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Committees have been more numerously attended, and a larger number of candidates have come forward for seats on the Committees and on the Board. This healthy state .of matters is principally caused by the prominent place assigned to the education question at the general election, and partly by more vigorous action on the part of the Board. Whatever may be the cause, there is no doubt that the more intelligent criticism is brought to bear on the actions of Boards and Committees, the more the cause of education will progress. I have, &c, Eobeet G. Bauchope, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.

General Statement of Eeceipts and Expendituee for the Year ending 31st December, 1884. Receipts. & s. d. Expenditure. S, s. d. To Balance on December 31st, 1883— By Office staff, salaries .. .. .. 150 0 0 On Building Account .. .. 846 8 3 Clerical assistance .. .. .. 16 16 8 On General Account .. .. 234 11 3 Departmental contingencies .. .. 133 6 5 Government grant for buildings .. 1,542 0 0 Inspector's salary .. .. .. 300 0 0 Subscriptions and donations for build- Inspector's travelling expenses .. 50 0 0 ings .. .. .. .. 25 0 0 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 1 10 0 Sale of schools and furniture .. 40 7 3 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inGovernment statutory capitation (£3 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. .. 4,594 10 4 155.) .. .. 5,287 8 2 Incidental expenses of schools .. 633 711 Special capitation (55.) .. .. 378 1 3 School-buildings— Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 200 0 0 Now buildings ... .. .. 2,337 12 4 Payments by School Commissioners —For Improvements of buildings .. .. 498 0 9 primary education .. .. 417 15 5 Furnituro and appliances .. .. 207 12 4 Management of high school .. 34 5 4 Sites .. ' .. .. .. 91 15 7 Advances to high school repaid .. 325 0 0 Plans, supervision, and fees .. .. 87 0 0 Store Account .. .. .. 10 6 8 Store Account .. .. .. 27 10 6 Balance of account on 31st December, Transfer fee, paid in 1883, refunded .. 10 0 1884—Building Account * .. 758 2 0 Balance of account on 31st December, 1884—Goneral Account .. .. 969 2 9 £10,099 8 7 £10,099 5 7 Eobt. G. Bauchope, Chairman. W. Noethceoft, Secretary. Examined and passed.—O. Eennell, Auditor.

Statement of Assets and Liabilities on 31st December, 1884. A. Exclusive of Building Fund. Assets. £ s. d. Liabilities. £ s. d. Cash in bank on this account, 31st Decem- Duo to teachers .. .. ... 194 11 6 ber, 1884 .. .. .. . ■ 211 0 9 Due to unpaid accounts .. .. .. 19 7 7 Due from vote for buildings .. .. 758 2 0 Due to Committees .. .. .. 126 17 1 Due from store .. .. .. 68 G 0 £1,037 8 9 £340 16 2 B. Building Fund only. Balance of account, 31st December, 1884 .. 758 2 0 Nil. £758 2 0 E. Veale, Chairman. W. Nobthceoft, Secretary.

WANGANUI. Sie,— Wanganui, 20th March, 1885. In compliance with the provisions of "The Education Act, 1877," I have the honour to submit the annual report of this Board for the year ending the 31st December, 1884. Boabd.—The members who retired in December, 1883, were Mr. W. H. Watt, Mr. G. S. Bridge, and Mr. James W. Baker. Mr. W. H. Watt and Mr. G.' S. Bridge were re-elected, and Mr. G. V. Bate, of Hawera, was elected in the place of Mr. James W. Baker, who did not then seek re-election. During the year Sir William Fox, K.C.M.G., of Eangitikei, and Mr. G. M. Snelson, of Manawatu, resigned. The former was replaced by Mr. James W. Baker, of Warrengate, and the latter by Mr. J. H. Fry, of Makino Eoad, Manawatu. Mr. W. H. Watt was re-elected Chairman. Up to the present time the elections have resulted in an equitable distribution of members for the several counties. Schools. —At the close of 1883 the Board had sixty-seven schools in operation. There are now seventy-four at work, although two were temporarily closed at the end of the year during a change of teachers. Of these schools eight are aided, and are officered by teachers appointed by the settlers, but subject to the Inspector's examination. The Board formerly made an allowance of £4 ss. capitation to aided schools, but has lately found it necessary to limit the amount to £4,

*On all the Board's accounts the year 1884 closed with a credit balance of £211 oa. 9d. (See Appendix, Table 2.)