55

B.—l

buildings and grounds. Since September, 1888, one hundred schools and seventy teachers' dwellings have been repainted, half the cost being contributed from the school fund of the district, and the other half being defrayed from the Board's ordinary maintenance fund. The total cost of painting amounted to £1,652 18s. 10d., of which sum £822 12s. 9d. is contributed by Committees from their school fund. A circular, similar to that issued by the Otago Education Board in 1888, has been sent to teachers, urging them to do all in their power to preserve the school property and to make it an ornament to the district. The Inspectors are instructed to report very fully upon the condition of the school buildings and premises, and upon the evidence of care bestowed by the teachers towards their maintenance in good order and repair. The Committees have been invited to encourage and assist the teachers in this matter. Finance.—The yearly statement of receipts and expenditure is appended to this report. The receipts from all sources amounted to £79,834 2s. 4d., and the expenditure to £70,267 19s. Bd. At the end of the year there was a net balance of £2,903 16s. 3d. on Maintenance Account, and a balance of £1,180 3s. on Building Account. The capitation grant of £3 15s. was distributed (approximately) as follows : — £ s. d. On teachers'salaries ... ... ... ... ... 3 5 6 per head. On grants to Committees (including painting and repair of school-buildings) ... ... ... ... ... 0 6 1 „ On inspection and examination ... ... ... 0 1 8 „ On office management ... ... ... ... 0 1 9 „ Total ... ... ... ... ... 315 0 The accounts of the School Committees are now being audited. Owing to the resignation of the Auditor appointed in December last, and to the illness of the Auditor appointed to succeed him, the completion of this work has been unavoidably delayed. Committees.—The Board desires to record its appreciation of the work done by the School Committees throughout the district in assisting to carry out the necessary regulations for the conduct of school matters, and in helping to maintain the school property in a creditable state of repair. The contributions towards cost of painting, which in many instances caused a severe drain upon their resources, have, as a rule, been promptly paid. Whenever desired, the Board has arranged for the payment to be extended over a period of two or three years. Almost without exception, there has been manifested a desire to co-operate in giving effect to the policy initiated by the Board in this and other matters. The Hon. the Minister of Education. J. H. Upton, Chairman.

General Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1889. Receipts. & s. d. Expenditure. & s. d. To Balance at beginning of year— By Office staff—Salaries .. .. 913 6 8 On Building Account .. .. 3,142 8 6 Clerical assistance .. .. .. 16 2 0 On General Account .. .. 6,601 19 4 Departmental contingencies.. .. 622 15 5 Government grant for buildings .. 1,522 17 0 Inspectors'salaries .. .. .. 1,079 3 4 Subscriptions and donations for build- Inspectors' travelling expenses .. 324 9 2 ings .. .. .. .. 24 0 0 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 29 0 8 Government compensation for part of Teachers' salaries and allowances (inschool site atKaukapakapa .. 90 0 0 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. 56,890 16 4 Refund of amount overpaid .. .. 2 0 0 Incidental expenses of schools .. 5,290 2 9 Government statutory capitation .. 64,701 15 0 Scholarships— Scholarship grant .. .. .. 1,323 17 6 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 1,189 15 2 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 500 0 0 Examination expenses .. .. 52 2 0 Payments by School Commissioners .. 1,547 2 9 School buildings— School Committees, towards cost of New buildings .. .. .. 1,391 10 4 painting .. .. .. 356 14 3 Improvements of buildings .. 1,560 011 Sale of office furniture .. .. 10 5 0 Furniture and appliances .. .. 574 5 1 Education Department, Wellington, re- Sites .. .. .. .. 62 6 0 fund .. .. .. .. 10 0 Plans, supervision, and fees .. 272 310 Education Department, repairs to Pa- Balance as per bank kia School .. .. .. 6 10 0 pass-book ..£9,644 16 0 Otonga School Committee, rent of Unpaid cheques, £66135. teacher's house .. .. .. 1 13 0 4d. ; amount debited Contractors' deposits forfeited .. 2 0 0 in error, £12 .. 78 13 4 Balance at end of year 9,566 2 8 fOn Building Account 920 19 4) ]On General Account 8,645 3 4f £79,834 2 4 £79,834 2 4 J. H. Upton, Chairman. Vincent E. Bice, Secretary. Examined and found correct.—James Edwabd PitzGeeald, Controller and Auditor-General.

TAEANAKI. Sik, — i Taranaki Education Board, New Plymouth, February, 1890. I have the honour to transmit the report of the Education Board of the District of Taranaki for the year.ending the 31st December, 1889. The Boaed.—At the annual election in March, Mrs. E. Eichmond, Miss J. Heywood, and Mr. J. Andrews were re-elected to rill the vacancies caused by their retirement in accordance with