E.—l

60

and repair of existing buildings is increasing every year; and it is not likely that any considerable surplus will accrue from the capitation grant for expenditure on new buildings. The rapid extension of settlement has imposed upon the Board the duty of multiplying schools and erecting buildings in remote and scattered districts, so as to place the means of education, as far as possible, within the reach of every settler. All the buildings in this district, with one exception, are constructed of wood. Some of these which were erected twenty years ago are beginning to show signs of decay, and will soon have to be replaced with new buildings, which ought to be permanent structures. It is therefore necessary that the parliamentary grant should be continued, and, if possible, increased. The Board has every confidence that the Government will continue to make liberal provision for the increasing wants of the district. Finance. —The receipts from all sources amounted to £97,914 10s. Bd., including a balance of £15,784 7s. 6d., which has been brought forward from 1892. The total expenditure was £87,892 os. 7d., leaving a balance of £10,022 10s. Id. unexpended at the 31st December, 1893. A sum of £2,000 was transferred during the year from Maintenance Account to Building Fund. At the end of the year the Maintenance Account showed a net credit balance of £471 Is. 3d. after providing for all liabilities thereon to date ; and the liabilities for buildings amounted to £1,826 16s. lid. in excess of the assets on Building Fund Account. Notwithstanding the payments on working average for two quarters of the year, the income from the statutory capitation grant of £3 15s. on the diminished average attendance did not suffice to meet the ordinary charges for maintenance during the year, which were as follows: Teachers' salaries, £3 ss. 9d. per head ; grants to Committees for incidental expenses and repair of buildings, Bs. 2d. per head; inspection and examination of schools, Is. 9-Jd. per head ; expenses of Board and departmental management, Is. 9|d. per head : making a total of £3 17s. Cd. per head. :|: The Board has carefully reviewed its financial position, and expects to bring the expenditure for 1894 within the limit of ordinary income, provided that the payment of capitation grant on working average is continued as a protection against exceptional loss through epidemics or other similar causes. Committees. —The Board has endeavoured to meet the wishes and requests of Committees in a reasonable manner ; and it is satisfactory to report that their co-operation has been given both readily and efficiently. By the exercise of a vigilant care and supervision over the school buildings and property, and by taking precautions against their being used in such a way as to suffer damage, Committees can render a most important service to the Board and to the public at large. Syllabus op Instruction.—The Board desires to urge upon the Minister of Education the desirableness of relieving the overloaded syllabus for standard examinations by curtailing the amount of drawing required. E. Udy, Chairman.

General Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1893. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance at beginning of year — By Office staff—Salaries .. .. 1,078 0 0 On Building Account .. .. 4.8G8 11 3 Clerical assistance .. .. .. 58 2 2 On General Account .. .. 10,915 16 3| Departmental contingencies .. .. C7O 10 4 Government grant for buildings .. 8,000 0 0 ' Inspectors'salaries .. .. .. 1,575 0 0 Government grant (special) for rebuild- Inspectors' travelling expenses .. G29 G 8 ing Eotorua teacher's house .. 270 0 0 Examination of pupil-touchers .. 92 18 10 Proceeds sale of site .. .. 18 9 0 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inProceeds sale of old school buildings .. 41 14 6 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. 02,801 13 7 Contribution to erection of school, Incidental expenses of schools .. 7,74.0 2 6 Brooklyn .. .. .. 10 0 0 ScholarshipsContribution to improvements, Pukeatua 10 0 0 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 1,423 6 8 Kent of reserve .. .. .. 15 0 0 Examination expenses .. .. 104 17 10 Forfeited deposit .. .. .. 5 0 0 School buildings— Government statutory capitation .. 09,841 15 11 New buildings ■.. .. .. 0,344 1 2 Scholarship grant .. .. .. 1,154 5 0 Improvements of buildings .. 3,279 3 4 Inspection subsidy— Furniture and appliances .. .. 895 13 8 Ordinary .. .. .. .. 500 0 0 Sites .. .. .. .. 319 17 5 For Native schools .. .. 112 10 0 Plans, supervision, and fees .. 834 7 1 Payments by School Commissioners .. 1,900 10 0 Interest on overdraft .. .. 38 19 4 Bank of New South Wales—Royalty on Balance at end of year— coal won from Karno School ground 49 18 9 On Building Account .. .. 3,5G5 12 1 Interest on fixed deposit .. .. 135 0 0 On General Account .. .. 0,456 18 0 £97,914 10 8 £97,914 10 8 E. Udy, Chairman. Vincent E. Eice, Secretary. Examined and found correct. —James Edward FitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-General.

TAEANAKI. Sir,— New Plymouth, 10th March, 1894. In compliance with the provisions of "The Education Act, 1877," I have the honour to forward the following report of the Board's proceedings for the year ending 31st December, 1893 :— The Boaed.—The members who retired by rotation in March were Messrs. G. A. Adlam, D. Teed, and J. Wade ; Messrs. Adlam and Wade were re-elected, and Mr. Samuel Hill was elected in the place of Mr. Teed, who did not stand for re-election. The Board then consisted of Miss Heywood, Hon. Thomas Kelly, M.L.C., Messrs. G. A. Adlam, E. G. Allsworth, E. G. Bauchope, H. Faull, S. Hill, E. Olson, and James Wade. At the first meeting of the new Board Mr. E. G.

* Beckoning the capitation grant earned by the average attendance for the four quarters of the year 1893, the expenditure was as follows: Teachers' salaries, £3 4s. lOd. per head; grants to Committees, Bs.; inspection, Is. 9d.; expenses of Board, Is. 9d.: equals £3 10s. 4d. per head.