67

E.—l

are granted will, it is hoped, lead to good results, the object being to give the opportunity to clever scholarship-holders who have already obtained a scholarship in the district schools to compete for further scholarships, and so continue their studies for two years longer This, it is hoped, may prove a connecting-link between the High School and the University Sewing.—This subject, I regret to state, has not received that consideration which it requires. It has been found necessary to draw the attention of the Inspector of Schools to the matter The competition for sewing prizes presented by B. Harding, Esq., was this year meagre in the extreme. The report of the lady examiners upon the sewing specimens from the respective schools for last year, together with their suggestions, will be published appended to this report, and the Board trust they will receive that attention which their importance claims. Popil teachebs. —Eorty-eight of all years presented themselves for examination. My attention has been drawn to the preponderance of female pupil-teachers over males, only eight of the latter appearing for examination, against forty of the former This is to be regretted, as a difficulty must eventually arise, should such continue, in providing locally-trained masters to take charge of our schools. Income and Expenditure . —The income of the Board from all sources amounts to £25,607 14s. 2d., to which should be added balance from last year of £1,742 os. Id., making the total amount of income £27,349 14s. 3d. The expenditure shows the cost of maintenance of schools, School Committees, together with £1,000 paid to Building Fund, to be £19,933 14s. Bd., Building Fund, £4,063 6s. 6d. making a total of £23,997 Is. 2d. This leaves a credit balance of £3,352 13s. Id. Deducting last year's debit balance of Building Fund of £388 14s. 7d., the sum of £2,963 18s. 6d. :;: remains to the credit of the Board. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. J D Oemond, Chairman.

General Statement of Eeoeipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1891.

Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance at beginning of year 1,742 0 1 By Balance at beginning of year 388 14 7 Government grant for [buildings 4,850 0 0 Office staff—Salaries 307 13 4 Transfer to Buildings Account from Departmental contingencies 232 9 0 School Fund Account 1,000 0 0 Inspector's salary 500 0 0 Donation for Pukahu School 60 0 0 Inspector's travelling expenses 150 0 0 Government statutory capitation 16,290 5 0 Examination of pupil-teachers 69 17 0 Scholarship grant 464 2 8 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inInspection subsidy 300 0 0 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) 15,545 8 5 Payment by School Commissioners 2,298 8 6 Incidental expenses of schools 1,785 5 11 District High School fees and endow- Scholarships— ment .. 336 18 0 Paid to scholars 321 9 0 Deposit forfeited 8 0 0 Examination expenses 21 12 0 School-buildings— New buildings 2,756 18 3 Improvement of buildings' 742 12 9 Furniture and appliances 221 18 6 Sites' 75 0 0 Plans, supervision, and fees 266 17 0 Building Fund, contra account 1,000 0 0 Balance at end of year— On Building Account 1,465 18 11 On General Account 1,497 19 7 £27,3 _ 49 14 3 £27,349 14 3 Napier, 6th January, 1892. Geo. T Fannin, Secretary

MABLBOBOUGH. g IE Education Office, Blenheim, 6th April, 1892. I have the honour to submit the report of the Education Board of the District of Marlborough for the year ending 31st December, 1891. The Boabd.—-The members retiring by rotation in March, 1891, having been re-elected without opposition, the Board consists of the same persons as reported last year—viz., Mr A. P Seymour (Chairman), the Hon. Colonel Baillie, M.L.C., Messrs. Carter, Hutcheson, Mills, Parker, Paul, 11. Seymour, and Ward. The Board held twelve meetings during the year, and the average attendance of members was 6-75. Schools.—The number of schools in the district has increased from thirty-six to forty-three. Nine schools were opened and two closed. The cause of the closing of one of these (Endeavour Inlet) was the cessation of work at the antimony mine in that locality, which compelled nearly all the inhabitants to leave the district. The new schools are nearly all small aided family schools, situated for the most part in the Sounds County One aided school, Birchwood, has been temporarily established in the Okaramio district, to meet the requirements of persons living rather far from the Okaramio School, until the Board is in the position to make more satisfactory arrangements. Attendance. —The number of children on the rolls of the Marlborough schools has increased from 1,947 at the end of 1890 to 2,040 at the end of 1891, and the average attendance has risen from 1,500 to 1,660 during the same period.

f The sum o£ £500 advanced by the. Commissioners is included in this, leaving the actual balance £2,463 18s. 6d,