E.—l

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rooms, and suitable only for an unmarried person, have been erected in the districts of Scott's Gap, Mataura Island, and Eiverside ; while much-required additions have also been made to the teachers' residences at Balfour, North Wairio, Bdendalo, Otara, Lumsden, and Winton. In addition to the foregoing works, a new residence has been provided for the teacher at Gummie's Bush, the old building, erected over twenty-nine years ago, being altogether past profitable repair. From a perusal of the foregoing list it will be seen that a large amount of work has been accomplished, all of which was absolutely essential to the welfare and comfort of the teachers and pupils in the various districts interested. The teacher's residence at Eoslyn Bush was destroyed by fire in May last. A searching investigation by the Police Department and local Committee failed to elicit any reliable data as to the origin of the fire. With the consent and approval of the Government, a contract for the erection of a new building, not so commodious as the one destroyed, but yet large enough for the requirements of the present teacher, was entered into; and has (February, 1893) now been completed at a cost of £150 15s. 6d. This amount will, of course, appear in the Board's accounts for 1893. The requirements of the next year will, so far as the Board is able to foresee, be quite as extensive as during the past year. The opening-up for small-farm settlement of the extensive and fertile Waiau district must of necessity establish a demand for the erection of new schools, and the consequent expenditure of a very considerable sum for buildings, which cannot long be ignored. The first claims from this district have been satisfied, in part at least, by the establishment of a school at Eastern Bush, and the recognition of a demand from settlers at Feldwick for a similar privilege. Finance. —The financial year was commenced under very favourable auspices. Both Building and Maintenance Accounts were considerably in credit, the former to the extent of £2,120, the latter £3,090 18s. The aggregate income of the Board, including credit balance from last year, was £35,232 os. 7d. The Board's general statement of receipts and expenditure for the year, duly certified by the Auditor-General, is appended hereto, and shows in detail the sources of the Board's income. A sum of £23,126 18s. 3d. was received as capitation grants on the average attendance during the year ; £3,556 9s. 4d. in respect of rents from primary reserves; £2,050 as parliamentary grant for buildings ; £517 6s. 2d. for scholarships ; £300 as inspection subsidy : these, with other minor receipts, constituted the Board's revenue for the year. The principal items in the Board's expenditure were as follows : Teachers' salaries, including rent-allowances, and bonuses paid for the instruction of pupil-teachers, £22,788 6s. 4d.; to School Committees for ordinary incidental expenses, £1,596 18s. 5d.; for erection and maintenance of school-buildings and residences, &c, £3,152 ss. 10d. These, with other less important amounts, as shown in the balance-sheet, make up the total of the Board's expenditure, and leave a balance to credit of £5,408 17s. 4d. This balance is, however, considerably affected by the statement of assets and liabilities, from a perusal of which it will be seen that the Board's assets, in addition to credit balance, are set down at a sum of £150, due for re-erection of teacher's residence au Eoslyn Bush. The known liabilities aggregate £1,306 6s. 3d. : of this sum, £574 12s. Bd. is chargeable against the Maintenance Account, and £731 13s. 7d. against that for buildings. After making due provision for debts due as above, the net balance to credit of the Board will stand at £4,252 lls. Id., and from this amount the large expenditure necessary for building operations during the current year will require to be drawn. By order of the Board. John Neill, Secretary. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.

General Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1892. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance at beginning of year— ! By Office staff—Salaries .. .. 358 15 0 On Building Account .. .. 2,120 0 0 Drill Instructor —Salary and expenses 183 311 On General Account .. .. 3,090 18 0 Departmental contingencies .. 330 17 3 Government grant for buildings .. 2,050 0 0 Inspectors' salaries .. .. .. 624 8 4 For reinstatement of teacher's residence Inspectors'travelling expenses .. 207 3 0 at Wrey's Bush .. .. 196 19 4 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 15 0 0 Subscriptions and donations for build- Teachers' salaries and allowances finings .. .. .. .. 34 16 0 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. 22,788 6 4 Government statutory capitation .. 23,126 18 3 Incidental expenses of schools .. 1,596 18 5 Scholarship grant .. .. .. 517 6 2 Scholarships— Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 300 0 0 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 497 10 0 Payments by School Commissioners .. 3,556 9 4 Examination expenses .. .. 19 16 2 Rents of school sites .. .. 41 3 6 School-buildings— Interest on fixed deposits .. .. 197 10 0 New buildings .. .. .. 1,999 17 0 Improvements of buildings .. 826 13 0 Furniture and appliances .. .. 57 0 1 Sites 81 18 10 Plans, supervision, and fees .. 167 18 11 Advertising tenders .. .. 18 18 0 Members' travelling expenses .. 48 19 0 Balance at end of year— On Building Account .. .. 1,249 9 6 On General Account .. .. 4,159 710 £35,232_"(T7 £35,232 0 7 D. L. Matheson, Chairman. John Neill, Secretary. Examined and found correct.—James Edward EitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-General.