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Napier. The present arrangements have been found favourable to education in the district without any severe strain to parents in the way of expense, and the Board would prefer that the present arrangements should continue. Nelson. The Board is not aware of any complaints having been made in its district arising from the present arrangements for the supply of books to scholars. The Board purchases books in large quantities by public tender, and supplies them to Committees at cost price. The average cost to each scholar for books is about 2s. The Board makes very liberal grants to School Committees, varying from ss. 6d. to 11s. 6d. per head, according to the attendance, thus enabling the Committee to defray not only the usual incidental expenses, but also, in cases of need, to supply books free of cost. The Board is of opinion that books bought by the scholars are taken more care of than when supplied free. For the above reasons the Board does not consider it desirable to alter the existing law re supply of books. The Board approves of the proposal to reduce the number of school-books, but recommends that, in making such reduction, the Inspectors of the colony be consulted thereon, and their advice, as far as possible, acted on. Geeymouth. The Board is not at present prepared to advise as to revision of regulations. With reference to books for use only in class, the Board approves of the suggestion to provide them as part of the school apparatus ; but its funds do not admit of the expense. Changes in the books used in this district have lately been made for the purpose of preventing unnecessary expense to parents. NOBTH OANTBEBUfiY. The Board, having appointed a Committee to consider the question, has adopted its recommendation to authorise a short list of books for use in the district. The Board proposes that the books named shall be the only books allowed to be used in the schools under its control for a term of years to be agreed upon. South Canterbury. In 1889 the Board made certain regulations regarding school-books, which prescribe the books to be used in the district for three years from Ist January, 1890. The same editions of all books (as far as possible) are to be used in the schools. The Board will, however, give full consideration to any proposal that may be made by a head-teacher, with the concurrence of his School Committee, for the introduction, in addition to the abovenamed, of any text-book or text-books that the. requirements of the school may appear to warrant. Teachers are enjoined to introduce no fresh books from the present time into their schools other than those hereinbefore specified, and, so far as may be consistent with efficiency, so to act in regard to the changing of books as to make the charge upon parents as light as possible. Otago. The Board has dealt very thoroughly with the question of school-books in the direction indicated by the circular-letter, so far as the Education District of Otago is concerned. The Board would greatly deprecate any regulation by the Education Department which would necessitate the Board to bring about any change of the school-books now in use in the schools of the Otago District, and would respectfully submit that if similar regulations to those of this Board were made by the Boards of the several education districts, or by the Boards within the same provincial district, the just grounds of complaint referred to in the circular-letter would be wholly or almost wholly removed, seeing that the number of school children removing from one education district or provincial district to another is very trifling. Southland. The Board has prescribed a list of books for the district, but considers it advisable to keep such list open for the introduction of suitable text-books of acknowledged merit as they are published from time to time, so long as such books are uniformly adopted throughout the colony. [Approximate Cost of Paper .—Preparation, nil; printing (1,300 copies), £1 65.1

By Authority: Geokge Didsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9l. Price, 3d.]