69

B.— 1

Waihi. (Number of scholars on roll: —Passed Standard VI. : M., 12 ; F., 23 : total, 35.) There is one class, with thirty-five pupils. The work done consists of :—Arithmetic—Advanced, including examples in mensuration, cube root, and stocks; Latin—The cases, adjectives, and first and second declensions, with exercises ; Algebra—Definitions and symbols, addition, subtraction, brackets, and multiplication ; Euclid -Definitions, postulates, axioms, and first ten problems; Grammar —General analysis, and parsing from book of literature (As You Like It) ; Literature —As You Like It —play read through, and meanings of passages and words explained ; Chemistry—Elements and compounds, and non-metallic elements, atoms, molecules, mixtures and chemical combinations, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and air; Geography—Australia. Note.—High-school work was begun on 21st October, 1901.

TAEANAKI. Sir, — In accordance with the provisions of section 102 of "The Education Act, 1877," the Education Board of the District of Taranaki has the honour to submit the following report of its proceedings for the year 1901 : — The Board. —At the beginning of the year the Board was composed of the following members: Duncan McAllum, Esq. (Chairman), Miss Jessie Heywood, Messrs. G. Adlam, E. G. Allsworth, W. L. Kennedy, H. Faull, B. A. Hignett, J. Mackay, and J. Wade. Miss Jessie Heywood and Messrs. E. G. Allsworth and B. A. Hignett retired in the terms of section 15 of the Education Act. Seven candidates were nominated by the School Committees for the vacancies, and the voting in July resulted in the re-election of the retiring members. The Board held twentythree ordinary and one special meeting during the year. Schools. —There was only one fresh school opened during the year, and that was at Purangi, which was run as a half-time school in conjunction with Matau. The number of schools open at the end of the year was sixty-five. Teachers.—The number of teachers in the Board's service, including sewing-teachers, was 139. Thirty-four pupil-teachers were employed, and at the annual examination twenty-eight were examined, and only two failed. Of the thirty-four pupil-teachers employed at the end of the year only five were males, and the disparity in numbers is a clear indication that the remuneration offered to boys is insufficient to induce them to take up teaching as a profession. This is often a great drawback, for there are many cases in which it is advisable, and even necessary, to appoint male pupil-teachers. School Attendance.—The roll-number and the average attendance for the last quarter of the year were 4,334 and 3,556 respectively. Scholarships.—There were forty-seven candidates for the scholarship examinations, and of these thirty-eight qualified. Scholarships were awarded to four boys and three girls. As the Board of Governors of the New Plymouth High School generously offered free tuition to fifteen candidates to be recommended by the Inspector, the number of those who have benefited as a result of the scholarship examination is unusually large. In addition to the scholarshipholders, there are now at the New Plymouth High School eleven ex-pupils of the district schools, and at the Stratford District High School twenty, receiving free tuition in secondary subjects. Buildings.—The infants' school at Stratford, for which a contract was let last year, has been completed. New schools have been erected at Pohokura and Durham Eoad, and the old building at Durham Eoad has been converted into a residence. Owing to the prosperous state of the dairying industry during the last few years, a large extent of land formerly used as runs for cattle and sheep has been turned into dairy farms, causing the district to be more thickly settled, and the Board now finds that several of the schools that were quite large enough for the requirements when built now require extensive additions, and also additional schools are needed. The Board finds itself very much hampered for the want of funds to carry out the necessary works, as to keep the buildings and furniture in proper repair would absorb the whole of the present grant. Finance. —The income of the Board from all sources, including £3,380 3s. sd. balance on the 31st December, 1900, was £19,448 6s. Id., and the expenditure £17,851 15s. Bd., leaving a credit balance of £1,596 10s. sd. Against this balance are liabilities that fully cover the same. The Public-School Teachers' Salaries Act of 1901, which came into force on Ist January, 1902, provides for the payment of the sum of £250, together with the sum of 11s. 3d. per annum for each child in average daily attendance at a public school. This is to meet the Board's general expenses, including the Inspector's salary and travelling-expenses. And as the Board has had the greatest difficulty in the past in making the receipts cover the expenses, and as on the present average attendance the Board will receive less by about £250 than it would have done under the old arrangement, it does not see how it can possibly meet its expenses without the Department increasing the grant. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. Duncan McAllum, Chairman,