E.— 2.

[Appendix A.

WESTLAND. Sir, — Education Office, Hokitika, 14th January, 1913. I have tiie honour to present the report of the Westland Education Board for the year ended the 31st December, 1912. The Board. —The arrangement of wards remained the same as in the previous year. The representation was : North Ward, Messrs. T. W. Duff, T. T. Jones, and R. Rouse ; Middle Ward, Messrs. T. W. Beare, •). J. Clarke, and G. A. Perry ; South Ward, Messrs. A. Cumming, J. Grimmond, and H. L. Michel. In August Messrs. Bruce, Rouse, and Cumming retired. The two latter were returned unopposed, and Mr. Linklater was elected in place of Mr. Rouse. In October Mr. R. Wells was elected to fill tiie vacancy caused by tiie resignation of Mr. T. W. Beare. Appreciation of the services of both retiring members was recorded. Messrs. G. A. Perry and J. J. Clarke were reappointed as Chairman and Treasurer respectively. During the year Mr. Michel acted as representative on the High School Board of Governors. Twelve meetings have been held during the year, and the attendance of members has been as follows : Mr. Perry, 12 ; Messrs. Clark and Duff, 11 ; Messrs. Cumming and Michel, 10 ; Messrs, Grimmond and Jones. 8 : Mr. Beare. 6 : Messrs. Rouse and Linklater, 5 : Mr. Wells, 3. Schools. \t tue beginning of the year thirty-six schools were in operation. Owing to the closing ol the Kawhaka and Waitangi Schools tiie Dumber was reduced to thirty-four at the end of the year. In addition, five private sciiools were submitted to inspection. Of the public schools at the end of the year, six were in Grade 0 (I 8). twelve in Grade I (9 15), six in Grade II (16-25) ; two in Grade 111 (26 35). lour in Grade IV (36-80), two (including a side school) in Grade V (81-120), and one in Grade VIIIa (301 350). In the secondary classes sixty-two pupils have attended, and the roll number ai tin- end of tiie year was fifty-one. Five pupils were holders of Board Scholarships and four of National Scholarships. Attendance. —The roll Dumber at the end of the year was 1,199. an increase id' sixty-three. The average attendance was S9-(i per cent, of the average roll number. Four pupils received special recognition for attendance for at least five years without missing a half-day. Teachers.— The number of teachers under permanent engagement during the year was fifty-three, including seven head teachers, twenty-six sole teachers, twelve assistants, six pupil-teachers, and two probationers. Tiie qualifications of the teachers were: Certificates —Seven head teachers, seven assistants, one pupil-teacher, and live sole teachers: Matriculation or Junior Civil Service—Ten sole teachers, four pupil-teachers, and two probationers: No special qualification —Fifteen sole teachers. fou. assistants, and one pupil-teacher. Manutd anil Technical Instruction. Tin- following recognized classes have been in operation : (I.) Physiology and hygiene—A teachers' class was in operation for thirteen weeks, under the instruction of Miss Oiliver, M.A.. M.Sc., and Dr. Macandrew ; thirty-seven teachers attended. (2.) Correlation of handwork with other subjects —A teachers' class conducted for thirteen weeks, under the instruction of Mr. L. F. de Berry. M.A. (3.) Elementary agriculture—Three schools. (4.) Physical measurements Hokitika secondary class (boys). (5.) Physiology Hokitika secondary class (girls). (6.) Handwork classes Thirteen schools. Physical Instruction. — In addition to the course followed by a Cadet corps and a Cadet detachment, practically all pupils receive training in manual and breathing exercises. Finance. Tiie annual statement of accounts shows a credit balance in the Administration and Building Accounts, but a debtor balance in the Secondary and Technical Accounts. Grants due will increase the balance in the Administration Account, and will remove the debtor balances. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. Wellington. G. A. Perry, Chairman.

GR E Y. Sir, — Education Office, Greymouth, 22nd May, 1913. I have the honour to present the report of the Education Board of the District of Grey for the year ending the 31st December, 1912. Board. —At the beginning of the year the Board consisted of Messrs. H. J. Bignell (Chairman), F. H. Kilgour (Treasurer), Jas. Kerr, J. Noble, J. Ryall, J. Flynn, W. R. Kettle, J. McCarthy, and the Hon. Jas. Marshall. In connexion with the statutory elections held in July, Messrs. Noble, Flynn, and Bignell retired as members for the Northern, Eastern, and Western Wards respectively, and all were candidates for re-election. Messrs. Noble and Bignell were re-elected, and for the Eastern Ward Mr. E. W. J'enhalluriack defeated Mr. Flynn by a narrow majority. At the annual meeting following the elections Messrs. 11. J. Bignell and F. H. Kilgour were reappointed Chairman and Treasurer respectively. Later in the year Mr. Jas. Kerr (an ex-Chairman of the Board) resigned, having purchased the Petone Chronicle newspaper ; and in September Mr. Louis D. Williams was elected for the Northern Ward for Mr. Kerr's unexpired term of office. In October the Board lost a valued member and ex-Chairman through the death of the Hon. James Marshall, M.L.C., who had been continuously a member since the inception of the Board, and ever took a keen and active interest in educational affairs. At an election held in November Mr. James Creagh was elected to fill the extraordinary vacancy thereb3 r created. Schools. —At the 31st December in the Board's district there were in active operation thirty-two schools, graded as follows : Grade 0, 3 ; Grade I, 12 ; Grade 11, 6 ; Grade 111, 1 ; Grade IV, 5 ; Grade V, 1 ; Grade Vlb, 2 ; Grade VIIa, 1 ; Grade IXc (including a side school), 1. In February the Inchbonnie Schoolhouse was destroyed by a bush-fire, and the school has since been conducted

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