H.—lA.

52

the income derived from the capitation allowance, but the Board is unwilling to reduce the number of scholarships, as the reduction would, it is feared, have the effect of checking the wholesome spirit of competition which they encourage among the pupils of the public schools, besides operating injuriously upon the interests of secondary education. Training of Teachers.-—The report of the Inspector of Schools contains a full statement of the work of the training class. Since the last report the Board has selected the Wellesley Street School as the practising school to be established in connection with the training college ; and an addition to the building is now iu course of erection. The arrangements for the future management of the institution are not yet completed. The Board has received from Mr. F.J. Gladman, 8.A., Superintendent of the Melbourne Training College, a most valuable report on the subject. District High Schools.—None have been established under the Act. The Board had resolved to establish one in the Whangarei district, but this intention was superseded by the passing of the Whangarei High School Act. School and Public Libraries. —A list showing the distribution of the grant for 1879 has already been furnished. Sixty-five public libraries and four school libraries participated in the grant for 1879. The public library returns are forwarded herewith. Forty-three libraries have become incorporated under the Public Libraries Powers Act, 1875. As yet only a few school libraries have been established. Of these the Inspector reports " there can be no doubt that their influence will be good if due care is used in the choice of books. For some years some of the public libraries have added to their catalogues books suitable for young people, and have thus in some measure supplied the want of school libraries. There can, I think, be little doubt that these libraries have, on the whole, done good by diffusing knowledge and helping to sweeten the settler's life." Penny Savings Banks.—The Board has strenuously disapproved any proposal to establish Penny Savings Banks in the public schools of this district, and the printed regulations and other forms issued by the Department were accordingly not distributed. On this subject the Board quotes the following extract from the Inspector's report for last year. "To Penny Savings Banks it appears to me graver objections exist than that of their taking up the teacher's time. They will tend to generate habits of hoarding, which are very different from habits of thrift. They will tend to produce a love of money for itself alone, and, as I believe, a feeling that it must be got, no matter how." Miscellaneous.—lnformation on the matters referred to in Circular No. 43 will be found contained in the Inspector's report. The rules and regulations of the Board have been carefully revised and reprinted, and copies are forwarded herewith, together with copies of the instructions adopted by the Board, and published separately, for the guidance of Teachers. The Board has also prepared and submitted regulations for the employment and examination of pupil teachers, which it was intended to bring into force at the beginning of the present year, but they have not yet received the approval of the Minister of Education. J. M. Clark, Chairman. Auckland, 19th March, 1880.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for Year ending 31st December, 1879. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ a. d. To Balances Ist January, 1879.— By Office and Board — Maintenance Account 684 19 8 Office staff, salaries .. .. 1,110 16 8 Special Building Grants 2,262 10 2 Clerical assistance " .. .. 194 0 10 Grants from Government.— Departmental Contingencies .. 1,511 4 2 Statutory Capitation, (£3 155.) .. 36,219 1 0 School Inspection—Salaries .... 941 13 4 Grants to Committees (10s) .. 4,906 2 6 Travelling expenses .. 299 10 0 Scholarships (Is. 6d.) .. .. 772 4 6 Examination of pupil teachers.. 116 4 8 Inspection subsidy 500 0 0 Teachers' salaries and allowances .. 29,751 3 0 Training Institution .. .. 2.000 0 0 School Committees for educational Special for Buildings 25,690 0 0 purposes .. .. .. 5,174 10 2 Payments by School Commissioners Scholarships— from Education Eeserves .. .. 1,084 5 9 Paid to holders _.. .. 805 0 0 Subscriptions and Donations for Build- Expenses of examinations .. 119 17 0 ings 579 12 0 Girls* High School .. .. 2,771 2 9 From Public Libraries Vote .. .. 956 10 6 Training of teachers .. .. 332 14 1 Girls'High School Fees .. .. 1,599 8 4 Insurance of Buildings (Schools) .. 176 15 0 Training Class Fees .... 20 5 0 School Buildings— Befunds .. .. .... 97 3 5 New Buildings .. .. 19,406 6 9 Bents and Sites .. .. 133 12 6 Enlargements and Improvements 3,963 10 6 Books and Stationery .. .. 137 7 9 School Furniture and appliances not included in preceding .. 2,533 19 11 Purchase of sites .. .. 1,602 7 8 Plans, supervision, &c. .. .. 1,242 7 5 Library Committees out of Public Libraries vote .. .. 742 7 0 Balance in Bank of New Zealand .. 1,800 0 8 £77,522 18 1 £77,522 18 1 J. M. Clark, Chairman. Vincent E. Rice, Secretary. Ist March, 1880. I hereby certify that I have examined this statements of the Receipts and Expenditure of the Education Board, of the District of Auckland during the year ended 31st December, 1879, that I have compared it with the books and vouchers of the Board., and that I find it to be correct, and that the expenditure has been in accordance with law. L. A. Durrieu, Auditor.