Appendix A.]

E.—2.

District High Schools. — There are four district high sohools —namely, at Westport, Reefton, Motueka, and Takaka. The number of students in attendance at the secondary classes in each of these schools can only be termed satisfactory. Considering the facilities provided, it seems a pity that more support is not accorded to the special departments. A matter which will require the early attention of the Government is the grade of salaries of secondary assistants, which should be substantially raised if the services id' able teachers are to be retained. Private Schools. —-The majority of private schools have been inspected by the Board's Inspectors. The issue of a general certificate of exemption for the pupils attending one private school was declined. Attendance. —The number of scholars on the roll on the 31st December was 6,250. The average attendance for the year was 5.562. being an increase of 216 on the average for the year preceding. The percentage of average attendance to average weekly roll number was S9-07. ft is admitted thai a somewhat better percentage should he secured. School-work in several portions of the district is considerably interfered with by the requirements of agricultural pursuits, labour being tequired for gathering hops. peas, and fruit generally. The Board lias endeavoured to arrange school vacations at convenient periods, so that children may be free to assist in the gathering of crops, but the holidayperiods cannot possibly cover the whole time the labour is required : and it is a difficult matter to insist on the prompt return to school of all children of school age when their services in the field are sci urgently required. The Board has under serious consideration the matter of improving the regularity in attendance by the appointment of Truant Officers, and it is probable that such appointments will be made this year. Scholarships. —There were seven Junior National, one Senior Hoard, and fifteen Junior Board Scholarships held during the year. The Senior Scholarship is provided by the Nelson College Governors. The Tinline Scholarship will be open for competition this year. Conveyance and Board of Children. —The more liberal arrangements allowed by the Department during the year for providing grants in aid of board of children who have to live away from home in order to attend school, and for conveyance or ferrying of children to school, is appreciated. The number of families availing themselves of the assistance provided has increased : in two eases it obviated the necessity for establishing household schools. Free. Text-books. —Satisfaction is also expressed at the arrangements made to provide grants for the purchase of continuous readers for class-teaching, and subsidizing school libraries, in lieu of grants for free text-books. The Board especially welcomes the encouragement now- given for the establishment and maintenance of school libraries. Physical and Military Drill. —The Board has to report that attention was given in the various schools to the requirements of the Act in respect to physical and military drill. The appointment of special instructors for physical training of children is to be commended. Manual and Technical. —As usual, there are a large number of handwork and manual-training classes conducted in the primary schools. Agriculture and dairy-work are carried out under the supervision of a special instructor, and woodwork, cookery, and ironwork are also taught by a special staff. Instruction in cookery has been extended to Motueka. The technical schools at Nelson and Westport have been well supported in the matter of attendance, but the Boaid much regrets that more assured provision is not made for the finances of these institutions. The liberality of the local bodies in the matter of donations for the manual-training school at Reefton, and for the Westport Technical School, is gratefully acknowledged ; but to the present hut little assistance has been afforded by local bodies and the general public to the Nelson Technical School. The method of payment of capitation grants requires to be much improved, the delay in settling claims forcing the issue of temporary advances from the General Account. Toyvards the close of the year, the Director (Mr. A. A. Hintz) resigned, and the Board temporarily appointed Mr. F. C. J. Cockburn to undertake the Director's duties in conjunction with his own position as art master at Nelson. There is every reason to believe that the arrangement made will prove most satisfactory. Buildings. —A substantial amount was expended on the repair and upkeep of school buildings generally, and new schools yvere erected at Glenhope and Tui. A side school to Rockville was erected at Dall's Creek, an addition made to the Takaka District High School, and the new school at Neudorf was enlarged. A residence was provided for the teacher at Summerlea. The Board is faced with the rebuilding of several schools, including the school at Motueka ; and, although special representations were made to the Department and to Parliament for assistance in rebuilding the last-named school, the Board was only successful in securing the usual allowance made for the difference in the cost of erection as between brick and wood. It is probable that the school will lie rebuilt in brick during the present year. Another pressing work the Board was faced with during the year was the completion of the brick school at Westport. and the necessity for making provision for further accommodation. The matter of obtaining a grant for the increased accommodation required was placed before the Department early in the year, but a definite reply was not received until after the close of the year. The urgency of providing more accommodation at the schools at Seddonville, Granity. Millerton, and Nelson Girls was also represented, but no grants were made available. Finances. —At the close of the year there was a net credit balance of £425 ss. 9d. An instalment of the buildings-maintenance"grant was due, amounting to £900 ; also technical-capitation grants, subsidies, &c, amounting to £1,200. The expenditure on technical education is of necessity being considerably curtailed, as this department cannot continue to be provided for at the expense of the general funds of the Board. Thanks. —The relations with the various School Committees have been most cordial, and the Board desires to thank them for the help accorded in the management of the educational affairs of the district. I have, &c, the Minister of Education, Wellington. L. D. Easton, Chairman.

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