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Eevenue and Expenditure of the Board. —The revenue of the Board from all sources for the year, including the balance of £1,855 14s. lOd. over from last year, was £11,583 13s. 5d., and the expenditure £10,050 7s. Id., leaving a credit balance of £1,533 6s. 4d., against which, however, there were liabilities amounting to £1,119 14s, Id. Thomas Kelly, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education.

General Statement of Beceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1892. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance at beginning of year— By Office staff —Salaries .. .. 150 0 0 On Building Account .. .. 1,146 17 3 Departmental contingencies .. .. 122 2 7 On General Account .. .. 664 14 9 Inspector's salary .. .. .. 300 0 0 On Land Account .. .. 44 210 Inspector's travelling expenses .. 75 0 0 Government grant for buildings .. 850 0 0 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 312 6 Government statutory capitation .. 7,808 10 8 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inScholarship grant .. .. .. 134 5 0 eluding rent, bonus, &c).. .. 6,732 14 10 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 200 0 0 Incidental expenses of schools .. 938 5 11 Payments by School Commissioners .. 653 6 8 Training of teachers .. .. 171 15 0 Donation for repairs .. .. 7 17 6 Scholarships— Proceeds of sale of school site .. 72 18 9 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 124 5 0 Refund of travelling expenses .. 10 0 Examination expenses .. .. 16 3 School-buildings— New buildings .. .. .. 936 11 6 Improvements of buildings .. 222 5 3 Furniture and appliances .. .. 87 10 11 Sites .. .. .. .. 109 17 4 Plans, supervision, and fees .. 75 0 0 Balance at end of year— On Building Account .. .. 691 18 5 On Scholarship Account .. .. 8 13 9 On General Account .. .. 715 12 7 On Land Account.. .. .. 117 1 7 £11,583 13 5 £11,583 13 5 Thomas Kelly, Chairman. E. Veale, Secretary. Examined and found correct.—James Edward EitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-General.

WANGANUI. Sir, — Education Office, Wanganui, 6th March, 1893. In compliance with the provisions of the Education Act, I have the honour to submit my report of the proceedings of this Board for the year ending the 31st December, 1892. Board. —The members who retired by rotation in December, 1891, were Mr. Gilbert Carson (Chairman), Mr. J. N. Fry, and the Eev. J. Boss, and they were all re-elected. The Board now consists of Mr. G. Carson (Chairman); Mr. Henry Sanson, of Campbelltown, Sandon; Mr. George S. Bridge, of Waverley ; Bey. John Boss, of Turakina; Mr. James W. Baker, of Warrengate; Mr. J. N. Fry, of Makino ; Mr. John Notman, of Wanganui; Mr. G. A. Hurley, of Manaia; and Mr. E. E. Beckett, of Marton. The Board has met regularly on the last Monday and Tuesday in each month, and has been much assisted in the interim by the executive committee, consisting of the town members—Messrs. Carson and Notman —and Mr. James W. Baker, of Warrengate. Schools. —At the end of 1892 there were ninety-five schools in operation in this district, with a roll-number of 8,393, and an average attendance of 6,365, being an average of 75-08 per cent, of the roll-number. This, although low, is an improvement upon the last quarter of 1891, which was 7218. The June return showed an unusual falling-off in the average attendance, owing to the severe effects of the influenza, several schools being closed, whilst the attendance at others was very considerably reduced. With a view of increasing the average attendance, the Board obtained the sanction of the proper authorities to use the police as truant inspectors, and, in order to enlist their sympathies in the work, decided upon a scale of payments where an increase was shown. The plan has not as yet been long enough in operation to test its efficacy, but, as the compulsory clauses of the Act are inoperative, the Board hopes that the scheme may be useful. Teaching Staff. —The schools are at present staffed by exactly 200 teachers, consisting of 107 males and 93 females, including five probationers, besides a number of cadets. Of the 200 teachers, thirty-eight are head male teachers, three are head female teachers, thirty-nine are male teachers in sole charge of schools, fifteen are female teachers in sole charge of schools, twelve are male assistants and twenty-two are female assistants, eighteen are male junior assistants and pupilteachers, and fifty-three are female junior assistants and pupil-teachers. During the year the Board has found it necessary to use every effort to promote the junior assistants who have been trained in their service either to the charge of country schools or to assistantships in large schools. School Districts. —New school districts have been formed at Hurleyville, Awatuna, and Nikau, and the boundaries of a large number of others have been readjusted and gazetted. This work entailed a considerable amount of trouble on the part of the Board members. School-buildings.—New schools have been erected at College Street, Palmerston North, Awatuna, Hurleyville, Batanui, Kiwitea, and Aratika; and extensive additions have been made to the buildings at Eltham, Hawera, Jackeytown, Ashurst, Hunterville, Karere, and Colyton. Newresidences have been erected at Awatuna, Jackeytown, and Otakeho ; and repairs have been made to buildings at Bruuswick, Okaiawa, Sandon, Foxton, Patea, Kapuni, Stony Creek, Mount View, Mosston, Denlair, and Taonui. Grants have also been made to Committees for repairs to fences and school sites in various parts of the district. New schools are now very urgently required at Ohingaiti, Taikorea, Nikau, Westmere, Meremere Eoad, Whareroa, Kohi, and Onga. A large