Appendix A. I

E.-2.

XV

the appreciation of bhe value of school life is furnished by the recent issue for the second successive year of three special certificates to pupils that have attended for live years or more without missing a half-day. Teachers. —The number of teachers under engagement during the year was fifty-three, including several head teachers, twelve assistants, twenty-seven sole teachers, five pupil-teachers, and two probationers. The teachers held qualifications as follows : Certificates—Seven head teachers, four sole teachers, and seven assistants; Junior Civil Service or Matriculation Examination —Ten sole teachers, five pupil-teachers, two probationers; Without special qualification— Thirteen sole teachers and five assistants (of these eight are in schools of Grade 0). Scholarships.- — The Board's Scholarships in force are seven —viz., four town, one suburban, and one country. Three Junior National Scholarships have been held —viz., two town and one country. At bhe examination held by the Education Department in December there were fifteen candidates. The scholarships awarded were cue National, one country, one suburban, and one (own. Manual and Technical Instruction. — (1.) Physical measurements: A teachers' special class was in operation for twenty weeks under the tuition of Mr. H. (!. Wake. B.A. ; twenty-two teachers attended. Three school classes were continued in Hokitika with the attendance of seventy-eight pupils. (2.) Elementary agriculture: School gardens were maintained in connection with four schools. (3.) Handwork : Thirteen recognized school classes. Physical Instruction.—A cadet corps has been maintained in the Hokitika District High School. In a number of schools a programme of company drill has been prepared. In nearly every school of the district physical drill, including manual and breathing exercises, has been included in the course of instruction. In the larger towns the scout movement has been initiated under direction independent of the schools. Finance. —Tlie annual statement of accounts is presented. The recent enactment requiring the payment from the Administration Fund of a capitation of ss. 6d. for the incidental expenses of schools will have a serious effect on this fund. The Board has already intimated that it cannot accept responsibility for the result. The expenditure in the Building Fund was, during the year. curtailed as much as possible, and the provision made by the Governmeni enabled the operations to result in a credit balance. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. G. A. Perry, Chairman.

NORTH CANTERBURY. Sir, — Education Office, Christchurch, 4th May, 1911. I have the honour to present the following report of the proceedings of the Education Hoard of the District of North Canterbury for the year ending 31st December, 1910: — The Board.—The members whose term of office expired under the provisions of the Act were Mr. liovd, Mr. Hardy, and Mr. Jamieson, representing the North, South, and Central Wards respectively. For the North Ward Mr. liovd was re-elected unopposed, and, at an election held on the 25th July, Mr. C. A. C. Hardy and Dr. C. J. Russell were elected for the South and Central Wards respectively. At the Board's annual meeting, held on the 11th August, Mr. C. H. A. T. Opie was elected Chairman of the Board and ex officio member of each Committee. During the year the Board held eighteen meetings, the Buildings Committee nineteen, the Appointments Committee thirty-four, and the Normal School and Technical Committee nineteen. In the month of September the Board suffered a severe loss through the death of Mr. Peryman, who had been a member of the Board continuously since 1881. He had served on all Committees, and in the years 1890, 1896, and 1903 was Chairman. For many years Mr. Peryman was also Chairman of the Buildings Committee. The Board unanimously passed a resolution recording its high appreciation of the long and valuable service rendered by Mr. Peryman in the cause of education, and its deep regret at his death. At an election held on the 31st October, the vacancy in respect of the South Ward caused by the death of Mr. Peryman was filled by the election of Mr. George Rennie, who was also appointed a member of the Buildings Committee. The Board's Representatives.—On the several Boards of Managers of Technical Classes the Board was represented as follows : Christchurch, Mr. C. H. A. T. Opie, Mr. H. Langford, Mr. E. K. Mulgaii (on the resignation of Mr. Mulgan, owing to his leaving the district, Mr. I. S. Foster was appointed as one of the Board's representatives); Banks Peninsula (Akaroa), Mr. J. Bruce, Mr. J. S. Dodds; Ashburton, Mr. W. H?*Collins, Mr. .7. Tucker; Lyttelton, Mr. J. R. Webb; I'angiora, Mr. H. Boyd. 'I , he Board's representatives on the several High School Boards continued without alteration, as follows: Akaroa, Mr. W. 11. Montgomery, Mr. R. Latter; Ashburton, Mr. W. B. Denshire. Mr. J. Tucker; Rangiora, Mr. 11. Boyd. Mr. A. S. Bruce. Buildinos. —The total expenditure under the head of buildings during 1910 was £9,070 I (is. 9d. New schools have been erected at Tuahiwi and Lakeside to replace the buildings destroyed by tire on 27th July, 1909, and 15th April, 1010, respectively. At the date of tins report good progress has been made with the new and commodious school in Somerfield Street. Teachers' houses have been provided at Greendale and Hapuku, in the former case to replace the residence burnt down in the previous year. At Birdling's Flat the residents have erected a school building which will be taken over by the Hoard should the necessary attendance be maintained. The old infants' room at Burwood has been replaced by an up-to-date class-room, substantial additions have been made to the Phillipstown and Linwood Schools, and also to the teacher's residence at Hornby. In a large number of cases school buildings have received a thorough overhaul, involving a considerable expenditure, among them being Ashburton, Gloucester Streel (Christchurch East), Culverden, Mount Somers. Southbridge, ami Sydenham. During the