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enlargement of the Waitara West School. Additions have been made to the schools at Inglewood and Midhirst, and a residence has been built at Waiongona. This work involved a payment from the ordinary fund, in order to meet the obligation to contractors. Several new schools will be shortly required in newly-settled districts. Enlargement of several existing schools demands attention ; a large number of teachers' residences are required; and a considerable outlay will have to be made in repairs and painting of school buildings. Committees.—The number of School Committees is yearly increasing; the school districts now number twenty-five. This increase is occasioned by the desire of outlying districts, where a new school is built, to secure local school-management. This has the effect of increasing the work of the Board ; but, on the other hand, it gives the householders more interest in the work of the school, and in many cases local supervision could only be secured by the creation of a new district. The Committees take an active interest in the school w 7ork, and aid the Board in the many necessary local improvements connected with the school property. The total receipts of the various School Committees from the Board for the year was £582 12s. 7d. Income and Expenditure of the Board.-—The revenue of the Board from all sources for the year was £8,873 16s. 3d., and the expenditure £8,584 Is. lid., leaving a credit balance of £289 14s. 4d. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. Thomas Kelly, Chairman.

General Statement of Beceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1890. Receipts. & s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance at beginning of year— By Office staff—Salaries .. .. 150 0 0 On Building Account .. .. 61 2 6 Departmental contingencies .. .. 105 9 0 On Deposit Account .. .. 30 0 0 Inspector's salary .. .. .. 300 0 0 On General Account .. .. 219 3 3 , Inspector's travelling-expenses .. 50 0 0 On Land Account .. .. 40 0 0 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inGovernment grant for buildings .. 738 9 3 eluding rent, bonus, &o.) .. 5,704 14 6 Grant from Education Fund Account .. 175 0 5 Incidental expenses of schools .. 730 5 6 Government statutory capitation .. 6,733 0 5 Training of teachers.. .. .. 127 8 4 Scholarship grant .. .. .. 133 4 8 Scholarships— Inspection subsidy ... .. .. 200 0 0 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 117 10 0 Payments by School Commissioners .. 543 2 2 Examination expenses .. .. 15 14 8 Amount disallowed by Audit Depart- School buildings— rnent,lBB9 .. .. .. 0 14 0 New buildings .. .. .. 487 2 0 Improvements of buildings .. 386 6 6 Furniture and appliances .. .. 74 17 1 Sites .. .. .. .. 91 16 0 Plans, supervision, and fees .. 37 10 0 Cheque-book .. .. .. 0 8 4 Grant to School-building Account .. 175 0 0 Contractors' deposits .. .. 30 0 0 Balance at end of year — On General Account £386 17 3 Less outstanding cheques 137 2 11 249 14 4 On Land Account .. .. .. 40 0 0 £8,873 16 3 £8,873 16 3 Thomas Kelly, Chairman. E. Veale, Secretary. Examined and found correct.—James Edward FitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-General.

WANGANUI. Sir, — Education Office, Wanganui, 30th March, 1891. I have the honour to present the -report of the Board's proceedings for the year ending the 31st December, 1890. Board.—The Board is at present composed of the following gentlemen: Mr. Gilbert Carson (Chairman), Mr. Henry Sanson, Mr. George S. Bridge, Bev. John Boss, Mr. James W. Baker, Mr. James H. Fry, Mr. John Notman, Mr. B. E. Beckett, and Mr. G. A. Hurley. During the year Mr. J. C. Yorke resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. G. A. Hurley. Mr. G. S. Bridge, Mr. John Notman, and Mr. B. E. Beckett retired by rotation, and w 7ere all re-elected. The Board has met regularly on the last Monday and following Tuesday in each month, and, as heretofore, has been materially assisted by the Executive Committee, composed of three of its members. At the annual election of Chairman, Mr. Gilbert Carson was re-elected. Schools. —At the close of 1889 there were eighty-three schools in operation. There are now eighty-seven open, classed as follows : One, w7ith an average attendance of over 300 pupils; eight, with an average attendance of 150 to 300 pupils; nine, with an average attendance of 100 to 150 pupils; seven, with an average attendance of 75 to 100 pupils; seven, with an average attendance of 50 to 75 pupils; thirty-three, with an average attendance of 25 to 50 pupils; twelve, with -an average attendance of 20 to 25 pupils ; two, .with an average attendance of 15 to 20 pupils; eight, wdth an average attendance of under 15 pupils. Of the above, ten are " aided" schools, having an ayerage attendance of under 20 pupils. These schools are officered by the following teachers, viz.: twenty head male teachers, three head female teachers, forty male teachers in sole charge of schools, seventeen female teachers in sole charge of