E.—l

75

MARLBOROUGH. Sip.,— Blenheim, 7th May, 1884. I have the honour to forward you the report of the Education Board of the District of Marlborough for the year ending the 31st December, 1883. A copy of the Inspector's report is sent with this it shows that the schools in this district aro for tho most part in a very efficient and satisfactory state. The Board.—ln the early part of the year the Board lost the services of two of its members • —the Hon. E. T Conolly and A. G. Fell, Esq.—whose places were filled respectively by W E. Dive, Esq., and J M. Hutcheson, Esq. No further change has been made, a3 the three retiring members W E Dive, Esq., E. Paul, Esq., and W Sinclair, Esq. —were re-elected. The Board has held twelve meetings, with an average attendance of seven members. Schools.—There were twenty-six schools open, fifteen of which were fully supported by the Board, and the remainder aided by a grant of £3 10s. per head of average attendance, as reported last year One aided school has been closed and four new ones opened, and one school formerly aided has been raised to tho position of a school wholly supported by the Board. Attendance.—At the end of 1882 the numbers on the roll and the working average for the year were, respectively 1,414 and 1,063 r 5, at the end of 1883 they stood at 1,453 and 1,098. With four additional schools, albeit small ones, the above rate of increase does not compare favourably with that of the previous year, the reason, however, is to be found in the unusual prevalence of sickness amongst the children, especially during the earlier part of the year This was of so persistent a character as seriously to affect the working average of most, and was severely felt in our largest schools. As the sickness passed away the working.average rose to 1,141. Teachers.—Tho teaching staff consisted of—males, 20, assistants, 2, females, 6, assistants, 6 , pupil-teachers (female) 8 total, 42 , being an increase of 4on the previous year Scholarships.—Tho successful competitor for the scholarship at the Nelson College this year was Edward Watson. Buildings.—The completion of the Picton schoolhouse and the building of a new schoolhouse at Havelock—works very necessary, and referred to in last year's report—almost exhausted the Government grant for building purposes, leaving a quite insufficient amount to meet other necessary repairs and improvements, but as these last had to be done the Board was compelled to use all the money which stood to credit of Maintenance Account at the beginning of the year, and even that was insufficient, as the balance-shoot shows. Expenditube.—On the Building Account, £1,483 9s. was received, and as much as £2,231 15s. lOd. was spent, leaving a deficit of £748 6s. lOd. To Maintenance Account at the beginning of the year there was a credit balance of £547 18s. 4d., and during the year £4,519 7s. sd. was received, making a total of £5,067 ss. 4d. The expenditure on this account was £4,563 18s. 2d. The cost of maintenance, therefore, exceeded the income by the small sum of £44 10s. 9d. , but the great expense which had to bo incurred on Building Account has not only absorbed the sum which stood to credit at the beginning of the year but has left a debtor balance at its end of £244,195. 3d. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. A. P Seymour, Chairman.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1883. Receipts. s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance on 31st December, 18S2 547 18 4 By Office staff, salaries 112 10 0 Government grants for buildings 1,353 9 0 Departmental contingencies 07 16 9 Balance sale of school site, Picton 130 0 0 Inspector's salary 125 0 0 p Government statutory capitation (£3155.) 3,730 4 3 Inspector's travelling expenses 67 12 0 Special capitation (55.) 259 12 1 Examination of pupil-teachers 3 8 0 Scholarship grant (Is. 6d.) 78 15 1 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inInspection subsidy 275 0 0 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) 3,068 15 1 Payments by School Commissioners for Incidental expenses of schools 432 15 4 primary education .. 163 17 0 Scholarships— Payments by School Commissioners for Paid to scholars 80 0 0 secondary education 11 19 0 Examination expenses 6 6 0 Balance of account on 31st December, School buildings— 1883 .. 244 19 3 New buildings 1,226 19 6 Improvements of buildings 724 6 7 Furniture and appliances 182 5 0 Plans, supervision, and fees 98 4 9 £6,795 14 0 £6,795 14 0 John T Robinson, Secretary Examined and found correct. —E. Macalister, Provincial District Auditor. Statement of Assets and Liabilities on 31st December, 1883. A. Exclusive of Building Fund. Assets. £ s. d. i Liabilities. £ s. d. Cash in bank on this account, 31st December, I Due to teachers . 3 6 8 1833 32 14 11 | Due to Committees 210 10 7 Duo from Government scholarships, 31st Do- to scholarships 20 0 0 comber, 1883 . 21 7 11 Due from Government scholarships, 30th September, 1883 19 13 4 £73 16 2 £233 17 3 B. Building Fund only £ s. d. £ s. d. Due. from Government .. 846 0 0 By Balance of account on 31st December, 1883 . 792 17 7 £846 0 0 £792 17 7