Nelson.

TABLE Q. —Deficiency School Buildings.

By a circular issued in January of this year the Boards were invited to send in estimates of the cost of supplying accommodation adequate to the necessities of the districts. When all assets applicable to the purpose have been deducted the estimates amount to about £44,250, as follows :— Auckland, about ... ... ... ... £3,500 Taranaki, ~ • •• ■■■ •■■ ■■■ 750 Wanganui, ~ ■•• ■■• ■■■ ... 7,500 Wellington, „ ... ... ... ... 1,600 Hawke's Bay, „ ... ... ... ... 5,100 Nelson, „ ... .... ... ... 3,800 Grey, „ ... ... ... ... 1,150 North Canterbury, „ ... ... ... ... 5,600 South Canterbury, „ ... ... ... ... 1,000 Otago, „ ... ... ... ... ' 12,250 Southland, „ ... ... ... ... 2,000 £44,250 In some cases the estimates include all that would be required to complete the supply of residences, &c, while in others only urgent needs are recognised. If all the estimates yvere made on the larger scale the total would apparently be about £100,000. Board Scholaeships. The number of Education Board Scholarships current at the end of the year was 241, of which 137-swere held by boys and 104 by girls, and the expenditure on these scholarships for the year was .£6,655 18s. 7d., as shown in detail in Table ft.

Education Districts. Schools in Operation. Schools not belonging to Boards. Schools without Residences. Schools without Residences. less Chi th; Schools with less than 10 sq. ft. for each Child (but more than 8 sq.ft.). i than 10 sq. for each ild (but mo] lan 8 sq. ft.) .ft, ). ■ le Schools with Available in less than 8 sq. ft. 1890. for each (Tables O and Child. P.) hcno ess th foi OO1S Wltll han 8 sq. i >r each Child. i AvanaDle m ft. 1890. : (Tables O and P.) \_ I Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborougl i Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland 2M 39 84 74 47 36 91 21 28 161 51 190 102 31 1 3 8 3 13 9 4 5 1 4 6 101 15 24 38 16 17 50 9 11 16 9 8 25 4 2 3 6 8 6 7 1 1 4 10 9 I i 3 7 1 1 1 1 4 S, s. d. ■2,903 16 3 294 19 9 : -2,255 0 101,163 2 4 -13 8 9] 213 2 0 541 11 10 -18 10 9] 516 11 2 1,314 9 5 750 0 0 r-2,681 5 6819 16 9 Totals.. 1,155 88 339 61 20 8,517 9 6 [-4,968 5 101 An infant school with less than 8 sq. ft. is placed in tile column for less than 10 sq. ft.