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206. In fourteen instances the teachers receive free board and lodging? —Yes, in the case of household schools. In such cases the parents must guarantee £20 a year, even if there is only one pupil. 207. Who appoints the teachers in these cases ? —The Board advertises for them in the usual way, and approves of the appointments. 208. Have you any of these teachers belonging to the same family as the pupils?—We have had such instances, but we discourage it. In one case the teacher was the sister of the pupils. Mr. Ellis : There are two cases at present. 209. The Chairman.] Do you insist .on separate buildings for the schools?—No, not for household schools. 210. Are the pupils confined to members of the one family ?—ln some instances members of other families attend. 211. Mr. Lethbridge.] I suppose these schools are examined in the usual way by the Inspectors ?—Yes. Mr. Harkness : The teachers are appointed temporarily in the first place, and their retention depends on the results of the examinations. 212. The Chairman.] I suppose the large increase in the number of schools has added to the labours of the Inspectors ?—Yes. 213. Have the Inspectors been able to overtake their work ? —Yes ; but we have had to refuse some applications for examination of private schools. 214. What is the distance between the two schools at Bichmond ? —-They each stand on an acre of land, adjoining each other with a fence between them. 215. Are children of all ages taught at theTasman Street School ? —No ; only up to the First and Second Standards. The boys of higher standards go to the Central School, and the girls to the Toitoi Valley School. 216. Do you not think there would be a large saving in combining the Bichmond schools ?- - There would be some saving, but I do not know whether it would be very large. 217. The Motueka School, with an average attendance of 124, shows an annual expenditure in salaries and allowances of £324, whilst the two Bichmond schools, with a combined attendance of 108, has an expenditure of £406?— That is largely attributable to the headmaster at Bichmond getting a salary beyond the scale rate. He is an old teacher, and some time ago the Board gave him a fixed salary of £200 instead of the scale rate, which should be £140. 218. If the two Bichmond schools were combined, would there not be improved efficiency in education itself as well as economy ? —I would not say there would be in this case. In my opinion, the head-teacher in the Girls' School is as good as any in the whole educational district. Ido not think anything could be gained in that way. 219. Do you not think the general conduct of the boys and girls would be better if they were in the same school ? —Their conduct compares favourably with that in other schools, and I do not know whether there would be any improvement in this respect if they were mixed. At one time I was greatly opposed to mixed schools ; but from what I have seen of late years I have altered my opinion. I do not think there would be any improvement in this instance. In some instances there would be more efficient teaching by grouping, but in other cases there would be less. 220. You do not think it would be injurious ? —No, I do not think that. 221. Mr. Stewart.] If through any accident the Board were to lose the two Bichmond teachers, do you not think it would then be an advantage to combine the schools?— Well, to be honest, I must reply in the affirmative. Thomas Bailie, Member of the Nelson Education Board, examined. Mr. Bailie: It has been advocated that children should be conveyed to schools. I think that would be a good idea where conveyances can be obtained. In some cases rivers intervene, but where there are no such obstacles children might be conveyed to school, at great benefit to themselves and a saving to the Board. 222. The Chairman.] I suppose foot-bridges could be put over the rivers ?—Yes, in some cases; but that was a matter outside the Board's functions. 223. The children could travel on horseback in some cases, I suppose?— Yes, they might. The children at Black's Point, near Beefton, could very easily be taken to the good central school in Beefton, a distance of two or three miles. 224. Do you think, if parents were allowed £1 or £2 for each child, that the question of conveyance could be got over ? —Yes, perhaps. But if the central Committees had power to advertise for conveyances, that would be a cheaper way. 225. Mr. Mackenzie.] Are your opinions generally similar to those expressed by your Chairman ?—Yes, much the same. 226. Mr. Davidson.] Are you aware that the system of conveying children to school has been carried out with success in Victoria ?—That is where I got the idea from. I have advocated it on the Board. 227. Are you aware that the system has been tried in Pennsylvania, and that in a district eleven miles long by three or four miles wide one central school has taken the place of six smaller schools ?—I vvas not aware of it; lam pleased to hear that it is so. 328. Mr. Steivart.] Do you think it would be possible to carry out this system in the Waimeas? —I think it could be done. Two or three schools would do for the whole valley. 229. Mr. Hogben.] As to the cost of living, I suppose that is greater in some parts of the Nelson District than in others ?—Yes ; a great part of the Nelson District is on the West Coast, where they do not grow anything. Most of the goods have to be carted, and the cost of carriage is high.