E.—l.

KEPOBTS OF EDUCATION BOARDS.

AUCKLAND. Sir,— Auckland, March, 1904. In accordance with section 102 of " The Education Act, 1877," the Board presents the following report of its proceedings during the year 1903 : — Board. —The members in office at the beginning of the year were Messrs. J. Muir (Chairman), L. J. Bagnall, A. R. Harris, B. Hobbs, W. Lambe, S. Luke, J. D. McKenzie, P. M. Mackay, and J. G. Rutherford. Messrs. Lambe, McKenzie, and Mackay retired from office in August, and were succeeded by Messrs. C. J. Parr, G. Edgecumbe, and H. J. Greenslade. Mr. Hobbs was elected in August to succeed Mr. Muir as Chairman. Mr. Muir and Mr. Rutherford resigned their seats in October. Their successors, Mr. J. Stallworthy and Mr. E. Dye, took their seats in December. Twenty-three meetings of the Board were held during the year, with an average attendance of eight members. There were twenty-four meetings of the Finance and Teachers' Selection Committee, which now consists of all the members of the Board. Schools. —There were 421 schools in operation at the end of the year, including 74 schools taught half-time. According to the departmental reckoning of every two half-time schools as one, the number is 384. Most of the half-time schools received three days' teaching in each week, an addition being made to the teacher's salary for the extra day's work. Eight schools were closed during the year —viz., Kauaeranga, Sandes Street, and Parawai (upon amalgamation of schools into one), Karaka (reopened half-time), Pakia and Waiotemarama (reopened full time), Otonga and Kaimamaku (the latter being reopened full time); also, Whenuakite, Tiritiri, and Tahekeroa, closed owing to withdrawal of population. The new schools opened during the year were : Kaimamaku, Karaka Nos. 1 and 2, Kauaeranga Valley, Kerikeri, Mangatete, Maungatautari, Okahu, Orere, Parawai, Pakia, Piriaka, Poro-o-tarao, Purerua, Waiomio, Waiotemarama, Woodlands. The schools were graded as follows : Average attendance under 21, 102 ; from 21 to 40, 151; from 41 to 90, 76; from 91 to 150, 20; from 151 to 250, 14; above 250, 21 : total, 384. Teachers.—The total number of teachers employed at the end of the year was 813—356 male and 457 female. This number includes six relieving-teachers and nine teachers employed to teach secondary subjects in district high schools. The teaching staff has been brought into strict conformity with the colonial scale. The few pupil-teachers employed in schools of thirty-one to forty were withdrawn during the year and located in other schools. The modification of salaries permitted by the proviso to section 4 of the Teachers' Salaries Act has now ceased, and all salaries are regulated according to the colonial scale. The Board meets with considerable difficulty in obtaining qualified teachers for the smaller schools, for which the scale salary does not afford an adequate maintenance, and unless a more liberal provision be made by Parliament it is feared that some of these schools will have to be closed. This matter has been specially brought under the notice of Government. Attendances. —The roll number of scholars at the end of 1903 was 29,258, showing an increase of 674 above the number at the end of 1902. The average attendance for the last quarter of the year was 25,114, as compared with 23,209 for the corresponding quarter of 1902. Scholarships.—The number of district scholarships under tenure at the end of the year was 90 —viz., 30 seniors and 60 juniors. There were also eleven scholarships held by girls under special regulations, and derived from the income of the Auckland Girls' High School endowment. All holders of scholarships have received satisfactory reports regarding their conduct, diligence, and progress during the year. District Hioh Schools. —Eight district high schools were in operation during the year —viz., Aratapu, Cambridge, Coromandel, Hamilton West, Onehunga (opened in July), Opotiki, Paeroa, and Waihi. That at Tauranga was closed at the end of June owing to paucity of attendance. An attempt was made to establish a district high school at Hikurangi, but had to be abandoned owing to the insufficiency of pupils. The total number of qualified pupils receiving secondary instruction at the end of the year was 298. Einance. —The receipts from all sources, including a balance of £3,376 6s. brought forward from 1902, amounted to £131,583 16s. lid., and the total expenditure was £129,990 Bs. 5d., leaving an unexpended balance of £1,593 Bs. 6d. at the end of the year. A summarised statement is appended to this report. The Administration Account began the year with a credit balance of £4,533 4s. 6d. ; the receipts amounted to £103,625 13s. Id., and the expenditure to £103,063 7s. 2d. : leaving a credit balance of £5,095 10s. sd. at the end of the year. Eor secondary education the expenditure (£3,473 7s. 7d.) exceeded the income (£3,167 6s. 9d.) by £306 os. lOd.; but this excess is more,than covered by the grants (£4lB 55.) earned during the December quarter of the year and received since January. For manual and technical instruction (exclusive of buildings) the Board received a sum of £1,807 7s. Id., and expended £2,599 6s. 5d., leaving a debit balance of £791 19s. 4d. To this has to be added a debit balance of £396 os. lOd. on account of the Auckland Technical School, brought forward from the year 1902, thus making a total deficiency of £1,188 os. 2d.

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