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the defective state of the law. Boards should be armed with authority to ascertain conclusively the total number of children of statutory ago in the education district; the onus of proof of age and of the fulfilment of the minimum attendance should be placed on the parents and guardians of children and not on School Committees ; and power should be given to Boards to compel the managers or teachers of private schools to furnish quarterly accurate returns of enrolment and attendance. As the result of careful consideration of this question, and close study of the work of its truant officer, the Board feels satisfied that the adoption of remedial measures on the lines here indicated will be attended with most beneficial results. The following statement shows the nature and extent of the truant officer's duties during the year : Cases investigated, 229 ; notices served on parents or guardians under section 91 of Education Act, 189; summonses served on parents or guardians under section 92 of Education Act, 109 : in these 109 summoned cases, seventy-seven orders of the Court were obtained, thirty cases were withdrawn (because the children were either found to be over the age or had obtained certificates of exemption), and two cases were dismissed. Penalty summonses issued under section 93 of Education Act (dealing with parents or guardians who had disobeyed the order of the Court), 13 : under the above thirteen penalty summonses, a fine of ss. and costs (17s. 6d.) was inflicted in three cases, five cases were withdrawn, three were dismissed, and two have been adjourned. Drawing Depaetment.—The report of the headmaster of the Drawing Department is appended. The classes were attended during the year by 342 students—viz., 81 teachers and pupilteachers, 47 students in training, 103 pupils in the afternoon classes, and 111 artisans and other pupils in the evening. The cost of the department for the year was—'Salaries, £545; incidental expenses, £25 Is. lid.—£s7o Is. lid.; amount received for fees, £197 15s. 6d. : net cost, £372 6s. sd. The school has now been affiliated to the South Kensington Science and Art Department, whose examinations for diplomas will be held annually in Dunedin and other centres throughout the colony, under the supervision of the Education Department, Wellington. The Board's Secretary has been appointed to act as local correspondent. The course of study pursued will in the future, as it has done almost from the institution of the school, form a suitable preparation for success in the Science and Art Department's certificate examinations, and it is hoped that many of the students will avail themselves of the facilities now afforded for obtaining these valuable diplomas. By order of the Board. The Hon. the Minister of Education. P. G. Peydb, Secretary.

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 stafi—Salaries .. .. 1,000 0 0 On Building Account .. .. 2,841 18 4 Departmental contingencies.. .. 329 18 3 On General Account .. .. 2,499 13 10 Inspectors'salaries.. .. .. 1,550 0 0 Government grant for buildings .. 7,000 0 0 Inspectors'travelling expenses .. 510 5 0 Local contributions for buildings .. 03 3 10 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 31 12 0 Sale of school sites and buildings .. 419 7 6 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inDeposits forfeited .. .. .. 15 0 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. 60,979 0 6 Government statutory capitation .. 02,233 11 0 Incidental expenses of schools .. 4,499 1 6 Scholarship grant .. .. .. 1,297 6 4 Training of teachers .. .. 2,142 3 9 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 500 0 0 Scholarships— Grant for training of teachers .. 300 0 0 Paid to scholars .. .. .. 1,281 6 8 Payments by School Commissioners .. 8,926 15 9 Examination expenses .. .. 45 19 9 District High School fees .. .. 93 9 7 School buildingsRents of school sites .. .. 4 5 0 New buildings .. .. .. 2,117 0 9 Interest .. .. .. .. 23 11 2 Improvements of buildings .. 1,927 13 4 School of Art fees .. .. .. 197 15 6 Furniture and appliances .. .. 323 • 3 1 Sites .. .. .. .. 110 3 6 Plans, supervision, &c. .. .. 376 6 5 School of Art salaries .. .. 570 1 11 Truant officer .. .. .. 81 16 3 Members' expenses .. .. .. 205 7 0 Balance at end of year— On Building Account .. .. 5,470 2 7 On General Account .. .. 2,851 0 7 £86,402 2 10 £86,402 2 10 P. G. Peyde, Secretary and Treasurer. Examined and found correct.—Jambs Edwaed FitzGeeald, Controller and Auditor-General.

REPORT OF THE ART MASTER. I have the honour to submit my annual report on the School of Art for the year 1893. The school was open every day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from 5.45 p.m. to 9 p.m. The classes were open to the general public, whether in the pursuit of art as a profession or as amateurs. Classes for teachers, pupil-teachers, students in training, and mining engineers were carried on, as were also evening classes for artisans. The total number of students who received instruction during the year was 342, showing a decrease of 62 since last year. This total includes 81 teachers and pupil - teachers, 47 students in training, 103 students who attended the day classes, and 111 students who attended the evening classes.