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these urgent wants teachers' residences are very much required in many districts. An estimated sum of £2,400 is required to supply all these wants, which is more than double the usual Government grant. The repairs to buildings have been fairly maintained during the year, and recently the Board, out of its ordinary fund, painted those buildings which most urgently required it. Committees.—A lively interest is taken in the work of education by the School Committees, as is shown by the elections, and the demands made on the Board for various purposes. Though differences of opinion have arisen between some Committees and the Board in many matters of administration—mainly owing to the want of a clear definition in the Education Act of the relative powers given to the Board and Committees in school matters—no serious difficulty has arisen. It would, however, be advisable for the Legislature to amend the Act so as to avoid all cause of conflict, if possible. The Board's function with respect to finance and administration being mainly to apportion money and educational advantages as fairly as possible throughout the district, in accordance with its judgment as to the relative pressure of the various local wants and just claims, it is evident that all cannot be equally pleased with the result, though the Board endeavours to do its duty fairly and impartially. The total receipts of the various School Committees for the year were £868 6s. lid., and the expenditure £723 Is. Bd., leaving a credit balance of £145 ss. 3d. at the end of the year. Boabd's Income and Expenditure.—The revenue of the Board from all sources for the year was £9,322 7s. 5d., and the expenditure £8,619 11s. 5d., leaving a credit balance of £702 16s. Judging from the proceedings in Parliament that a considerable reduction would be made in the education vote, and thus seriously diminish the revenue of the Board, it was decided to give notice to teachers and Committees that a reduction would be made in salaries and allowances, the Board having resolved that it would so regulate expenditure that whatever money was placed at its disposal by Parliament for educational purposes should not be exceeded, and, at the same time, that educational interest, and the existing schools in the out-districts, should be injuriously affected as little as possible. For further details on matters connected with education in the district, I refer you to the Inspector's report, which furnishes much valuable information. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. Thomas Kelly, Chairman.

Genebal Statement of Eeceipts and Bxpbnditube for the Year ending 31st December, 1887. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance at beginning of year — By Balance at beginning of year — On Building Account .. .. 61 13 5 j On General Account .. .. 26 4 5 On contractor's deposit .. .. 10 0 0 On Scholarship Account .. .. 319 8 Government grant for buildings .. 1,241 S 0 Office staff —Salaries .. .. 175 0 0 Subscriptions and donations for build- Departmental contingencies .. 118 8 3 ings .. .. .. .. 15 0 0 Inspector's salary .. .. .. 400 0 0 Other receipts for buildings—■ Inspector's travelling expenses .. 50 0 0 Special grant for Lepperton residence 250 0 0 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 2 5 6 Sale of old buildings .. .. 14 2 0 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inInterest on deposit .. .. 6 0 0 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. 5,466 9 9 Government statutory capitation .. 6,559 2 10 Incidental expenses of schools .. 805 2 3 Special capitation .. .. .. 401 10 8 Training of teachers .. .. 79 9 9 Scholarship grant .. .. .. 110 17 11 Scholarships— Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 200 0 0 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 103 15 0 Payments by School Commissioners .. 409 12 0 Examination expenses .. .. 3 3 2 Sale of books .. .. .. 415 7 School-buildings— Contractors' deposits .. .. 38 8 0 New buildings .. .. .. 742 14 0 Improvements of buildings .. 464 7 0 Furniture and appliances .. .. 31 9 8 Sites .. .. .. .. 82 3 0 Plans, supervision, and fees .. 35 0 0 Contractors' deposits .. .. 30 0 0 Balance at end of year— On Building Account .. .. 302 11 7 On Scholarships Account .. .. 0 0 1 On General Account .. .. 381 16 4 On contractors' deposits .. .. 18 8 0 £9,322 7 5 £9,322 7 5 Thomas Kelly, Chairman. E. Veale, Secretary. Examined and passed.— C. Eennell, Auditor.

WANGANUI. Sic, — Education Board Office, Wangamii, 14th March, 1888. I have the honour to submit the annual report of this Board's proceedings for the year ending on the 31st December, 1887. Boabd. —The members who retired by rotation in December, 1886, were Mr. W. H. Watt, Mr. G. S. Bridge, and Mr. G. V. Bate. Mr. Bridge and Mr. Bate were re-elected. Mr. Watt, who had been Chairman of the Board since its inception, did not seek re-election, and Mr. John Notman, of Wanganui, was elected a member to fill the vacancy, whilst Mr. Gilbert Carson was subsequently chosen Chairman of the Board for the year, and simultaneously with the latter appointment a resolution was passed that an election for this position should be held annually.