E.—l.

still I feel that it is incumbent on the Board, in view of the great importance of the judgment as affecting the position of the Board as the employer and the teacher as the employed, to point out the gravity of the position the Board is placed in by the judgment. The judgment shows that " The Public-school Teachers Incorporation and Court of Appeal Act, 1895," and the amendment have entirely destroyed that proper control which should obtain between employer and employee, so that, except in cases of gross misconduct, Boards have lost the power conferred upon them by section 47 of " The Education Act, 1877." I say deliberately, " have lost the power," because incapacity or carelessness or inattention to his or her duty cannot be proved against a teacher unless in very grievous eases, there being so many excuses which can and have been pleaded in extenuation —-such as short attendance of pupils through sickness occasioned by epidemics, individual sickness, wet or stormy weather, bad roads, truancy, or any of the various reasons or fancies which at times cause parents to keep their children at home. It can hardly be supposed that Parliament, in passing these Acts, could have contemplated the possibility of such a result accruing as has been shown now by this judgment, and the Board feels confident that this matter has only to be submitted again to the consideration of Parliament to insure such an amendment being passed as will restore to Boards that control over the teachers which is absolutely requisite in the best interests of the schools and their pupils. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. A. P. Seymour, Chairman.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1903. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ a. d. Balance at beginning of year .. .. 560 19 8 Staff salaries and clerical assistance .. 476 15 0 Grants from Government for— Office contingencies .. .. .. 204 7 5 Teachers' and pupil-teachers' salaries, Teachers' and pupil-teachers' salaries, and and allowances to pupil-teachers .. 6,329 15 0 allowances to pupil-teachers .. 6,651 14 7 Reserves revenue for primary education 300 0 0 Relieving-teachers' salaries .. .. 613 4 Capitation at lis. 3d. and grant of £250 1,182 1 6 Incidental expenses of schools .. .. 570 3 0 Capitation at 6d. for relieving-teachers .. 41 8 9 Scholarships and examination expenses .. 169 0 0 Receipts from other sources— Special classes (manual and technical) .. 3 0 2 Sale of books and material .. .. 40 5 6 Maintenance of school buildings, &c. .. 311 19 6 Truancy fees .. .. .. 14 0 House-allowances .. .. .. 20 0 0 Rents of school-reserves .. .. 6 7 6 New schools, additions, sites, &c. .. 515 6 4 Refunds .. .. .. .. 5 0 0 School-libraries .. .. .. 14 16 2 Grants from Government for scholarships 124 2 2 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 622 8 7 Grants from Government for—■ Maintenance of school buildings, &c. .. 950 0 0 House-allowances .. .. .. 20 0 0 Rent of old school building .. .. 5 0 0 £9,566 4 1 £9,566 4 1 A. P. Seymour, Chairman, 4th March, 1904. John Smith, Secretary.

NELSON. Sir, — Nelson, 26th January, 1904. I have the honour to submit the report of the proceedings of the Education Board of the District of Nelson for the year 1903. The Board.—-At the annual election of three members of the Board Mr. Philip Best did not seek re-election, and Mr. W. H. Phillips was replaced by Mr. J. H. Boundy. The following gentlemen now constitute the Board: Messrs. Harry Atmore, James Henry Boundy, William Lock, William Norris Franklyn, Andrew Thomas Maginnity, Thomas John Baigent, George Talbot (Chairman), John D. Beuke, and Thomas Bailie. There have been twenty-three meetings during the year, the average attendance at each meeting being 7'95. District High Schools. —The Westport District High School continues to do useful and satisfactory work, the overcrowding complained of being now relieved by drafting a number of the pupils into a room which has been prepared by subdividing one of the class-rooms in the elementary division of the school. The district high school at Motueka was closed during the whole of the first quarter of the year in consequence of the fruit and hop-picking industries requiring all the available hands, so that the year's work had to be compressed into the remaining three-quarters of the year; and that the results should have proved so satisfactory is evidence of very creditable work on the part of the teachers. The Reefton District High School has suffered severely during the year, having had no less than three changes in the teachership, which, it is hoped, will not occur again. Elementary Schools. —There were 123 schools open at the end of last year; one of these has been attached to another school as a side-school. Eight of the small household schools have been closed and three similar ones opened, leaving 117 schools at work at the end of the year. Attendance of Scholars. —Both the average roll and the average attendance have decreased during the year. The average weekly number on the roll during the past year was 5,588-5 ; during the previous year it was 5,697'25. The average attendance during the year was 4,592'75, and during the previous year, 4,808'75. Drill.—Physical drill has been taught in ninety-eight schools during the past year, and to the end that the teachers might qualify themselves to give the necessary instruction classes for teachers have been held at Nelson and Westport, both being very well attended. The Inspectors consider that, as a result of the lessons given to teachers, a marked improvement has taken place during the past year. A course of instruction was laid down for the guidance of the teachers, and special times were fixed for the drill lessons. Buildings.—During the past year the new schools at East Takaka, Rocky River, and Threechannel Plat have been completed and taken over; new schools have also been erected and

87