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recognition to the assistance rendered by the various Committees in carrying out the provisions of the Act. The period—three years —for which the cadet employed in the Board's office was engaged terminating on March 31st, 1891, the Board decided to offer the appointment to be competed for by scholars attending the Sixth or Seventh Standard, the engagement to be for three years, salary £30, £40, and £50 respectively per annum. Six scholars only competed—one from Orwell Creek School, three from Dobson School, and two from Greymouth School. Ben Warnes, of the Greymouth School, was the successful competitor, gaining 741 marks out of a possible total of 885. James Binney, of the Dobson School, was a very close second with 739 marks. Ben Warnes also won a towm scholarship this year, and won the Watkins gold medal competed for annually by scholars attending the Greymouth School. There is therefore no doubt that the cadetship is the reward of merit. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. James Kerr, Chairman.

General Statement of Beceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1890. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Government grant for buildings .. 592 1 0 By Balance at beginning of yearGovernment statutory capitation .. 5,210 7 2 General Account .. .. .. 124 19 10 Scholarship grant .. .. .. 90 2 0 Building Account .. .. .. 508 18 3 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 125 0 0 Office staff—Salaries .. .. .. 150 0 0 Payments by School Commissioners .. 104 5 0 Clerical assistance .. .. .. 58 15 0 District High School fees .. .. 125 0 0 Departmental contingencies .. .. 372 1 1 Greymouth High School Board .. 50 0 0 Inspector's salary .. .. .. 162 0 0 Refund from Building Account .. 25 13 6 Inspector's travelling expenses .. 100 0 0 School requisites .. .. .. 11 12 0 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 12 12 0 Balance at end of year— Teachers' salaries and allowances (inGeneral Account .. .. .. 316 8 7 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. .. 4,650 10 5 Building Account .. .. .. 491 2 9 Incidental expenses of schools .. 171 0 9 School requisites .. .. .. 113 3 8 Scholarships— Paid to scholars .. .. .. 62 10 0 Examination expenses .. ~ 9 0 0 School buildings— Improvements of buildings .. .. 335 13 5 Furniture and appliances .. .. 186 14 3 Plans, supervision, and fees .. 22 5 6 Interest .. .. .. .. 29 12 4 Rent .. .. .. .. 71 16 0 £7,141 12 6 £7,141 12 6 James Kerr, Chairman. Edward T. Bobinson, Secretary. Examined and found correct.—James Edward FitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-General.

WESTLAND. Sir,— Hokitika, 31st March, 1891. I have the honour to submit the report of the Education Board of the District of Westland for the year ending 31st December, 1890. The Board. —At the beginning of the year the Board was composed of the following persons: Messrs. Jack, Seddon, and Will, elected members, and Messrs. Bevan, Griinmond, Mueller, and McWhirter, nominated by Government. At the first election, in March, under " The Westland and Grey Education Boards Act, 1888," the retiring members—Messrs. Jack, Seddon, and Will—were re-elected, and Government again nominated Messrs. Bevan, Griinmond, Mueller, and McWhirter. Gerhard Mueller, Esq., was unanimously re-elected Chairman, and was appointed a member of the Westland School Commissioners. McLean Watt Jack, Esq., was re-elected Treasurer; John Bevan, Esq., was appointed a member of the Board of Governors of the Hokitika High School. During the year eleven ordinary monthly meetings and seven special meetings were held. The ordinary monthly meeting which should have been held on Bth April, lapsed for want of a quorum. The avei'age attendance of members at the meetings actually held was five ; and the attendance of the individual members was as follows : Mr. Bevan, 14; Mr. Griinmond, 7 ; Mr. Jack, 18 ; Mr. Mueller, 14; Mr. McWhirter, 13 ; Mr. Seddon, 10; and Mr. Will, 14. Teachers. —There are now sixty-six teachers in the Board's employ, classed as follows: Ten head male teachers, one head female teacher, seven male teachers in sole charge of schools, eleven female teachers in sole charge of schools, two assistant male teachers, nine assistant female teachers, six male pupil-teachers, fifteen female pupil-teachers, and five monitors. Besides these, there are two sewing-mistresses—one at the Blue Spur School, and the other at the Gillespie's School. Eighteen of the Board's teachers above the rank of pupil-teachers are uncertificated. During the year a change has taken place in the management of the two principal schools —Mr. J. J. Patterson, 8.A., head teacher of the Kumara School, resigned, and w 7as succeeded by Mr. T. A. Walker, of W Taimataitai; and Mr. E. B. Dixon, head teacher of the Hokitika School, was promoted to the office of Inspector and Secretary to the Board, and was succeeded by Mr. J. Gammell, 8.A., London University. Schools and Attendances. —There are now thirty-two schools open in this district, including seven "aided" schools, and six half-time schools. Two new schools have been opened during the year—one at Kawhaka, in the Humphrey's School District, and the other at the Waiho Biver, South W Testland. The latter is an " aided " school, and is worked as a half-time school with the Waikukupa aided school. The attendance returns for this year show a decrease in the strict average attendance amounting to nearly two hundred as compared with the returns for 1889. The Board has repeatedly