Appendix B.

E.—2.

Organized lunch is now a feature in most of our schools. One needs to be present during the lunch-hour at one of the schools to fully appreciate the value of the innovation. Physical Instruction. —The Department's physical instructors have carried out their duties faithfully, and I only wish that they could spend more time in our district. Organizing Teachers. -Good results have followed the appointment of the organizing teachers, and although in some cases the labours of these officers have been in vain, on account of teachers who had been under their care leaving the service just when they were reaching the efficient stage, there is no doubt that their work is bearing fruit, and that the efficiency of the teachers of small country schools is improving. Owing to the large number of backblocks schools in this district, which are too remote to attract certificated teachers, there will always exist here the necessity for some such system as the present system of organizing teachers. Manual and Technical Instruction. —A grant of £15,000 was made by the Department for the erection of a technical high school at Feilding. The building will be ready for occupation by the beginning of next year. For Wanganui a grant was made for the enlargement of the motor-engineering and blacksmithing department, and this work is now completed. A site was secured for a boys' hostel, but as there seemed little prospect of the building being proceeded with in the near future the Board leased premises, which will serve the purpose for the present. A plumbing and engineering workshop was erected at Marton Technical School. Buildings for cookery and woodwork classes have recently been erected at Ohakune. Buildings and Sites. —The new school at Foxton, in brick, was completed during the year. The new Queen's Park School, also in brick, was completed early this year. These buildings are the first in this district to be heated by means of the hot-water radiator system. The new Campbell Street (I'almorston North) Infants' School and Main School, both in brick, were commenced. New schools were erected at Moawhango, Kakariki, Bainesse, and additions made to the schools at Rangiotu and Lytton Street. New latrine buildings, in brick, were erected at Terrace End. Works commenced or in prospect include new schools at Maungaroa Road, Glyneath, Mount Biggs, Putorino, Hukapapa ; additions at Wanganui East; and new residences at Upper Tutaenui and Umumuri. A large amount of repairing and repainting was carried out. It is hoped during the current year to overtake maintenance works which, owing to the abnormal conditions which obtained, fell somewhat in arrear during the past few years. Sites were donated at Hukapapa, Mount Biggs, Glyneath, Putorino, Moawiiango, and were purchased at Rapamii and Castleclifl. Additions were made by purchase to the sites at Keith Street Infants', Wanganui East, Terrace End, and Campbell Street. A portion of the adjoining education reserve was secured for the Taonui School. Finance. — The net credit balance at the end of the year was £4,167 9s. 6d. The Workshop Account was in debit to the extent of £1,231 16s. 2d., but there was stock on hand to that value. The liees Bequest and Alexander Bequest Trust Accounts were in credit £1,131 ss. lid. and £2,437 respectively. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. W. A. Collins, Chairman.

HAWKE'S BAY. Sir,— Napier, 31st March, 1921. In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1914, the Education Board of the District of Hawke's Bay has the honour to submit the following report of its proceedings for the year 1920 :— Board. —The personnel of the Board at the end of the year was as follows : Napier Urban Area— Messrs. J. Clark Thomson and G. W. Venables ; Gisborne Urban Area—Messrs. G. T. Wildish and L. T. Burnard ; North Ward—Messrs. W. Oates and J. R, Kirk ; Middle Ward—Messrs. G. F. Roach and G. McKay ; South Ward —Messrs. E. A. Goodger and R. Soundy. The Board's representation on other educational bodies was as follows : Dannevirke High School Board— Rev. A. Grant, Messrs. R. Soundy and T. H. G. Lloyd ; Napier High School Board—Messrs. G. F. Roach and R. L. Paterson ; Gisborne High School Board —Mr. L. T. Burnard ; Napier Technical College Board —Messrs. R. L. Patorson, R. M. Chadwick, G. W. Venables, and S. H. Tuck ;• Waipawa Technical Classes Association— Messrs. G. McKay, C. H. Critchley, and H. M. Rathbone. Mr. W. L. Dunn, formerly of the Education Department, was appointed Secretary in place of Major G. Crawshaw, and took up his duties early in the year. Number of Schools. —The number of schools in operation at the end of 1919 was 140. During 1920 new schools were opened at Elands, Kaiana, Poututu, Pukehou, Tahunga, Tamumu, and Waerengaokuri; while schools were closed at Hihiroroa, Tangitere, Tβ Hua, Waikari, and Wigan. Side schools attached to Hastings District High School and Woodville District High School were established as separate schools, known respectively as Parkvale and Woodlands Road, during the year. There were 144 schools in operation at the end of the year. Attendance. —The number on the roll at the end of 1920 was 14,489, an increase of 532 during the year. The attendance for the year averaged 12,214, being 86-5 per cent, of the average roll (14,127). The attendance was greatly affected by epidemic sickness, as the low percentage of average attendance to the roll number indicates. In 1919 the percentage of attendance to roll number was 90-7, and on a similar basis in 1920 the attendance would have shown an increase of 395.

V