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is, however, very exceptional, and you very rarely find the schools established within so close a distance in other parts of our district. 310. In regard to the schools in the Brightwater district and in this town, how many are there, and by what proportion do you think you could reduce them ?—There are six in the town, and twenty-two in what I may call the Waimea Plains. 311. Do you think, approximately, that you could halve those schools ?—Yes, I think so, and with efficiency. 312. Would it be possible for you to get a map from the Survey Office, and place on that map the position each school occupies in this district ?—lt would be quite possible ; but it would take a considerable time, as the district is a very scattered one. 313. I wish you to do so in order to see what possibility there is of reducing the number of these schools, for it seems to me that, if Nelson is to come within this proposed scale, to continue your present system would surely bar it. You think you could get that map for the Commission ?—As I said, I could get it, but it would take some considerable time. 314. It could not possibly take very long. There are existing maps you could get: is that not so ?—I do not know exactly. I will try to get you one from the Survey Office, though they sometimes refuse to let maps out. 315. Mr. Davidson.] Would you kindly tell us in what part of the educational district of Nelson separate schools obtain—l mean with regard to the separation of the sexes ?—They only prevail in Nelson City and Bichmond. They were more numerous, but we have continually advocated amalgamation, and amalgamation has taken place in my time in the case of schools at Wakefield and Westport. 316. You approve of the amalgamation of these schools ?—Yes; we have recommended to the Board the amalgamation of the two Bichmond schools. 317. As the educational expert and adviser of the Board, you would continue the amalgamation of those schools at present in existence, and you think you are wise in doing so ? —Yes. With regard to the Nelson School, however, there is the important question of administration and finance. Some economy could undoubtedly be made by amalgamating the six schools in the town, and having only one; but, still, it would be at the expense of the teachers. 318. Mr. Gilfedder.] You mean in the number and the salaries ?—Yes, in both. 319. Mr. Davidson.] How-many certificated teachers are there at present in the six city schools of Nelson ?—lndependent of pupil-teachers there are fifteen. 320. What number of pupil-teachers are there ?—Thirteen, I think. 321. How many of the fifteen are males ?—Five, at the Boys' Central School. 322. And the remaining ten are females ?—Yes. 323. Have you looked into the suggested scale in order to find out how many certificated teachers of each sex would find employment in a single school of 960 and upwards ?—No, I have not. Mr. Hogben : Thirteen certificated teachers, counting the headmaster and eleven pupilteachers. 324. Mr. Davidson.] I think you will admit, Mr. Harkness, that it is not a very serious matter so far as the staffing is concerned ? —No, I am quite prepared to admit that. 325. There are at least six sites for the six schools ?—Yes. 326. Then, if the Board made up its mind to establish one large central school for the City of Nelson, these sites would probably be sold, and the money obtained from them would go a long distance towards the cost of building an up-to-date, well-equipped school, would it not ?—I would not say it would go largely towards it; but it is a pure matter of finance. 327. But if the building grant from the department were sufficient it would not matter in any way at all to the Board so long as they had the funds for the building of the central school ?— Quite so. 328. I want to ask a few questions about these aided schools : In your opinion, many of the schools that have been established for a very considerable time might be amalgamated with others in the immediate neighbourhood ?—Yes. 329. Do you think it advisable that there should be a colonial scale of staff and salaries ? — Yes, I do. 330. Have you considered the question of conveying children to schools as a means of centralisation? —Yes, it is not practicable ; it has been contemplated once or twice here, but we have not found it would work to any financial advantage, for although the actual distance between the schools is not very great, still, on account of the geographical conditions of the country—the long valleys and inaccessible points—they are very hard to get at. 331. Is it not a fact that similar districts in America have been found eminently suitable for the centralising of schools and for the conveyance of children ?—Yes, probably if the roads are good, but it is not so in our case. 332. Mr. Stewart.] You inspect these aided schools?—-Yes. 333. On an average, how many have you in these aided schools ? What percentage of attendance is present at your visits ?—I could only tell you by an analysis of my inspection reports ;as compared with the larger schools or district schools, I should say, approximately, about 80 per cent, of the roll-number. 334. You probably have an average of 3or 4 pupils in these aided schools ?—As a rule, not so low as that. The aided schools usually run up to from 10 to 20. 335. And in regard to the household schools ? —Well, I should say from 2 to 10 or 12. 336. We have been told that there are a large number of uncertificated teachers in these household schools ?—Yes, that is so. 337. Also that they are very young people ?—Not in all cases. The difficulty is to supply a teacher at such a small salary who is prepared to go into these distant parts in the back country. 7—E. 14,