Appt-NT-tx A.l

III

E.—2.

Agriculture Instruction. —Mr. R. A. S. Browne was appointed Director of Agriculture in September, 1916. The late start did not permit of much immediate work in the way of organization, but schemes of work for the future were outlined and adopted. Arrangements have been made to hold a short course of instruction at Easter, 1917, for a fortnight. In this the whole of the suggested scheme of instruction —viz., nature-study, agriculture, and dairy-work—will be covered. It was agreed that all teachers in the Board's service should attend. Visiting Schools. —During the year the Board adopted a policy of visiting schools, and practically the whole of the schools coming under the Board's jurisdiction through the enlargement, of the district have been visited. The personal knowledge gained of the needs of each locality will be a distinct advantage when administering the business of the Board. Further, it has the effect of bringing the School Committees into closer touch with members of the Board to the advantage of all concerned. I have, &c, Robert MasteßS, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education. Wellington.

WANGANUI. Sir,— Education Office, Wanganui, 31st March, 1917. In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, I submit herewith a report on the progress of education in this district during the year 1916. Board. —As required by section 16 of the Act, all members of the Board retired in July last. An election for ten members took place on the 19th July, the following being returned : Wanganui Urban Area —Messrs. F. Pirani and R. J. Sewell; Palmerston North Urban Area — Messrs. L. R. Bryant and E. L. Broad; West Ward —Messrs. W. A. Collins and E. F. H. Hemingway; North Ward—Messrs. R. L. Christie and A. .1. Joblin; South Ward —Messrs. A. Fraser and H. Mclntyre. For the Palmerston North Urban Area and for the North and South "Wards only two nominations were received in each case. The only members of the old Board who offered themselves for re-election were Messrs. F. Pirani, A. Fraser, and W. Bruce. At the first meeting of the new Board Mr. F. Pirani was appointed Chairman. During the past ten years the Board was responsible for the introduction, on the advice and with the assistance of the Chief Inspectors, of a number of education reforms and innovations, amongst the most prominent being rural and agricultural education; the development of manual and technical instruction; the Montessori system; the organization of compulsory continuation classes; the appointment of an itinerant instructor in drawing; the appointment of an organizer of school-work; the establishment of a teachers' circulating library; the publication of an official journal for teachers (The Leaflet); summer and winter schools for the training of teachers; a scheme for the grading, classification, and promotion of teachers; the importing of school material; and the scheme propounded by members which rendered possible the erection of the Wanganui Technical College, the Wanganui Central Infants' School, and the Board's offices without financial assistance from the Government. In 1906 there was only one technical school in the Wanganui Education District; last year, before the alteration in the boundaries of the district took place, there were twelve well-equipped technical schools. The number of centres at which technical classes were held increased from ten to thirty-five. The annual receipts under the heading of " Manual and Technical Instruction " increased by £6,394, and the expenditure by £5,734. The voluntary contributions received during ten years amounted to £7,501. The number of schools at which instruction in elementary agriculture was given rose from forty-six to 157. Schoolx and Attendance.- —New schools were opened at Te Rimu, Riariaki, and Rakautangi (Grade 0), Makirikiri Valley, Woodlands, and Potaka Road (Grade 1), part-time schools at Taumatatnhi, Marohenia, and Ridge Road, and a side school on St. John's Hill, attached to the Queen's Park School. The Makohau School was reopened. The schools at Makowliai, Manui, Mount Curl, Pine Creek, and part-time schools at Taumatatabi and Marohenia were closed. The Marohenni School was reopened as a full-time school. At the close of the year there were open 195 main schools, three side schools, and four half-time schools, graded as follows: Grade 0, 11; Grade I, 60; Grade 11, 37; Grade lIIa, 49; Grade TIIb, 10; Grade IVa, 12; Grade IVb, I; Grade IVo, I; Grade Va, 5; Grade Vb, 2; Grade Yd, 3; Grade Vl a, I; Grade Vlb, 4; Grade VIId, .1. The number of children on the rolls at the close of the year was 14,829. Of these, 130 were in the secondary departments of district high schools. The average attendance for the year was 13,774, The attendance expressed as a percentage of the average weekly roll number was 88"5, which is o'9 lower than the previous year. By the alteration in the boundaries of the district twenty-five schools, with an average attendance of 2,170, were transferred to the Taranaki District, while eight schools with an average attendance of 588, formerly under the Auckland Board, were added to the Wanganui District. The net loss in the average attendance to this district was therefore 1.582. The Truant Officer paid 306 visits to schools during the year. 232 summonses were issued to parents. In the 177 cases proceeded with ten wire dismissed and 167 convictions were recorded. The fines inflicted and the costs awarded amounted to £90 Is. Teachers. -The number of teachers in the Board's service on the 31st December, excluding pupil-teachers and probationers, was 436—173 males and 263 females. The number of uncertificated teachers was 156, but of these ten were teachers in charge of Grade 0 schools, and thirteen were teaohers holding temporary positions during the war. Of the remainder, fifty-four were in charge of Grade J schools, twenty-one were in charge of Grade II schools, and fifty-eight were assistants. Omitting the teachers in Grade 0 schools, those temporarily employed, and ten teachers who were granted certificates early in the current year, the percentage of uncertificated teachers was 29"7.