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MARLBOBOUGH. Sir,— Education Board Office, Blenheim, 6th May, 1890. liave the honour to forward you the report of the Board of Education for the Marlborough District for the year ending the 31st December, 1889. The .Board. —The Board during the year lost the services of Mr. E. T. Conolly, on his elevation to the office of a Judge of the Supreme Court, and the extraordinary vacancy thus created was filled by the election of Mr. H. C. Seymour. The three retiring members were Messrs. Lambert, Paul, and H. C. Seymour. Mr. Lambert retired, and after the election the members of the Board were Mr. A. P. Seymour (Chairman), Hon. Colonel Baillie, M.L.C., Messrs. Carter, Hutchison, Mills, Parker, Paul, H. C. Seymour, and Ward. The Board held fourteen meetings during the year. Schools.—l had to report last year the loss of the large Blenheim School by fire, and that the teaching was carried on with much difficulty and inconvenience in temporary premises hired for the purpose. I have now to report that the new school, having been completed earlier than was anticipated, was opened for teaching on the 27th January, 1890. This school is a very substantial brick building, built to accommodate a little over five hundred children, commodious and well fitted up, and appears satisfactory in every respect. I regret to have also to report the loss by fire of the head teacher's residence in Blenheim, which occurred on the night of the 22nd April, 1889. This building has also been replaced by a more suitable dwelling-house. The cost of both of these buildings has been practically borne by the department,—in the case of the residence, which was erected by the Board, acting under instructions from the department, at a cost of £459, of which £450 was the amount applied for by the Board, and granted for the purpose. In regard to the school, the Board has no information of its cost, this building having been constructed by the department entirely. Thirty-six schools were at work at the end of the year, of which nineteen were aided schools. Attendance. —On the 31st December, 1888, the weekly number on the roll was 1,735, and the average attendance 1,347. At the end of the year these had increased respectively to 1,854 and 1,393. Teacheeb. —The staff consisted of fifty-seven teachers of all grades, twenty-eight being males and twenty-nine females. Scholarship.—The two scholarships at the Nelson College are now held by Lewis Griffiths, in his second year, and by Claude Houghton Mills, the winner at the last examination. Finance.—The balance-sheet shows a balance to debit at the beginning of the year; but this was more apparent than real —sufficient money was in the hands of the department at this time to make up a credit balance, but had not been paid over, in consequence of certain returns which should have been furnished not having then reached the department. I have, &c, A. P. Seymour, Chairman, Marlborough Education Board. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.

General Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1889. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Government grant for buildings .. 193 15 3 By Balance at beginning of year .. 315 13 1 Government statutory capitation .. 5,413 15 0 Office staff—Salaries .. .. 132 0 0 Scholarship grant .. .. .. 80 0 0 Departmental contingencies .. 12 12 C Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 216 13 4 Inspector's salary .. .. 125 0 0 Payments by School Commissioners .. 300 0 0 < Inspector's travelling expenses .. 88 4 0 Deposits on contracts .. .. 21 3 0 i Examination of pupil-teachers .. 3 3 0 Overdraft at bank .. .. .. 599 1 5 ; Teachers' salaries and allowances (inUnpresented cheques .. .. 136 19 2 eluding rent, bonus,&c.) .. .. 4,500 19 9 Incidental expenses of schools .. 543 1 1 Scholarships— Paid to scholars .. .. .. 80 0 0 Examination expenses .. .. 9 9 0 School buildings— New buildings .. .. .. 240 0 0 Improvements of buildings .. .. 428 19 11 Furniture and appliances .. .. 132 19 0 Eent .. .. .. .. 129 0 0 Plans, supervision, and fees .. 106 15 0 Deposits returned .. .. .. 21 3 0 Stationery .. .. .. .. 25 5 8 Printing and advertising .. .. 56 14 5 Interest on overdraft .. .. 10 7 9 £6,961 7 2 £6,961 7 2 John T. Eobinson, Secretary (Per E. W. Bridge). Examined and found correct, except as regards the payment of interest on overdraft, £10 7s. 9d., the overdraft having been illegally incurred owing to neglect on the part of the Board and its officers; and also a payment oi £10 19s. twice paid for the same work.—Jambs .Edward Fitz* Gerald, Controller and Auditor-General.