B.—l

72

Colvin, of Westport, gained the seat held for so many years by Mr. Dencker. During the year the Board held twelve regular and two special or adjourned meetings, the average attendance of members at each meeting being 7*9. Schools.—At the end of 1895, 109 schools were at work, thirty-eight of these being aided schools, costing the Board the sum of £4 lis. 6d. per scholar in regular attendance, and five household schools, each receiving a subsidy of £4 per scholar. Attendance op Scholars.—The total number of scholars on the roll at the end of 1895 was 5,995, the strict average attendance being 4,854, and the working average 4,958. The corresponding numbers at the end of 1894 were: on roll, 5,975; strict average, 4,715; and working average, 4,799. Teaching Staff.—At the end of the year, 59 male and 123 female teachers were on the staff, making a total of 182 teachers of all grades, being precisely the same number as at the end of 1894. Of these, 39 are classed as probationers—practically pupil-teachers—as against 41 at the end of the previous year. It is gratifying to be able to state that the number of uncertificated teachers is steadily diminishing, such as remain in the service being mostly engaged in out-of-the-way schools, which are usually very small and poorly paid. It may be mentioned, too, that though there is a fair proportion of female probationers in the larger schools in the towns who hold certificates, they show a marked disinclination to apply for the teacherships of country schools, even at double their present salaries. School Buildings.—During the year new schools have been erected at Granity Creek, Win's Valley, and Waitahu ; a new room has been built in connection with the boys' school, Richmond ; a. site for a school at Central Takaka has been purchased; cottages have been erected at Sherry and Church Hill; and considerable additions have been made to the teachers' houses at Reefton and Foxhill. Besides the above, which may be described as the larger works of the year, a very considerable expenditure has been incurred in small additions, repairs, painting and fencing, more or less, all over the district; indeed, the cost of these smaller matters is becoming a very heavy charge on the Board's funds. . It must be noted that the balance of the purchase-money of the central school site, £1,300, is still unpaid, and, although a deputation, proceeded to Wellington to lay this matter fully before your predecessor, and received a promise from him that it should be favourably considered when the building vote came to be allocated, the Board regrets that the assistance hoped for as a result of the interview has not been granted. Board's Funds.—The amount to credit of the Board's general account, as distinguished from that for buildings, was, at the beginning of the year, £742 9s. 6d.; at the end of the year it was £737 3s. lid., so that the income has not quite covered the expenditure. The building grant was received very late in the year —17th December —and, although at that time the liabilities of the Board considerably exceeded the available funds, the receipt of the grant has enabled a substantial balance to be carried forward. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. George Talbot, Chairman.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Tear ending 31st December, 1895. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance at beginning of year— By Office staff—Salaries .. .. 295 0 0 On Building Account .. .. 1,867 17 3 Departmental contingencies .. 366 2 6 On General Account .. .. 742 9 6 Inspectors' salaries .. .. 550 0 0 Government grant for buildings .. 2,200 0 0 Inspectors' travelling-expenses .. 200 0 0 Contractors'deposits .. .. 20 0 0 Teachers' salaries and allowances (in - Government statutory capitation .. 17,416 6 3 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. 15,082' 15 1 Government scholarship grant .. 353 8 10 Incidental expenses of schools .. 1,963 11 1 Inspection subsidy.. .. .. 300 0 0 Training of teachers .. .. 109 15 10 Payments by School Commissioners .. 856 10 0 Scholarships— Receipts from sale of school-books .. 539 11 5 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 332 12 0 Bank interest .. .. .. 30 0 0 Examination expenses .. .. 17 1 6 Rents of land .. .. .. 515 0 School buildings— Examination fee .. .. .. 010 6 New buildings .. .. .. 795 19 6 Improvements of buildings .. 845 15 8 Furniture and appliances.. .. 68 9 7 Sites .. .. .. .. 30 0 0 Contractors' deposits .. .. 15 0 0 Purchase of school-books .. .. 585 9 7 Subscription to school library .. 5 0 0 Balance at end of year— On Building Account .. .. 2,332 12 6 On General Account .. .. 737 311 £24,332 8 9 £24.332 8 9 George Talbot, Chairman. Stead Ellis, Secretary. Examined and found correct. —James Edward FitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-General.

GRET. Sir,— Education Office, Greymouth, 12th March, 1896. In compliance with the provisions of section 102 of " The Education Act, 1877," I have the honour to submit the following report of the Board's proceedings for the year ending 31st December, 1895: — Board. —At the beginning of the year the Board consisted of the following members : Messrs. W. R. Kettle, W. Cameron Smith, Richard Nancarrow, James Kerr, Joseph Petrie, B. McGuire, John Byrne, Frank White, and James Marshall. Of the members who retired in March, 1895,