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on account of illness, passed wholly or in part the examination for certificates. The number of students admitted for the current year was forty, making the full complement, as the last of the pupil-teachers employed in the Normal School has now completed her engagement. School-books.—The Board has given much attention during the year to the subject of schoolbooks. This question had been partly dealt with two years before, when the Board prescribed certain reading-books as those authorised for use in schools ; but it was now resolved not to confine the selection to reading-books, but to determine what books should be sanctioned by the Board in all the various subjects of instruction. A committee w 7as appointed, who inquired very carefully into the matter, and brought up a report, which is printed in full in the Appendix. [Not reprinted.] Without insisting on absolute uniformity, the committee decided on approving, in nearly all cases, not more than tw 7o books on each subject, selecting those already in most general use, and eliminating a large number of books of inferior merit or less commonly used. They also made strong recommendations in favour of agricultural chemistry and a simple form of book-keeping being taught in our public schools. The Board adopted this report on the 11th September, 1890. Its provisions will come into operation throughout the district in the course of the present year, taking effect in each school immediately after the annual examination. Compulsory Clauses.—The question of compulsory education has also engaged the attention of the Board. The employment of truant officers having been suggested, the Board consulted the School Committees, from whose replies it appeared a general opinion that in country districts such officials were not required, and the Board finally decided on not making any appointment. But a resolution was passed and forwarded to the Education Department expressing the opinion of the Board that the bringing into force and the carrying out of the compulsory clauses of the Education Act should not be left to the option of the School Committees, and that the Act should be amended so as to bring the compulsory clauses into full operation in every school district, and to require children to attend school for at least twothirds of each quarterly school-term. > Scholarships.—The annual examination for scholarships for Classes A and B was on this occasion, in pursuance of a resolution passed by the Board, held on the 19th and 20th December, 1889, and the examination of Classes C and D was held on the 29th and 30th April and Ist and 2nd May, 1890. The number of candidates examined for Classes A and B was 130—sixty-eight (forty-five boys and twenty-three girls) in Class A, and sixty-two (forty-four boys and eighteen girls) in Class B. In Classes C and D eleven w 7ere examined—six (three boys and. three girls) in Class C, and five (all girls) in Class D. Scholarships were awarded to [four boys and three girls] in Class A ; [four boys and one girl] in Class B ; [three boys] in Class C ; [two girls] in Class I). The scholarships current at the end of 1890 were held as shown in the following table [not reprinted]. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. H. W. Peryman, Chairman.

General Statement of Beceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1890. Receijyts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance at beginning of year— By Office staff —Salaries .. .. 1,010 0 0 Dr. on Building Account £1,071 5 10 Departmental contingencies.. .. 398 10 9 Cr. on General Account 7,970 0 4 Inspectors'salaries .. .. .. 1,000 0 0 0,898 14 6 Inspectors'travelling expenses .. 187 12 6 Government grant for buildings .. 3,765 6 9 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 132 18 4 Killinchy—Refund for range .. 4 10 0 , Teachers' salaries and allowances (inNew Brighton—Refund of half cost of eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. .. 51,606 7 1 fence at side-school .. .. 515 0 Incidental expenses of schools .. 6,615 13 1 South Malvern —Refund for well .. 5 0 0; Training of teachers .. .. 1,926 11 3 Clarkville—Refund for scientific appa- Scholarships— ratus .. .. .. .. 210 0 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 966 6 5 Contractors' deposits .. .. 191 2 9 | Examination expenses .. .. 80 16 5 Government statutory capitation .. 51,723 12 2 School buildings— Scholarship grant .. .. .. 1,043 10 9 New buildings .. .. .. 2,20118 11 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 500 0 0 Improvements of buildings .. 1,633 19 1 Payments by School Commissioners .. 12,235 5 0 Furniture and appliances.. .. 367 14 2 Rent of gymnasium .. .. 7 4 0 Sites .. .. .. .. 545 11 8 Interest .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 Plans, supervision, and fees .. 381 19 0 Rent Mandeville Plains site .. .. 3 0 0 Contractors' deposits .. .. 174 3 9 Education Acts .. .. .. 018 0 Balance at end of year .. .. 7,206 6 6 £76,436 8 11 j £76,436 8 11 H. W. Peryman, Chairman. J. V. Colborne-Veel, Secretary. Examined and found correct.—James Edward FitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-General.

SOUTH CANTERBUBY. Sir, — Education Office, Timaru, 31st March, 1891. In accordance with the 102nd clause of "The Education Act, 1877," the Education Board of the District of South Canterbury has the honour to present the following report of its proceedings for the year ending 31st December, 1890. Board.—At the commencement of the year the Board consisted of the following members : The Bev. Geo. Barclay, J.P., the Bev. Thos. Jasper Smyth, Mr. Melville Gray, J.P., Mr. Eichard Alfred Barker, Mr. John Talbot, J.P., Mr. John Jackson, J.P., Mr. William Barker Howell, J.P., Mr. Bobort Henry Pearpoint, J.P., and Mr. Samuel W'illiam Goldsmith (Chairman). On the 31st