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extended its congratulations. During the time he has held office the relations between the Board and the present Minister have been of the same cordial nature as characterized those with the former. The Board recognizes that with the means at his command the Minister will do his utmost in the cause of education. Conclusion.—ln conclusion, the Board desires to place on record the loyal co-operation of Inspectors, of teachers, and of School Committees in promoting the cause of education in the Auckland Education District. I have, &c., Arch. Burns, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.

TARANAKI. Sir, — In accordance with the requirements of the Education Act, 1914, I have the honour, on behalf of the Taranaki Education Board, to present the following report of our proceedings for the year 1926 :— This Board is divided into three wards and includes one urban district. The representative members are as follows : Central Ward (seventy-two schools) —Rev. J. L. A. Kayll and Mr. F. H. Sims ; North Ward (fifty-eight schools) —Messrs. H. Dempsey and P. J. H. White; South Ward (thirty-six schools) —Messrs. H. J. Eaves and A. Lees ; Urban District of New Plymouth (six schools) —Messrs. R. J. Deare and S. G. Smith. At the biennial election in August last all retiring members, Messrs. F. H. Sims, P. J. H. White, A. Lees, and S. G. Smith were nominated and returned unopposed. Thirteen ordinary meetings were held monthly during the year, and much valuable time has been freely given by individual members, to sub-committee meetings and in visiting various localities for purposes of administration. The following schools were opened during the year : Waiteika, Grade 1, 26th April, 1926 ; Lower Mangorei, Grade lIIa, 2nd February, 1926 : and two Grade 0 Schools—Okara Road and Piko—were closed. The Kent Road School and old Lower Mangorei School were closed and the pupils conveyed by bus to the new Lower Mangorei School. Your Department wisely procured several suitable sites for schools during the year, including 4 acres at Turuturu, near Hawera ; 1 acres at Lower Mangorei; and 5J acres at West End, New Plymouth. Additional areas were also purchased for Pungarehu and Ara.rata Schools. During the year my Board, following its usual policy of endeavouring to visit as many schools as possible, paid several official visits to schools in outlying districts. It is to be regretted that two good school buildings were totally destroyed by fire—Rotokare and Whangamomona Schools —and also the teacher's residence at Toko. Buildings. —The Board's building activities have increased considerably during the past year. The following new works were completed : Lower Mangorei, Raekohua, Omata, Waiteika, Whangamomona, Norfolk, Puniho, Tariki, Rahotu, Opunake (concrete), Manaia (concrete), Central, Mokau, Pungarehu, Yogeltown (concrete), Westown (concrete) ; Kapuni, Rotokare, Roto, and Opua (movable classrooms) ; Mangatupoto, and Raekohua (movable residences) ; Toko and Oakura (residences). In addition to the above, fifteen schools and twelve residences were painted and renovated throughout. The Board has been able to secure a fine new site for the West End School, and work was started on the removal at the end of the year. The Board's workshops have more than justified their existence. It has proved a great asset in the equipment and general building work of the Board. The erection of the new school at the Mangorei Cross Roads enabled the Board to do away with two very old buildings —the Lower Mangorei and Kent Road Schools. .The centralization and conveyance of children to the new school has proved a great success. Awards for Merit. —The Bayly Memorial Scholarship for athletics was won by R. Thomas, of the Hawera Technical High School ; there were forty entries. The Cuthbert Shield, awarded to schools of Grade 3a and upwards for arrangement and care of school-grounds, was won by the Ohangai School. The Tisch Shield, awarded to schools below Grade 3, was won by the Matau School. Medical Inspection. —Five thousand children were examined and 2,089 defects notified to parents. 2,442 children had defective teeth, 74 defective eyesight, 718 obstructed breathing, and 101 skindisease. Of these, 1,385 defective teeth, 51 defective eyesight, 251 obstructed breathing, and 83 skin-disease were treated. Dental Treatment of Children. —During the year there have been one thousand nine hundred children under treatment at the New Plymouth clinic and three hundred at the Hawera clinic. In March a dental clinic was opened at Hawera in a small temporary building provided by the Board. The number of pupils treated and the pressing demand from other schools for treatment shows that the establishment was wanted. An improvement in the general health of pupils who are receiving regular dental treatment is noticeable, and it is hoped your Department will increase this service not only in the large town centres, but also in the rural districts.