E.—l

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16. About forty studies have been received from the South Kensington Art Department, illustrating the nature of the course of study, and are of great practical value to the students. 17. The technical-art library has been increased, by thirty-one works, all upon technical and trade subjects. 18. New models to the extent of about £50 have been purchased from London, and a further supply to the extent of about £60 are now on their way out. 19. I have endeavoured to raise the necessary funds by subscription and by entertainments, but find it impossible to continue such a course. I trust the Government will aid us in the forthcoming year, or it is impossible to continue successfully the working of the school. 20. We are still suffering from want of accommodation; the existing arrangements seriously hamper the classes, and it is impossible to instruct the classes efficiently under the present circumstances. I trust we shall be properly housed at an early date, so that the development of the school will not be seriously interfered with. 21. I take this opportunity of publicly thanking the instructors connected with mo in the School of Design for the energetic way in which they have carried out their duties, although the remuneration has been so poor, and I trust we shall shortly be able to pay them at least fairly for the work they do. In conclusion, I beg to thank the Chairman and members of the School of Design Committee for the full manner in which they have met all my suggestions respecting the school, and I trust the energy and appreciation shown by myself and those connected with me will be a satisfactory proof of our good intentions. I have, &c, The Secretary, Education Board, Ap.thur D. Eiley. Wellington District.

HAWKE'S BAY. Sik, — Board of Education, Napier, 31st January, 1888. In compliance with section 112 of the Education Act, the Board of this Education District has-to present a summary report of the progress of education for the year ended on the 31st December. This is the tenth annual report which the Board has presented since the passing of the Act in 1877. The Board consists of the following members: Mr. J. D. Ormond, M.H.E. (Chairman), Captain Eussell, M.H.E., Mr. Horace Baker, Mr. J. W. Carlile, Mr. Eechab Harding, Dr. W. I. Spencer, Eev. D. Sidey, Mr. Fred. Sutton, and Mr. George H. Swan. During the year the Board has held, twelve meetings for the transaction of business. The attendance of members at each meeting has been nearly the same as in former years. The meetings are held on the third Tuesday in each month, in the old Provincial Council Chamber, which adjoins the Board's offices. School Disteicts. —Only one new school district has been constituted during the year, this being Maunga-atua, near Woodville. There are now forty school districts under the Board; and forty-five schools, containing sixty-nine separate departments, were in operation at the close of the year. Two of the districts having failed to elect a School Committee at the annual meeting in April, a School Commissioner has been appointed for each under section 67 of the Act. The Board has decided to amend as far as possible the existing boundaries of school districts, so as to meet the present circumstances of each; and the Inspector, who has a full knowledge of the topographical features of the whole of the district, is engaged, as opportunity offers, in preparing modified boundaries, which will be submitted to the Board at an early date. School-buildings.—Attention was drawn, in the Board's report for 1886, that in consequence of the large increase in the school attendance it had been found necessary to incur liabilities for the erection of school-buildings largely in excess of the Board's anticipated income for 1886-87. During the year school-buildings or additions to existing buildings have been carried out at Tologa Bay, Waerenga-a-hika, and Gisborne, in the Cook County; at Napier, Port Ahuriri, Hastings, and Puketapu, in the Hawke's Bay County; and at Te Ongaonga, Waipukurau, Takapau, Norsewood, and Maunga-atua, in the Waipawa County—at a cost of £3,585 Os. lid.; and at the close of the school year the overdraft at the bank on account of school-buildings amounted to £2,399 4s. 3d. The increase in the school attendance during the year has created new demands, which are becoming more pressing day by day. The very limited means placed at the Board's disposal by the Government for building purposes, and the rapid increase in the school population of the district—an increase not approached in any other education district —have added greatly to the Board's difficulties from time to time; hence, after ten years' work under the Education Act, there still remain districts without school-buildings, and others where the accommodation is insufficient for the children attending the schools. As regards providing residences for the teachers, the Board is quite unable to do so until the more urgent needs of providing schoolhouses for all the children of the district have been met. At the present time the sum of £337 13s. sd. is annually paid to teachers as house allowance, but the Board recognises that no allowance which it is able to give will compensate for the loss of a suitable residence in outlying districts, where home comforts are necessarily few, and where teachers of experience and skill can hardly be induced to go even under the most favourable conditions. In the ten years that have elapsed since the Board came into existence, 29 school sites have been acquired by purchase or otherwise; and 39 schoolhouses, containing 79 separate class-rooms, together with 29 teachers' residences, have been built. New Schools opened.—The following new schools have been opened during the year : Makauri and Te Karaka, in the Cook County; Eissington and Napier Side School, in Hawke's Bay County; and Matamau and Maunga-atua, in Waipawa County. Tologa Bay and Waerengakuri would also have been opened before the close of the year had not difficulties been experienced in obtaining teachers, &c.