E.—l.

The number of students for the year 1903 was 28, of whom 22 were first-year, and 6 secondyear students; of these, 2 left during the year, leaving 26 in attendance at its close. The cost of the institution for the year was : Salaries, £527 Bs. 2d.; allowances to students, £329 Is. 3d. ; and incidentals, £30 9s. 5d.: total, £886 18s. lOd. Less Government grant for training of teachers, £829 Is. 3d. Net cost, £57 17s. 7d. School of Art and Design.—The total number of students enrolled was 386. This number includes 51 teachers and pupil-teachers, 24 students from the training-college, 86 students who attended the day classes, 157 students who attended the evening classes, and 68 teachers and pupil-teachers who attended the Saturday classes. The cost of the school was : Salaries, £691 18s. 4d.; incidental expenses, £80 18s. lid. ; total, £772 18s. 3d.: less fees, £269 4s. 9d., and Government grant under Manual and Technical Instruction Act, £330 14s. 3d.—£559 19s. : net cost, £172 18s. 3d. Finance.—A statement of the Board's income and expenditure for the year is given below. The sum expended in teachers' salaries, including house and lodging allowances, was £60,810 2s. lOd. The amount paid to School Committees for incidental expenses was £5,297 15s. 6d. The amount expended in the erection, enlargement, and improvement of school buildings and the purchase of sites was £10,757 7s. 4d. A large number of School Committees have taken advantage of the regulation of the Board granting pound for pound on the moneys raised locally and expended on work connected with the improvement of their school buildings and grounds. During the year the various School Committees have raised locally the sum of £2,430 a very large proportion of which has been expended on the improvement of school buildings, residences, and grounds. The School Committees' accounts were audited, as formerly, by the Board's Chief Clerk. Office. —The Board continues to repose complete confidence in all its officers. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.' Wm. Snow, Chairman.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1903. Receipts. £ a. i. Expenditure. £ s. d. Grants from Government for—■ Balance at beginning of year .. .. 1,588 17 1 Teachers'and pupil-teachers'salaries, and Staff salaries and clerical assistance .. 3,015 0 0 allowances for pupil-teachers .. 52,729 15 7 Office contingencies .. .. .. 1,272 14 2 Reserves revenue for primary education.. 9,090 19 10 Teachers' and pupil-teachers' salaries and Capitation at lis. 3d., and grant of £250 10,004 12 0: allowances to pupil-teachers .. .. 60,895 5 7 Capitation at 6d. for relieving-teachers .. 433 11 0 ! Training of teachers .. .. .. 557 17 7 Training of teachers .. .. .. 500 00 I Conveyance of school-children .. .. 128 0 0 Conveyance of school-children.. .. 122 2 6 i Incidental expenses of schools .. .. 5,297 15 6 Grant for Pomahaka School .. .. 20 0 0 Scholarships and examination expenses .. 1,278 17 7 Rent of offices .. .. .. .. 65 0 0 Salaries of staffs of district high schools, Grants from Government for— paid out of special receipts .. .. 1,723 011 Scholarships .. .. .. 1,293 13 11 Manual and technical instruction— District High Schools .. .. 1,714 10 Oj Instructors'salaries and expenses .. 1,156 15 4 Grants from Government for manual and School classes .. .. .. 317 4 7 technical instruction— Special classes .. .. .. 140 1 1 Capitation on attendance at classes .. 1,067 17 2 Associated classes .. .. .. 482 711 Material for class-work .. .. 65 1 4 Office salaries .. .. .. 28 0 0 Instruction of teachers .. .. 200 0 0 Maintenance of school buildings ; .. 5,146 1 3 Subsidies on voluntary contributions and House-allowances .. .. .. 243 18 6 bequests .. .. .. .. 122 19 6 New schools, additions, sites, &c. .. 5,611 6 1 Fees.. .. .. .. .. 269 4 9 ; Buildings, class-rooms, furniture, &c, for Voluntary contributions .. .. 17 13 6 manual and technical purposes— Grants from Government for— School classes .. .. .. 763 8 11 Maintenance of school buildings .. 6,500 0 0| Special classes .. .. .. 238 19 8 House-allowances .. .. .. 245 0 0 ■ Associated classes .. .. .. 298 15 2 New schools, furniture, sites, &c. .. 1,841 11 8: Gymnastic instruction .. .. 136 10 10 Technical-school buildings, fittings, &c. 1,535 1 6 Interest and bank account fees .. .. 50 5 3 Local contributions .. .. .. 46 15 4 Truant Officer's salary and expenses .. 183 14 0 Sale of school-sites .. .. .. 20 0 0 Balance of Sohool Committee Account closed .. .. .. .. 2 12 2 Rents of school-sites .. .. .. 49 7 0 Truancy fines .. .. .. .. 60 19 6 Sale of books .. .. .. .. 1 18 6 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 2,534 10 3 £90,554 17 0 £90,554 17 0 P. G. Prtde, Secretary and Treasurer.

SOUTHLAND. Sir, — Education Office, Invercargill, 20th March, 1905. I have the honour to present the following report of the proceedings of the Education Board of the District of Southland for the year ended the 31st December, 1903. The Board. —For the second year in succession, the constitution of the membership of the the Board has undergone no change; the retiring members, Messrs. John Cowie, William Macalister, and J. C. Thomson, were re-elected unopposed to fill the vacant seats at the Board's table. At its meeting held on the 4th September, Mr. Thomas MaeGibbon was unanimously elected Chairman of the Board for the ensuing year. As its representatives on the Southland High Schools Board of Governors, the Board re-elected Messrs. William Macalister, B.A. LL.B., and John C. Thomson, M.H.R.; while Mr. Thomas MaeGibbon continued his services as representing the Board's interests on the Trust of the School Commissioners for Otago.

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