E.—l.

Education Keserves. The reports and accounts of the several bodies of School Commissioners will be found in the Appendix (pp. 95-107). The following table contains a summary statement of the accounts :—

TABLE S.—Summary of School Commissioners' Accounts.

In 1896 the Commissioners paid ,£37,160 to the Education Boards, the whole of which amount has been deducted from the capitation grants made to the Boards, and has thus in effect become a contribution to the Colonial Treasury. Native Schools. The interest taken by the Maori people in the school education of their children is constantly growing. In 1896 the number of village schools rose from 69 to 74; the number of children on the roll in December, from 2,675 to 2,862; the mean of the weekly returns of pupils on the roll, from 2,656 to 2,874; and the strict average attendance for the year, from 2,084 to 2,220. On the average, the daily attendance was equal to 77J per cent, of the roll-number for the time being. About 9 per cent, of the children are half-castes, about 14 per cent, are European (or inclining to European), and nearly 77 per cent, are Maori (or inclining to Maori). In the four boarding-schools for Maoris there were, in December, 70 Government scholars and 144 others. At the same time 14 boys holding industrial scholarships were apprenticed to employers as follows : Farmers, 5 ; blacksmiths, 3; saddlers, 3; carpenters, 2; printer, 1. One girl was at a high school with a scholarship, and two young men held scholarships of ,£4O a year to enable them to study at the University College, Auckland, and Canterbury College, Christchurch. The number of Maori children at the ordinary public schools has been stated in connection with Table B.

XI

Income for the Year 1896. Receipts during Year. Arrears of Rent due on 31st December, 1896. Liabilities or Engagements on 31st December, 1896. Provincial Districts. Balances on 1st January, 1896. Primary Reserves. Secondary Reserves. Total Income. Auckland Taranaki Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson Westland Canterbury Otago £ s. a. 216 5 3 983 17 11 621 13 2 2,303 16 4 128 i 10 133 4 6 109 1 5 310 14 3 6,279 9 0 £ s. a. 2,430 18 5 1,719 3 11 2,909 2 10 3,204 11 4 200 13 6 1,444 12 9 38 16 0 16,459 8 0 18,198 18 4 £ s. d. 886 6 7 340 1 6 111 0 3 867 7 9 40 15 2 531 11 3 148 5 0 £ s. a. 3,533 10 3 3,043 3 4 3,641 16 3 6,375 15 5 369 13 6 2,109 8 6 296 2 5 16,770 2 3 25,157 11 10 £ s. a. 1,019 8 2 1,346 1 7 245 13 6 732 3 0 105 10 0 187 13 0 10 1 6 1,803 13 4 6,493 16 9 £ s. d. 40 10 0 395 11 5 70 18 6 524 8 8 679 4 6 208' 3 5 28 16 9 Totals for 1896.. Totals for 1895.. 11 12 086 6 8 629 18 5 46,606 5 1 44,486 4 3 3,604 12 0 3,270 2 8 61,297 3 9 ! 11,944 0 10 1,268 8 9 59,384 5 4 12,818 18 11 1,660 3 8 Expem liture for the Year 1896. Provincial Districts. Office Other Expenses Expenses and of Salaries. Management Paid for Primary Education. Paid for Investments Secondary and Education. Eetunds. Balances on 31st December, 1896. Total. Auckland Taranaki Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson Westland Canterbury Ofcago £ s. d. 116 14 9 63 16 10 337 U 10 109 10 0 25 0 0 51 4 9 10 0 0 561 0 8 841 6 2 £ s. d. 252 5 2 215 3 10 621 8 6 151 4 11 8 18 6, 19 6 0 23 14 3 8 9 6 1,046 4 5! £ s. d. 2,000 0 0 1,100 0 0 2,000 0 0 3,000 0 0 100 0 0 1,000 0 0 £ s. d. £ s. d. 699 5 6 70 1 8' 400 0 0 40 4 6 100 0 0 481 1 6 3 6 6 375"o a '.'. 120 0 0 32 2 6 677 5 31,762 0 6 £ s. a. 395 3 2 1,223 18 2 582 12 11 2,630 12 6 235 15 0 663 17 9 142 8 2 818 9 7 8,220 16 7 £ s. a. 3,533 10 3 3,043 3 4 3,641 16 3 6,375 15 5 369 13 6 2,109 8 6 296 2 5 16,770 2 3 25,157 11 10 15,350' 0 0 12,609 18 11 Totals for 1896 .. Totals for 1895 .. 2,116 8 0 2,032 9 0 2,346 15 1 1,193 6 10 37,159 18 11 40,482 11 10 2,852 12 31,907 15 8 2,784 4 32,206 16 3 '14,913 13 10 :11,684 16 8 61,297 3 9 60,384 5 4