73

E.—l

Messrs. Nancarrow and W. Cameron Smith were re-elected, and Mr. Stuart R. Harris was elected to succeed Mr. Marshall. Mr. W. Cameron Smith died in August, after a long illness, and Mr. Marshall was elected to fill the vacancy. At the ordinary meeting held in April Mr. W. R. Kettle was unanimously re-elected Chairman of the Board for the current year. During the year the Board held twelve ordinary meetings and one special meeting. The following figures represent the attendance made by each member: Mr. Kettle (Chairman), 13; Mr. White, 13; Mr. Petrie, 11; Mr. Nancarrow, 10; Mr. McGuire, 10; Mr. Kerr, 8; Mr. Harris, 8; Mr. Marshall, 4; and Mr. Smith, 1. Mr. Kerr was granted three months' leave of absence, to enable him to attend to his parliamentary duties. School and Attendance.—There were twenty-five schools in operation at the close of the year—an increase of one on the previous year. The teachers in the employ of the Board comprise seventeen males and thirty-seven females, or a total of fifty-four; of this number sixteen were pupil-teachers—three males and thirteen females. In the matter of attendance the Board has to report a slight increase. The total number of scholars at the end of the year was 1,710, as compared with 1,673 at the close of 1895, being an increase of thirty-seven. The classification of the twenty-five schools is as follows : Under 25 pupils, twelve; between 25 and 50 pupils, five; between 50 and 100 pupils, five; between 100 and 300 pupils, two ; between 300 and 500 pupils, one. Pupil-teachers.—The annual examination of pupil-teachers was held in January, when twelve presented themselves for examination—one male and eleven females —two for admission to Class 11., three for admission to Class 111., three into Class IV., and four for admission to Class V. All the candidates passed, four with credit. Scholarships.—The annual examination of candidates for scholarships was held simultaneously with that for pupil-teachers. For the four scholarships—two town and two country —annually open to scholars attending public schools in the Grey Education District, there were twenty-one competitors—six from town schools and fifteen from the country. Building Operations.—The Board received during the year £2,092 13s. Bd., including a credit balance of £1,092 13s. Bd., and expended during the same period £1,255 3s. 10d., leaving a credit balance of £837 9s. lOd. Included in the expenditure was £300 for a new school building at the Blackball; Greymouth School repairs, £163; Dobson School repairs, £77 95.; Paroa School, additions and repairs, £76 155.; Kynnersley School, re-ereefcion of school (blown down), £78 18s. 9d.; Hatters School, repairs, £54 ss. 9d. As all the school buildings in this district are composed of timber, and as the majority of them were built many years ago, it was found necessary to expend a considerable sum in repairs, and a still larger amount will have to be devoted to a similar purpose during the ensuing year; in fact, the grant for building requirements, liberal as it was, will come very far short of our needs in this respect. The Board would therefore express the hope that when the next allocation of the building vote is made this circumstance will be taken into consideration. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. W. R. Kettle, Chairman.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Tear ending 31st December, 1895. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance at beginning of year — By Balance at beginning of year .. 161 9 8 On Building Account .. .. 1,092 13 8 Office staff—Salaries .. .. 160 16 8 On Deposit Account .. .. 9 0 0 Clerical assistance .. .. .. 23 6 8 Government grant for buildings .. 1,000 0 0 Departmental contingencies .. .. 45 3 1 Government statutory capitation .. 5,219 13 9 Inspector's salary .. .. .. 200 0 0 Government scholarship grant .. 104 7 2 Examination of pupil-teachers .. 818 0 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 125 0 0 Teachers' salaries and allowances (inpayment by School Commissioners .. 110 0 0 eluding rent, bonus, &c.) .. 4,386 1 9 District High School fees .. .. 100 10 0 Incidental expenses of schools .. 216 0 1 Rent .. .. .. .. 5 0 0 Scholarships—Paid to scholars .. 100 0 0 Contractors' deposits received .. 22 10 0 School buildings— New buildings .. .. .. 304 5 4 Improvements of buildings .. .. 720 10 9 Furniture and appliances .. .. 147 16 0 Sites .. .. .. .. 50 18 0 Plans, supervision, and fees .. 31 13 9 Other expenses— Rent .. .. .. .. 41 16 0 Members' travelling-expenses .. 65 5 0 Printing .. .. .. .. 43 16 6 Advertising ..' .. .. 18 14 0 Interest .. .. .. .. 0 11 6 Legal expenses .. .. .. 21 19 2 Contractors' deposits refunded .. 18 0 0 Balance at end of year— On Building Account .. .. 835 910 On General Account .. .. 172 12 10 On Deposit Account .. .. 13 10 0 £7,788 14 7 | £7,788 14 7 W. R. Kettle, Chairman. F. W. Riemenschneider, Secretary. Examined and found correct. —James Edward FitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-General.