E.—l

88

Physical Instruction. —In nearly every school in the district physical instruction is taught, and the Board has reason to believe that this branch of work is efficiently oarried on. Cadet corps or detachments are established at seventeen schools. Buildings.—The Board carried out a large building programme during the year. An additional room was erected at the Hampden Street Side School, Nelson, to provide for the increased attendance at the school. A building was erected at Little Wanganui, taking the place of a very dilapidated structure in which the school-work had been carried on. An addition was made to the school building at Kiwi, the teacher's residence at Collingwood was rebuilt, and two rooms added and improvements effected at the teacher's residence, Wai-iti. The rebuilding of the Westport School in brick was advanced a further stage during the year, four class-rooms with corridors being added to the two rooms built in 1905. The Board received a grant of £1,400 from the Government towards the cost of this work, the balance, amounting to .£l,lOO, being supplied by the Board from its ordinary grants. After some lengthened delay the Board has succeeded in rebuilding the school for girls in Nelson on an eminently suitable site in Shelbourne Street. This addition to our scholastic institutions is highly appreciated by the parents and the public generally. The Government being unable to see their way to give a grant for the erection of this building, the Board has provided the necessary funds, and by careful administration has done so without in any way prejudicing the needs or claims of other schools in the district. Superannuation.—ln December last 106 teachers and officials were recorded as being contributors to the Teachers' Superannuation Fund. During the year one contributor retired medically unfit. Manual and Technical Instruction.—Great advances have been made in the district in regard to this important branch of education. The Nelson Technical School has been well supported during the year; technical and school classes in agricultural chemistry and elementary.agriculture, woodwork, cookery, and dressmaking have been held in some of the country centres, while in a large number of the public schools manual instruction has been carried on with every success. An exhibition of technical-school and public-school pupils' work held in Nelson in December last gave a splendid idea of the value of this important branch of education. During the year the Inspectors were appointed Superintendents of Manual and Technical Instruction, and the Board now takes this opportunity of expressing its appreciation of the very efficient manner in which they have carried out their duties. This remark also applies to the local Superintendents at Reefton and Westport. Owing to the great increase of work in this department the Board has now appointed a Director of Technical Schools. The new building at Wakefield for technical classes was completed at the beginning of the year, and has proved suitable in every respect for its purpose. The Board regrets that up to the present the Department has not seen its way to authorise the erection of a similar building at Motueka, where equal demands seem to exist. A new building for technical classes at Westport has now been authorised, and plans are being prepared by the Board's Architect. Finance.—The appended general statement of receipts and expenditure shows that the Board's .position financially is satisfactory. The request made to the Department during the year—viz., that the Education Department and the Audit Department should come to an understanding regarding the forms on which the statements of receipts and expenditure and balances are entered— is again reiterated. The present arrangement is unsatisfactory, resulting as it does in the Board being practically denied a clear certificate from the Auditor-General, presumably owing to a difference of opinion between the two Departments. It is with regret that we have to record the removal by death of our Secretary, Mr. Stead Ellis, since the close of the year. The Board desires to place on record the long and faithful services rendered by the late Mr. Ellis to the Board and to the cause of education generally. Thanks. —The thanks of the Board are tendered to the various School Committees for the faithful and willing assistance rendered in the administration of the educational affairs of the district for the past year. I have, &c, A. T. Maginnity, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education.