£.—1

74

REPORTS OF EDUCATION BOARDS.

[Details are in some cases omitted.] AUCKLAND. Sm, Auckland, March, 1908. The Auckland Education Board presents the following report of its proceedings during the year 1907: — Board.—The members in office at the beginning of the year were: North Ward —Mr. A. R. Harris, Mr. J. D. McKenzie, and Mr. J. Stallworthy, M.P.; East Ward—Mr. L. J. Bagnall, Mr. H. J. Greenslade, M.P., and Mr. C. J. Parr; West Ward—Mr. C. T. Barriball, Mr. G. Edgecumbe, and Mr. F. W. Lang, M.P. Messrs. McKenzie and Greenslade retired in August, and were re-elected for the North and East Wards respectively. For the West Ward Mr. G. J. Garland was elected to succeed Mr. Lang, who did not offer himself for re-election. Mr. Bagnall has acted as Chairman during the year. Twenty-three meetings of the Board were held, with an average attendance of seven members. A committee of the whole Board meets every fortnight to deal with matters of finance and the selection of teachers. Schools.—The number of schools in operation at the end of 1907 was 484, including eightytwo schools taught half-time. Four schools were permanently closed —namely, Ararimu, Oio, Orahiri, and Whakahara. Four schools in the County of Waitomo were taken over from the Taranaki Education Board, and two schools on the Main Trunk Railway line were transferred to the Wanganui Education Board. In eight schools arrangements are made for ferrying children to and from school. It has not been found practicable to arrange for the conveyance of children by road, owing (1) to the insufficiency of the grant for the purpose, and (2) to the condition of the roads in many of the outlying settlements. Teachers.—The teachers employed in December, 1907, numbered 947—males, 429; females, 518. This number includes 160 pupil-teachers. There are thus 787 teachers above pupil-teacher rank, and of these 187 are not yet fully certificated. The Board has experienced no little difficulty in providing teachers for the smaller country schools. Attendances.—At the end of the year there were 33,174 scholars enrolled in the public schools, being 719 more than the number in December, 1906. The number of Maori and half-caste scholars was 2,144, in attendance at 238 schools. The yearly average attendance was 28,057, being less than that for the previous year. This decrease is due to the prevalence of various epidemics in all parts of the district during the greater portion of the year. Teachers are required to forward monthly returns of irregular attendance, which are dealt with by the Truant Officer. His work during the year included 351 visits to schools, the examination of 3,234 returns, and the issue of 2,229 notices to parents. There were 294 informations laid against parents for non-compliance with the provisions of the Act. These resulted as follows : The number of convictions was 206, 66 cases were adjourned owing to non-service of summonses or other cause, 22 were withdrawn, none were dismissed. Scholarships.—The scholarships under tenure at the end of 1807 were: Junior National, 14; Junior District, 68; Senior District, 23: total, 105. The Board has received satisfactory reports of the diligence and progress of the holders. District High Schools.—Ten district high schools have been in operation during the year, at which there were 379 pupils in attendance at the end of the year. Training College.—Thirty-six students attended the Training College during the year. Twenty-seven students have completed the two years of their training, and all except two are now teaching in the public schools. The report of the Principal shows that, in spite of the limited accommodation, good work has been done during the year. The building now being erected will afford accommodation for eighty students. Physical and Military Drill. —The Board has to report that due attention is given to the requirements of the Act in respect of physical and military drill. In most of the schools exercises are practised daily. Military drill is taught whenever possible, and there are fifty-seven schools in which cadet corps have been organized. The cadets of the Auckland, Thames, and Ohinemuri Battalions have received a week's instruction in camp, with most beneficial results. It is desired that provision may be made by regulation for the military instruction of cadets after leaving school. Manual and Technical Instruction. —The report of the Director shows that no less a number than 1,150 students were in attendance at the Auckland Technical College during the year. A day-school for boys and girls has been established, with an attendance of 170. The three manual training schools at Auckland, and those at Thames and Whangarei, have provided instruction in cookery and woodwork for the boys and girls of the upper standards of the primary schools. Instruction in brush drawing or other handwork has been given in 231 schools. Systematic instruction in agriculture and nature-study has been given in ninety schools, and classes for the instruction of teachers have been held in various centres. The new Technical College, when erected, will provide ample accommodation for the classes which are now suffering from disadvantage of inadequate accommodation. Technical continuation classes have been established at the larger centres of population, and classes for the technical training of teachers have been held at Auckland, Thames, and Whangarei. Finance.—At the beginning of the year there was a balance in hand of £13,429 Is. 9d., including the donation of £10,000 from the trustees of the Auckland Savings-bank, towards the cost of a new building for the Technical College. A subsidy of £1 for £1 on this donation was received from Government during the year. The receipts during 1907 amounted to £187,530 16s. lid.; while the expenditure was as follows : Administration and Teachers' Salaries Account,