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Inspectors. During the year two organizing teachers were employed, one in the northern and one in the southern portion of the district. The number of uncertificated teachers is, however, decreasing to such an extent that possibly by 1927 one organizing teacher will be sufficient. Training of Teachers. —No Saturday classes for the training of pupil-teachers and probationers in elementary science, drawing, and handwork were conducted in 1925, owing to the cost of transit and the difficulty of securing qualified instructors. The classes have been reinstituted in 1926. The Board places on record its appreciation of the action of the Department in the steps it has taken to ensure a fairer enrolment of students in the four training colleges. Undoubtedly, the North Island districts have suffered in the past. The number of qualified applicants seeking admission has always been greater in the North Island than in the South Island, yet the same number of studentships have been available in each Island. The scheme now adopted ensures that applicants in each education district will have equal opportunities for admission. One immediate result has been that practically the whole of the Hawke's Bay students who qualified in 1925 have been admitted to South Island colleges in 1926. In this connection also the Department has acted most fairly, two return fares being granted the students each year to ensure that their expenses will not be greater than if they had been admitted to North Island colleges. District High Schools. —At the end of the year there were five district high schools in operation. As in previous years, the first- and second-year pupils of the secondary departments of district high schools took the rural course. The aim of the course is to provide a good general education in secondary subjects, and also to prepare pupils for the Public Service Entrance Examination. The science work has been continued for the third and fourth years, thus enabling pupils to take science for the Matriculation Examination, which they have done with considerable success. The average attendance of the secondary department for each district high school for the year was as follows : Te Karaka, 50; Waipawa, 64 ; Waipukurau, 43 ; Wairoa, 32 ; Woodville, 39 : total, 228. The establishment of the Te Karaka and Wairoa District High Schools was provisional. Both have, however, fully justified their establishment, and steps to erect permanent buildings are now being taken. Hastings Technical High School. —This school has made steady progress, not only in numbers but in efficiency, and fulfils a long-felt want in the district. The roll number at the end of 1925 was 204, compared with 220 in 1924. The development of the school has been hampered by the absence of permanent buildings, but the handsome new buildings of the most modern type, situated on a splendid site of 20 acres, were occupied from the beginning of 1926. Full particulars regarding the work of the school last year are contained in the report of the Director, which has already been forwarded to you. Gisborne Technical School. —Evening technical and continuation classes have been conducted by the Board during the past year at Gisborne, Twelve classes were held, the roll number being 102. Physical Instruction. —An Instructor is permanently located in the district, and full attention Las been given to this important branch of the work. Special remedial classes have been conducted in many of the schools, with a most appreciable physical improvement to the children. Medical and Dental Inspection. —The work proceeded steadily throughout the year. The School Medical Officer reports that the interest and sympathetic co-operation of the teaching staffs in the work of medical inspection has Ijeen well maintained, and that there has been a general improvement in the standard of cleanliness amongst the children, and also in their dietary and general well-being, which has resulted in a marked general improvement in the standard of health of the children in this district. School Committees have co-operated admirably with the teaching staff, and any suggestions made by the Medical Officer have been readily carried out. Almost without exception, a high standard of school hygiene exists in the schools throughout the district. The School Medical Officer (Dr. Clark) is an enthusiast, and he has done excellent work in the interests of the health of the children. Dental clinics are now established at Napier, Hastings, Dannevirke, Waipukurau, and Gisborne, and are proving of great value to the community. Their value has been fully recognized by the parents in other parts of the district, and insistent demands are made for the establishment of additional clinics. The Board regards the expansion of dental treatment as one requiring urgent attention, and trusts that a larger number of dental nurses will be trained in order that a greater number of children can receive the benefit of this treatment. Special Classes.—An opportunity class has been conducted in Napier, and has proved a great benefit to those less fortunate children who are capable of benefiting by instruction in the ordinary school classes. A teacher has also been employed throughout the year at the Napier Public Hospital. Many children while in hospital are quite capable of proceeding with their studies. To them the class has been a boon. Not only has it obviated a break in their education, but it has been a most profitable method of relieving the tedium of their stay in the hospital. Buildings. —A fairly extensive building programme was carried out during the year. New schools were erected at Crownthorpe, Morere, and Napier South. Additions to schools were carried out at Mangaorapa, Raukawa, Te Karaka, Turiroa, and Whakaangiangi. An existing building was purchased and renovated for school purposes at Patoka. Extensive remodelling, with the provision of additional accommodation, was carried out at Mahora, Patutahi, Petane, and Waerengaahika. Partial remodelling was done at Gisborne School, and a small addition made to the Opoutama School residence. School Committees. —The Board greatly appreciates the valuable co-operation of the School Committees, who have practically without exception taken the greatest interest in their school and in the well-being of the children. A general improvement in the school-grounds is noticeable

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