71

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Summary of the School Fund Incidental Accounts for the Year ending 31st December, 1879. Receipts. £ a. d. Expenditure. £ a. d To Balances in Bank and in hand Ist January, By Bonuses to teachers out of Board's grants 1879 .. .. 905 8 8 to Committees.. .. .. 5 6 8 Eeceipts from Education Board— Cleaning (allowances and requisites) .. 2,396 12 7 Ordinary grants .. .. 4,998 12 2 Euel .. .. .. .. 886 12 4 Special grants .. .. .. 636 8 1 Books and stationery, for general school Donations, subscriptions, &c, from others use.. .. .. .. 708 2 3 than Education Board .. .. 320 13 0 Eepairs not paid for directly by Board .. 898 11 2 Sale of books .. .. .. 187 17 9 Clerks' salaries, £172 12s. 2d; office exSale of old furniture, fencing, &e., .. 7 13 6 penses, £181 Os. lOd. .. .. 353 13 0 Eent of school rooms .. .. 42 5 0 Prizes .. .. .. .. 354 15 11 School fetes or treats .. .. 138 19 2 Beading books or text books supplied free to scholars .. .. .. 4 8 1 Paper, pens, ink, &c, supplied free to scholars .. .. .. 167 9 11 Advertising .. .. .. 228 9 0 Grass and clover seed and sowing .. 2 14 8 Insurance of school furniture .. .. 912 4 Travelling expenses of members of Committees .. .. .. 19 3 Gas .. .. .. .. 0 16 0 Balances .. .. .. 1,141 510 £7,098 18 2 £7,098 18 2

DEILL INSTEUCTOR'S EEPOET. Sir,— . Christchurch, April 12, 1880. I have the honor to submit, for the information of the Board, the following general report referring to the teaching of military drill and gymnastics, &c, at public schools, for the year ending December 31st, 1879:— Instruction Classes. —During the year 970 squads have been present for instruction. I have continued the ordinary course, including —for boys ; military drill, gymnastics on fixed apparatus, fencing, boxing, and Indian clubs : for girls ; drill, calisthenics, and deportment. In many cases I have been assisted by lady and gentlemen teachers. Boys. —The boys at the various schools continue to evidence satisfactory interest in military drill, and in the practice of gymnastics, in which many excel. Amongst the most expert are several boys at the Ashburton school. " Girls.- —ln a number of schools the girls shew very satisfactory improvement in drill and deportment, but the number of cases are not quite in keeping with the simplicity of the exercises to be taught, and the advantages that have been offered to lady teachers to qualify themselves to carry on the work successfully between my visits. Gymnastic Competition. —The yearly competition for prizes given by the Board took place in the Gymnasium on February 28th, and March 7th. In any future competition I would respectfully ask the Board to defray the travelling expenses of those wishing to compete from country schools, but only in cases where the head master can vouch for the intending competitor being above the average in proficiency and smartness. Classes for Lady Teachers and Lady Students. —These classes have not been very well attended during the last part of the year generally. Those who have the most imperfect knowledge of drill, and who physically would be greatly benefited by the training offered, have been amongst the absentees. I think young lady teachers would be greatly benefited (and the children through them) by attendance at these classes when practicable. Classes for Male Assistants and Pupil Teacfiers..—The same thing may be said of these as of the ladies' classes. Some have attended very regularly during the year, and shew correspondingly good work, while others specially needing physical training and knowledge of drill are amongst those who have not attended. I beg respectfully to recommend that when practicable the attendance at these classes for drill and gymnastics should be compulsory in the case of assistants and pupil teachers. Gymnastic Apparatus.- —Several sets have required some slight repairs during the year, in each case the apparatus had been in use for a very longtime. With few exceptions (including Colombo Road and Lyttelton) the apparatus at the different schools are in fair order. Ninety schools are now supplied with apparatus. The Gymnasium. —The gymnasium is still found to be very useful. Classes are held as follows :— Tuesdays, lady teachers and lady students ; Fridays, male students and pupil teachers ;in addition, classes of senior boys from different schools are occasionally invited to spend an hour in the gymnasium. This privilege is highly prized, and is an encouragement to the practice of gymnastics. By the kind permission of the Board, I have, during part of the year, held private gymnastic classes during two evenings of the week ; all teachers are considered members of these classes without payment. All the apparatus in the gymnasium is in excellent repair, excepting the boxing gloves. I have, &c, James Q. Walker, Gymnastic and Drill Instructor to Public Schools. The Chairman of the Board of Education.