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WESTLAND. Sic, — Education Office, Hokitika, 21st January, 1902. I have the honour to submit the report of the Wesfcland Education Board for the year ending 31st December, 1901. The Board.—ln August Messrs. Chesney, Hudson, and Smith retired, and Messrs. J. S. Benyon, T. W. Beare, and G. Perry were elected to fill the vacancies. In the same month, owing to the death of Mr. J. McWhirter, who for eight years had with distinction occupied the position of Chairman, the election of another member became necessary, and Mr. H. A. Baucke was appointed by the School Committees to fill the vacancy. During the year twelve ordinary and two special meetings were held. Schools.—During the year thirty-five schools have been in operation, the decrease being due to the closing of the Bruce Bay aided school. In addition to the ordinary primary work of the schools, the secondary class of the Hokitika School, with an average quarterly roll-number of twenty-six pupils, and the class for manual instruction connected with the Kumara School, have been maintained. Attendance.—The total roll-number for the district at the end of the year was 1,184, a decrease of ninety-four compared with that of the previous year. The average attendance was 85-9 of the average roll-number. Teachers. —The total number of teachers employed at the end of the year was 55, including 8 head teachers, 27 sole teachers, 11 assistants, 9 pupil-teachers. With the exception of one assistant, all teachers in schools with an average attendance exceeding seventeen possess certificates. The number of teachers granted by the new colonial scale of staffs is greater by one assistant and less by one pupil-teacher than that required by the Board's regulations. Scholarships.—During the year seven scholarships have been in force, six of the holders attending the Hokitika District High School. In addition, five scholars who qualified by obtaining 60 per cent, of marks at the preceding examination have received free tuition at the former school. At the examination at the end of the year there were twenty-eight candidates, of whom sixteen qualified. The four heading the list have been awarded scholarships tenable for two years—one of £23, and three of £8 per annum. Manual Instruction.—Although instruction in hand-work has not during the year formed a prominent feature of the syllabus, preliminary arrangements have been made for its general introduction. All the teachers and pupil-teachers, with the exception of those of South Westland, attended, at the invitation of the Board, a series of lectures by one of the Inspectors appointed by the Education Department under the Manual and Technical Instruction Act. The necessary material and books will be provided as soon as they are obtainable. Finance. —In connection with the Building Fund the total expenditure has been £1,010 6s. 10d., including a credit balance at the beginning of the year of £246 15s. 4d., a grant of £750, and a debit balance at the end of the year of £13 11s. 6d. The General Account shows a debit balance of £78 Is. 9d., but as in the total the balance of a special grant for the training of teachers has been included, the ordinary revenue has been exceeded by the expenditure by £120 14s. 2d. The cause of the Board's financial difficulties has been removed by the adoption of a colonial scheme of staffs and salaries. The former method of distribution by capitation was an injustice to the teachers and a source of continual anxiety to the Board, and the gratitude of both is due to those who provided relief. The amount allotted to the Board for the expenses of administration will provide a small balance for contingencies, but if the debtor balance referred to (£l2O 14s. 2d.) must be met out of ordinary revenue there will still be for several years a considerable difficulty, though not perhaps of so serious a character. Seeing that under the former system teachers suffered reduction in salary, and the most rigid economy was necessary owing to unfavourable conditions and to an inequitable method of the distribution of the grant for educational purposes, the Board desires to express the hope that it will not be penalised for what was unavoidable, but that the Government will provide specially for the payment of the deficiency at the end of the year 1901. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. Joseph Geimmond, Chairman.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1901. Receipts. & s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance —Building Account .. .. 246 15 4 Balance—General Account .. .. 166 11 7 Government grants— Office stiff—Salaries .. .. .. 869 6 8 Buildings .. .. .. .. 750 0 0 Departmental contingencies .. .. 205 9 4 Statutory capitation .. .. .. 4,006 17 6 Members'travelling-expenses .. .. 58 5 0 Increases in salaries .. .. .. 389 16 5 Inspector's travelling-expenses .. .. 71 5 0 Scholarships.. .. .. .. 81 13 11 Examination of pupil-teachers and scholarIn aid of DiHtriot High Sohools .. 200 0 0 ship candidates .. .. .. 17 12 6 Capitation for District High Schools .. 75 10 0 Scholarship payments .. .. .. 90 0 0 Training teachers .. .. .. 75 0 0 Training of teachers .. .. .. 32 7 7 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 150 0 0 Teachers'salaries and allowances .. 4,345 15 8 Capitation for manual and technical Incidental expenses of schools .. .. 134 9 8 instruction .. .. .. 21 12 8 School buildings (improvements, furniture, Encouragement of swimming .. .. 3 14 &c.).. .. .. .. .. 878 8 5 District High Sohool fees .. .. 183 10 0 Capitation grants (Kumara Technical Class) 2112 8 High School Board subsidy .. .. 100 0 0 Material for manual and technical instrucOther receipts (rents, deposits, &c.) .. 36 14 0 tion .. .. .. .. 8 0 4 Balance — Deposits returned .. .. .. 8 0 0 General Account .. .. .. 78 1 9 District High School fees lefunded .. 5 0 0 Building Account .. .. .. 13 11 6 £6,412 4 5 £6,412 4 5 J. Gkimmond, Chairman. A. J. Morton, Secretary. Examined and found correct.— J. K. Warburton, Auditor and Controller-General.