35

E.—l

Special School for the Feeble-minded. Numbers as at 31st December, 1913:— M. F. In residence .. . . .. .. .. 69 • Boarded out .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Total of both sexes .. .. .. .. .. 73 Of the above number under control ten were over twenty-one years of age. The procedure in regard to the retention of control beyond that age is similar to that already described in respect of inmates of industrial schools. 1912-13. 1913-14. £ £ Salaries .. .. .. .. .. 2,127 2,471 Maintenance of pupils .. .. .. 2,119 2,426 Maintenance of buildings .. .. .. 524 315 Farm and stock .. .. .. 485 270 Additional buildings, furniture, &c. .. .. 160 121 ~~ O j 110 -* 0 j OUo Less — Amount collected from parents by way of maintenance contributions .. 862 777 Amount collected from Charitable Aid Boards .. .. 810 857 Sundry other recoveries .. .. 207 83 1,879 1,717 Net expenditure .. .. .. .. £3,536* £3,886* * Including for 1912-13 £225, and for las; year £274 from national endowment revenue. MANUAL AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. Manual Instruction in Public Schools. (E.-3.—Tables Jl and ,T2). Recognized classes were held in connexion with 70 per cent, of the public schools, an increase of 2 per cent. The percentages for the various education districts were as follows :— Percentage of Schools District at w hi°h Instruction was given. 1912. 1913. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 52 56 Taranaki ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 72 76 Wanganui... ... ... ... ... ... ... 92 95 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... 76 71 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... ... ... 74 81 Marlborough ... ... ... ... ... ... 65 48 Nelson ... . . ... ... ... ... ... 50 52 Grey ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 27 57 Westland... ... ... ... ... ... ... 41 24 North Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... ... 74 75 South Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... ... 58 59 Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 75 77 Southland... ... ... ... , ... ... ... 97 97 Classes were held at 1,572 schools, an increase of 64. The number of classes was 6,441, as compared with 6,297 for the previous year. Payments by way of capitation and subsidies on voluntary contributions in money or kind totalled £30,691, an increase of £6,000. The average rate of payment per class was £4-7. Special grants in aid of buildings and equipment totalling £4,538 were made to controlling authorities during the year. New buildings or additions to buildings for manual instruction have been erected during the year, or are in course of erection, at Waihi, Waipawa, Sydenham, Lawrence, Tokomairiro, Balclutha, and Invercargill, while necessary equipment has been provided for classes at Helensville, Pukekohe, Waihi, Eketahuna, Otaki, Tapanui, Mosgiel, Tokomairiro, Lawrence, Balclutha, and Invercargill.