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ance where required. The Board appreciates the ready assistance ever rendered by School Committees, and their hearty co-operation in all matters affecting the welfare of education. Finance. —The Board regretted its inability to increase the salaries of teachers and pupilteachers during the year, but is pleased to say that with careful management of its finances, and the most rigid economy where possible, the overdraft has been reduced to £611 95., which will admit of a moderate adjustment of salaries. From a revenue of £47,066 14s. 2d., of which £1,163 15s. was received as fees, &c., in connection with the Technical School, the payment of teachers' salaries has absorbed £32,947 14s. 7d., and the Technical School £1,761 165.; incidental expenses of schools, £3,386 14s. 9d., including £486 15s. Bd. for rents of schools. On account of school buildings, £1,068 10s. 10d., has been spent on new buildings; £2,265 7s. Bd. on additions, improvements, and repairs; £70 for sites; and £108 9s. Id. for plans, supervision, and travelling-expenses of architect. Technical School. —The Technical School continues its prosperous career. The new classes added during the year were Applied Mechanics and Manual Instruction, the latter being established mainly in connection with the primary-school system. The same high standard of results has been maintained in connection with the examinations of English institutions, Florence Broome obtaining a prize for design in the national competition. Out of 47,978 works sent up for examination only 4,044 were selected for competition, twelve being from the Wellington schools. The results of the year's works would have entitled the school to a £484 grant upon its primary and other examination results had the school been in Great Britain. The Technical School has classes in which pupil-teachers and teachers are efficiently trained for their work in drawing. A large continuation class numbering sixty-two primary-scholarship holders has been efficiently carried on during the year. The aim of the Board has been always to maintain the Technical School as an integral part of the primary-school system. In this connection the school is entitled to be credited with cost of this teaching, full details of which will be found in the annual report of the Director.* Inspectors' Report.—From the Inspectors' report it will be seen that 13,336 pupils were on the books at the dates of examination. Exclusive of infant classes, and 344 who have already passed Standard VI., 8,592 children were examined and 7,185 passed, an increase on last year's figures of 466 presented and 72 passed. The report speaks highly of the work done at the infant schools, and of the effect of Mr. Parker's work in the training of teachers in singing, which is apparent in all the larger schools, and many of the smaller ones. Drawing is shown to be in advance of departmental requirements in many of the largest schools. The Hon. the Minister of Education. J. R. Blair, Chairman.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Tear ending 31st December, 1895Receipts. £ a. d. Expenditure. £ a. &. To Government grant for buildings .. 4,929 13 0 By Balance at beginning of year— Other receipts for buildings— Buildings .. .. .. 1,422 811 Rents .. .. .. .. 44 14 0 Maintenance .. .. .. 1,409 6 2 Grant from Committees .. .. 15 0 0 Office staff—Salaries .. .. 700 0 0 Sale of land .. .. .. 67 10 6 Departmental contingencies.. .. 630 3 8 Sale of old house .. .. 2 0 0 Inspectors' salaries .. .. .. 925 0 0 Purchase of site .. .. .. 10 0 0 Inspectors' travelling-expenses .. 280 7 0 Refund overpayment .. .. 216 0 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inGovernment statutory capitation .. 39,092 19 0 eluding rent, bonus, &o.) .. .. 32,947 14 7 Scholarship grant .. .. .. 685 15 0 Incidental expenses of schools .. 3,386 14 9 Inspection subsidy.. .. .. 300 0 0 Scholarships— Grant for Technical School.. .. 200 0 0 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 657 15 0 Payments by School Commissioners.. 751 11 8 Examination expenses .. .. 28 0 0 Refund rent, Otaki .. .. 10 0 School buildings— Sale of old lead .. .. .. 11 16 6 New buildings .. .. .. 1,068 10 10 Technical School fees .. .. 951 18 6 Improvements of buildings .. 1,992 7 3 Balance at end of year— Furniture and appliances .. .. 273 0 8 Dr. General Account .. 677 11 1 Sites .. .. .. .. 70 3 0 Cr. Building Account .. 66 2 1 Plans, supervision, and fees .. 108 9 1 611 9 0 School libraries .. .. .. 16 11 3 Technical School — Salaries .. .. .. .. 1,152 1 3 Capitation .. .. .. 304 7 1 Refund fees to instructors .. .. 234 11 0 Furniture appliances .. .. 70 16 8 £47,678 3 2 £47,678 3 2 J. R. Blair, Chairman. A. Dorset, Secretary.

HAWKE'S BAT. g IKi Education Office, Napier, 20th January, 1896. I have the honour to forward a report of the proceedings of the Hawke's Bay Education Board for the year 1895. The Board consists of the following members—viz., The Hon. J. D. Ormond, M.L.C. (Chairman), J. W. Carlile, Esq., J. G. Gilberd, Esq., R. Harding, Esq., Captain W. R. Russell, M.H.R., Rev. D. Sidey, D.D., F. Sutton, Esq., T. Tanner, Esq., and F. W. Williams, Esq. Schools. —Two new schools have been opened during the past year—viz., Papakura and Motu—the latter an aided school; and arrangements have been made to open schools at UmutaorOa and Puketitiri at the commencement of the coming school year.

* The report of the Director of the Technical Sohool is printed in E.-10.