75

E.—l

Boaed.-—At the commencement of the year the Board consisted of the following members The Eev George Barclay J. P., the Eev Jasper Smyth, Mr Melville Gray J.P., Mr Eichard Alfred Barker, Mr John Talbot, J.P ,Mr John Jackson, J. P., Mr Eoberb Henry Pearpoint, J.P , and Mr Samuel William Goldsmith (chairman) On the 31st March Messrs. Gray, Talbot, and Pearpoint retired in terms of section 15 of the Act, and the following gentlemen were nominated by the School Committees to fill these vacancies, viz. Messrs. John Talbot, Melville Gray, E. H. Pearpoint, G H. Rhodes, and William Balfour The voting resulted in the re-election of the three retiring members. In the month of February an extraordinary vacancy took place through the lamented death of Mr Eichard Alfred Barker, of Ohapi, in whose untimely decease the Board lost a very useful and conscientious member The Eev George Barclay also sent in his resignation in the same month, and the Board, in accepting it, put on record its high appreciation of that gentleman's services, and regret that a change of residence sundered his connection with the district of South Canterbury To replace these extraordinary vacancies the following gentlemen were nominated In place of Mr E. A. Barker, deceased, Messrs. Walter M. Moore, William Balfour, and William Storey, and in place of the Eev George Barclay resigned, Messrs. George H. Ehodes, Walter M. Moore, Henry Watts, and the Eev W J Williams. The voting resulted in the election of Mr William Storey, of Temuka, to serve in the stead of Mr. E. A. Barker and of Mr George Hampton Ehodes, in the stead of the Eev George Barclay Twelve regular meetings were held during the year, on the first Thursday in each month, except in January, when the Board assembled on the third Thursday, the hour of meeting throughout the year being at 11.15 a.m. The average attendance of members for the year was 717 The officers of the Board were the same as at the end of last year Numbee of Schools. —On the 31st December, 1891, there were fifty-nine schools in operation, being an increase during the year of three new districts, viz. Cannington, Te Moana, and Sandhurst (now called Hakateramea). Of these fifty-nine schools, the classification was as follows Under 25 pupils, seventeen , between 25 and under 50 pupils, twenty-six between 50 and under 100 pupils, nine between 100 and under 300 pupils, five between 300 and under 500 pupils, one , 500 pupils and upwards, one total, fifty-nine. Of these fifty-nine schools, none were half-time schools, nor were any schools closed during the year The number of aided schools was sixteen. Attendance. —From the accompanying return, it will be seen that there is still a steady increase in the roll-number of scholars attending the Board's schools, although, owing to prevailing sickness and wet weather the average for the December quarter was exceptionally low—lower even than for the corresponding quarter of the previous year The average roll-number for the year was 5,014, against 4,885 in the previous year [Table only partially reprinted.]

The balance-sheet, duly certified by the Auditor-General, is appended. The Building Account for the year shows a credit balance of £474 18s. 7d. to undertake all the necessary operations of buildings and repairs for the ensuing year, the estimated cost of which is upwards of £1,200, and which expenditure will have to be defrayed from the Maintenance Account, which at the end of the year was in credit £956 10s. sd. The Board gave a bonus this year, which involved the expenditure of £500. Buildings.—During the year the Board has built a new school at Te Moana on a new site conveyed to the Board, and furnished and contributed to the repairs of buildings furnished by the School Committees at Sandhurst and Cannington, both of which schools are bracketed in Eeturn No. 1. The following schools have been enlarged- Kingsdown, Bangatira Valley, Upper Waitohi, and Adair The Timaru Main School has been altered by the enlargement of one class-room, taking from the size of the adjoining apartment, and making two convenient instead of one very large and one very small room. The ceiling of the infants' room at the Timaru Main School has also been replastered, and the doorways concreted, and the spouting, drains, and lavatories repaired. The fencing at Waimataitai has been repaired, and the chimneys altered. New closets have been granted to Hilton and Kakahu Bush (with shelter-shed) The Hunters, Gapes Valley, South Eangitata, Kakahu Bush, Timaru (school and residence), Waimataitai, Albury, and Fairview Schools have been repaired and repainted. The Waimate School has been repainted, and the janitor's house repaired and repainted. Minor grants have been made for a wash-house at

.verage or: ung ion. Sance. Quarter ending Number of . Schools. Number of Teachers. Number on Rolls. Yearly Average Male. Female. Total, (31st March q 7 q 130th June ':30th September (31st December 31st March c,r, s ] 30th June 30th September . (31st December '31st March oqh I 30th June j 30th September (31st December 16 16 17 17 49 49 50 50 57 57 57 59 56 59 60 56 119 120 123 125 130 132 132 135 2 467 2,458 2,510 2,666 4,704 4,689 4,714 4,703 5,032 4,975 5,016 5,044 ' 030 897 931 1,005 1,895 1,921 1,832 1,964 2,050 2,063 2,122 2,081 814 754 811 872 1,785 1,784 1,660 1,857 1 964 1,933 1,979 1,964 1,744 1,651 1 742 1,877 3,680' 3,705 3,492 3,821 4 014 : 3,996 4,101 4,045 1,753 3,674 4,030