Appendix A.]

E.—2.

The Napier woodwork, cookery, and dressmaking classes are held in the Napier Technical College. The limited time during which the College class-rooms are available to primary classes has prevented many of the Napier pupils from obtaining advantages which accrue from attendance at these classes. Moreover, on several occasions the Board's Director has complained that the work accomplished at this centre does not reach his requirements, and compares unfavourably with the work done at other Hawke's Bay centres. He has long recommended the establishment of a manual-training centre for primary-school pupils, and in this he is strongly supported by your local Inspectors. The Board sincerely hopes that when next reporting to you it will be in a position to place on record its appreciation of the establishment of such a building as is suggested, and to report the increased efficiency and additional achievements due to the additional facilities. Physical Instruction. —During the early part of the year the Department's instructors in physical exercises paid a visit to many of the schools in the district, and where possible held special classes of instruction for teachers. The Inspectors report, that the requirements in the matter of physical instruction have been systematically carried out, except in some of the more remote schools, the teachers of which have had no opportunity of receiving instruction. It is hoped i<> hold this year special classes in physical instruction in connection with the teachers' summer and winter schools for uncertificated teachers. Those teachers who in the past have not received instruction under the supervision of the Department's experts will be required to attend. Scholarships. —Scholarships in tenure at the end of 1916 were—Board Junior, 26; Board Senior, 9; Wairoa County Council, 2; Junior National Scholarship, .16; Senior National Scholarship, 3. Buildings. —During the year a new school was erected al Waingake, and some extensive alterations to a cottage at Te Uri have been carried out to enable the building to serve as a, school and residence. The main building of the Napier School was destroyed by fire in November last. This is a, serious loss at a time like the present, and will cost a great deal to replace. The building was erected on a site which wits much too small for the convenience of the large number of children that attended the school. The Board hopes that you will see your way to assist in acquiring a larger site. The question bristles with difficulties; but the Board trusts these may be overcome and an improved site secured for this important school. The following buildings (which include some of the largest schools in Hawke's Bay) were painted and thoroughly renovated inside and out by the Board's workmen : Schools —Gisborne, Gisborne North, Gisborne West, Gisborne Technical, Hastings Main, Hastings Infant, Hastings Technical, Pukahu, Pakowhai, Meeanee; residences—Hastings, Havelock, Pukahu, Pakowhai. Meeanee. Old furniture continues to be replaced by single and dual desks. Owing to the increased cost of iron standards used, the output was this year much lower than heretofore; 400 duals and 144 singles have been installed. In a number of the old larger schoolrooms partitions have been erected and changes made in regard to lighting and ventilation. The sloping or gallery floors have been levelled in many town and country schools, and a large quantity of blackboard material for teachers' and pupils' use has been erected. Finance. —The receipts for the year totalled £87,028 7s. 9d., and the expenditure was £81,207 3s. 3d. The cash balance at the 31st December, 1916, was £7,963 2s. sd. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. J. H. Sheath, Chairman.

WELLINGTON. Sin, — Education Board, Wellington, 31st March, 1917. In accordance with the requirements of the Education Act, 1914, I beg to submit the following report of the Education Board of the District of Wellington for the year 1916. The outstanding event of the year was the amalgamation of the former Wellington and Marlborough Districts into one new education district, with headquarters in Wellington. Board. —The Board membership of the old. districts was : Wellington—The Hon. .1. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., Sir Walter Buchanan, M.L.C.. Messrs. W. Allan, C. M. Luke, H. Freeman. W. H. Field, M.P., J. Kebbel], A. W. Hogg, and T. Moss. Marlborough—Messrs. J. J. White. R. McCallum. M.P., J. S. Storey. C. Ferguson, P. Nees, A. Mackay, J. Fulton, and E. H. Penny. The vacancy caused by the death of Mr. John Connolly was not Riled. The Minister made the first division of the new district into wards, all members retired on the Bth August, and, an election having previously been held, the Board was composed of —Urban areas : (1) Wellington. City and Boroughs of Karori, Onslow, and Miramar—Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., Messrs. William Allan, Thomas Forsyth, and R. A. Wright, M.P.; (2) Hutt and Petone—Messrs. G. T. London and E. P. Rich-worth. Rural area: (1) Hutt-Horowhenua Ward—Messrs. W. H. Field, M.P., and John Kebbell ; (2) Wairarapa Ward—Messrs. A. W. Hogg and T. Moss; (3) Marlborough Ward —Messrs. E. H. Penny and A. Mackay. The Hon. Mr. Aitken, the retiring Chairman of the Wellington. Board, was elected Chairman of the new Board. The Board placed on record its warm appreciation of the educational services of Sir Walter Buchanan. The Board's representative Managers of Technical Schools were: Wellington—The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., Messrs. Allan, Field, M.P., C. M. Luke, and «G. L. Stewart; Petone—Messrs. J. W. McEwan and D. McKenzie; Masterton —Mr. A. W, Hogg. The membership of the Committee of Advice of the Training College wps : Wellington—The Hon. Mr. Aitken, M.L.C. (Chairman), Senior Inspector Fleming; other education districts served by the College—The Hon. G, Carson. M.L.C; Pro fessorial Board, Victoria College—Professor Kirk.

VII