E.—l.

Large works are in progress at the Central School, New Plymouth; Miramar Central (Infant School), Karori West, and Te Aro, Wellington ; Timaru South, Blackball, Canterbury; Takaka, Nelson; Kurow, and. at North-east Harbour, Otago. Additional accommodation is being provided at the Christchurch Training College, Rangiora High School, Takapuna Grammar School, Petone and G-reymouth Technical Schools. Hostel accommodation is being erected at the Wanganui Technical School, Nelson Boys' College (where the dormitory accommodation was completely destroyed by earthquake), and New Plymouth Boys' High School; and the Massey Agricultural College main building is nearing completion. Native schools have been improved, particularly in regard to sanitary conveniences. During the year under review the Government Fire Insurance Fund was called on to provide £6,671 for the replacement and repair of schools destroyed or damaged by fire. Owing to the recent disastrous earthquake in Hawke's Bay a considerable sum will be required to restore school buildings in that district. In Napier the partially completed Girls' High School and the new technical school were extensively damaged, and the old technical school collapsed. The Nelson Park and Central Schools, Napier, and the Hastings West School were so badly damaged that their demolition was necessary. A three-roomed brick school at Greenmeadows collapsed, and the Hastings High School and Boys' High School, Napier, were also damaged. Practically the whole of the schools in the earthquake area suffered more or less. New schools in wood are now being erected at Hastings West, Napier Central, and Nelson Park, and good progress is being made with necessary repairs to all other schools. The following table shows for the year ended 31st March, 1931, the amount expended by the Department on new buildings, additions, sites, and teachers' residences :— £ Public schools .. .. .. .. .. 202,229 Secondary schools . . . . . . 125,742 Technical schools . . . . . . . . • ■ 77,729 Training colleges . . . . . . . . . . 9,080 Universities . . . . . . . . • • 241 Native schools .. .. .. .. •• 8,872 Schools for mentally backward . . . . . . 5,110 Child-welfare institutions . . . . . . ■ . 1,660 School for the Deaf Kindergartens .. .. .. .. 1,747 Massey Agricultural College . . . . . . 68,825 Canterbury Agricultural College . . . . . . 109 Total .. .. .. •• £501,344 In arriving at these figures, credits-in-aid have first been deducted.

4