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WELLINGTON. Sir, — 16, Queen's Chambers, Wellington, 31st March, 1893. I have the honour, on behalf of the School Commissioners for the Wellington Provincial District, to submit for the information of His Excellency the Governor and the Government their fourteenth annual report, being that for the year ending 31st December, 1892. During the year and subsequent to the date of their last report the Commissioners leased several reserves, which make the sum-total of transactions for the year as follows, viz.: Eight town sections, seven village sections, four suburban and fifteen rural sections, of a total area of 2,631 acres 3 roods 32 perches, producing an annual rent of £311 Os. 6d. The Commissioners were possessed of six unprofitable reserves upon which they had to pay rates, and were liable for fencing and other charges, and to which there was no means of access ; for fourteen years—every year —these reserves were offered for leasing, but found no tenant; so, on. the 19th November last, His Excellency was recommended, under authority of the 243 rd section of the Land Act, to proclaim that the reserves may be sold under the provisions of "The Land Act, 1892." They are as follows, viz.: Harbour District Sections Nos. 35, 36, 38, and 40, and Upper Maungaroa'Sections Nos. 48 and 56. During the month of January, 1893, the Commissioners held their annual sales of leases, which resulted in the disposal of six town sections, of the area of 7 acres 2 roods 19 perches, for £7 10s.; one village section, 1 acre 2 roods 5 perches, for £1; and seven rural sections, 2,301 acres 1 rood, for £156 9s. 5d.: or, in all, fourteen sections, containing 2,310 acres 1 rood 24 perches, for £164 19s. sd. In the year 1892, seven sections, of the aggregate area of 3,118 acres, were set aside for primary education, four of which, of a total area of 1,838 acres, have been let at satisfactory prices. Inquiry is constantly being made for sections which are shown on the survey-plan as reserves for primary education but which have not yet become vested in the Commissioners. During the year the Commissioners have paid over to the Education Boards within the district, under authority of the 21st section of " The Education Eeserves Act, 1877," the sum of £2,150, in the following proportions, viz.: Wellington Education Board, £1,346 10s. 2d.; and Wanganui Education Board, £803 9s. lOd. A further sum of £1,100 is available for primary education. There is available also for secondary education the sum of £110 15s. 2d., which is distributable between the Girls' High School, Wanganui, the Wellington College, and the Wellington Girls' High School, in the following sums, viz.: £41 7s. 10d., £34 13s. Bd., and £34 13s. Bd. respectively. All these moneys have been paid over during the March quarter, 1893. The Commissioners desire me to again draw attention to the very small amount available for secondary education. The above sum (£llO 15s. 2d.) represents more than the present annual income, as it includes a credit balance of £1 16s. Id. (vide balance-sheet), and when divided between three institutions the benefit derived by each is very small. The Commissioners again urge the necessity for making further reserves for secondary education, and they trust that this appeal may be successful. The Commissioners have very few reserves left unoccupied which are of a marketable character, and therefore, if there are any lands laid off for primary education in the Wellington District, they will be glad to see them gazetted before next session of Parliament. Appended is statement of receipts and expenditure for the year ending the 31st December, 1892. I have, &c, J. B. Blair, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. Chairman, .School Commissioners.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1892. Receipts.

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Primary. Secondary. Total. 'o Balances, 1st January, 1892 ... „ petty cash debit (per contra) ... Bents of reserves-— Arrears written off (per contra) Bents of previous years Bents of current year Bents of 1893 (credit balances) Law-costs recovered ... Cost of improvements recovered Exchange on remittances £ s. a. 916 19 6 18 5 £ s. a. 0 15 1 £ s. d. 917 14 7 18 5 15 2 6 269 7 6 1,866 16 7 45 3 4 16 0 17 8 2 2 5 4 2 3 3 111 0 9 1 16 1 15 2 6 271 10 9 1,977 17 4 46 19 5 16 0 17 8 2 2 5 4 Total receipts ... 3,135 17 4 115 15 2 3,251 12 6