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to the Education Board to decide what the aid should be, and how it should bu applied. He is glad to be able to state that already several districts have offered to contribute, and he has no doubt that if the districts were asked to contribute, and did contribute, the expenditure would be kept within proper limits, and a deep interest would be taken in the buildings and in education generally. I am directed to add that the time may come when each district will have to erect its own school buildings, and the money hitherto appropriated for the purposes may not be continued by the General Assembly, excepting to only a limited amount, and then only for new districts. In view of the possibility of this, it would be wise to ascertain how far districts are willing to co-operate with the Education Boards in finding suitable buildings for the children. The Secretary, Education Board, . John Hislop.

Sir, — Education Department, Wellington, 26th February, 1886. I have the honour, by direction of the Minister of Education, to inform you that it has come to his knowledge that in many schools the new drawing-books are being used in a way that cannot secure good results. The pupils are allowed to hurry through them, without supervision or instruction, and to use them even more carelessly than the most inefficient teachers would allow them to use writing copy-books. Too much ground is covered, and too little real work is done. The Minister strongly recommends that a considerable proportion of the time devoted to drawing be spent in drawing on slates, from examples set on the black-board by the teacher in the manner described in the instructions given to teachers on the back of the cover of the Colonial Drawing-book, as issued by authority of the Minister; and that the teachers supervise the work done in the books, and see that it is done with pains and care. I send you a sufficient number of copies of this circular to enable you to send one to each head teacher in your district. I have, &c, The Chairman of the Education Board, . John Hislop.

Education Department, Wellington, 19th May, 1886. I am instructed by the Minister of Education to say that he has observed that in some of the annual reports sent in by the Boards reference is made to the re-painting of old schools as an item of expenditure of money granted by vote for public works. It is to be distinctly understood that money so granted must only be used for the acquisition of school sites, the erection of new school buildings, and the extension of old school buildings, for any fencing, out-buildings, and furniture required for new school buildings and extensions, and for such expenses as those of conveyancing, plans, supervision of work, &c. The Secretary, Education Board, . Wm. Jas. Habens.

Post Office Savings Banks.—To School Committees and Teachbes. Postage-stamps for Deposit in Post Office Savings Banks by School Children. The Minister of Education is strongly of opinion that sufficient attention is not being given to the inculcating of habits of thrift amongst the youth of the colony. He believes this could be done in various ways—such as by means of lessons by the school-teachers, and by inducing young people to become depositors in Savings Banks. Abundant facilities are now offered by the Post Office Department for the opening of accounts by children in the Savings Banks by means of stamped cards; and the Minister has directed that School Committees and teachers be requested to circulate as widely as possible the notice which has been issued on the subject by direction of the Hon. the Postmaster-General. Copies of the notice and of the card provided for the collection of the stamps are forwarded herewith, and it is requested that these may be placed in the hands of teachers for distribution amongst their scholars and otherwise. Supplies of the cards will be kept at all post offices in the colony for issue on application to schools and to school children. A perusal of the notice and the card will show that the scheme is a very simple one, and that its operation need not interfere with the proper duties of the teachers, or add to their labours. The Minister believes that the teachers generally will interest themselves in the matter, and will be glad to bring it under the notice of their scholars ; and that those of them who reside in remote localities will assist their scholars by keeping a supply of cards, and even of postage-stamps, and by forwarding the cards, when the squares are rilled up, to the Post Office Savings Banks at which the accounts are opened. Education Department, John Hislop, Wellington, 7th November, 1885. Secretary. [Approximate Cost oj Paper]— Preparation, not given ; printing, £1U 6s. Bd.j

Authority: Geobge Didsbuet, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB6.