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NELSON. Sir,— Education Office, Nelson, 13th March, 1897. I have the honour to lay before you a report of the proceedings of the Education Board of the District of Nelson for the year 1896. Membees op the Boaed. —At the election of three members of the Board in March last, the retiring members, Messrs. William Norris Franklyn, Andrew Thomas Maginnity, and George Bell Sinclair were re-elected, the Board, therefore, has consisted of the same persons as before—viz., the gentlemen above named, and Messrs. George Talbot, Bichmond Hursthonse, James Colvin, Philip Best, William Henry Phillips, jun., and William Lock. At the meeting in April Mr. Talbot was again unanimously elected Chairman of the Board. During the year the Board has held twelve monthly, nine adjourned, and two special meetings, the average attendance of members at each meeting being 6-8. Schools.—At the end of the year 112 schools were at work, seventy-nine being within school districts, and thirty-three aided schools outside school districts. New schools have been opened at Central Takaka, Bedstead, and Gledhill's, in the County of Collingwood, and at Progress, in the Inangahua County. The Hardy and Tasman Street Schools, in the City of Nelson, have been amalgamated, .so that the net increase in the number of schools is three. School Disteicts.—ln accordance with the by-law of the Board which sanctions the setting up of a school district so soon as an aided school has a full committee of five parents or guardians of children attending the school, and has returned an average attendance of not less than twenty for two successive quarters, two new school districts have been constituted during the year —viz., Upper Motupiko and Kaituna. There are now no less than fifty-nine school districts within the Education District of Nelson. Attendance op Scholaes.—The number of children on the roll of the schools under the jurisdiction of the Board was at the end of last year 6,004, the strict average attendance being 4,873, and the working average attendance 4,969. The corresponding numbers for the previous year were : on roll 5,995, strict average 4,854, and working average 4,958. Teaching Staff. —When the year closed there were 61 male and 127 female teachers on the staff, making a total of 188 teachers of all grades, being an increase of 6 (2 male and 4 female teachers) over the previous year. The above comprise 29 male and 11 female " heads of schools"— teachers having assistants or pupil-teachers under them ; 18 male and 56 female " sole teachers," 8 male and 27 female " assistant teachers," and 6 male and 33 female probationers, these latter being equivalent to pupil-teachers. Buildings.—The more important works carried out during the year were the new school at Central Takaka, the Denniston Junior School, and Griffiths' Mill School, additions to Tasman Street and Happy Valley schools, and a teacher's cottage at Upper Motupiko. Centkal School Site.—lt is matter for regret that the large sum—£l,3oo —owing on this account is still unpaid, and it is strongly urged upon the department that a Government grant should be made specially to enable the Board to clear off this liability. Capleston School Buildings.—During the year this property has been so seriously damaged by floods in Boatman's Creek—which have brought down debris from the gold-mines to such an extent as to make the school ground practically a river-bed—that it has been deemed absolutely necessary, for the safety of both teachers and scholars, to remove the buildings to a more secure position. A new site has been purchased : and it is quite clear that an unforeseen occurrence, for which the Board is in no way responsible, will entail upon it an expenditure of at least £500. The Board considers that it has an equitable claim on the Government in this matter. Boaed's Funds.—The amount to credit of the Board's General Account at the beginning of the year was £737 3s. lid., and at its close £965 3s. 7d. At the beginning of the year the balance to credit of Building Account stood at £2,332 12s. 6d., with liabilities of £831. At the end of the year the credit balance was £299 12s. 7d., while the liabilities were £368 18s. 6d. No building grant was received from Government during the year. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. Geokge Talbot, Chairman.

Geneeal Statement op Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1896. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance — By Office staff—Salaries .. .. 295 0 0 On Building Account .. .. 2,332 12 6 Clerical assistance .. .. .. 5 5 0 On General Account .. .. 737 311 Departmental contingencies .. 360 10 2 Other receipts for buildings— Inspectors' salaries .. .. .. 550 0 0 Contractors'deposits .. .. 24 19 0 Inspectors'travelling-expenses .. 200 0 0 Refund .. .. .. .. 0 2 0 Teachers' salaries and allowances Bank interest .. .. .. 5 0 0 (including rent, bonus, &c.) .. 15,104 16 10 Government statutory capitation .. 17,882 5 0 Incidental expenses of schools .. 2,034 9 6 Scholarship grant .. .. .. 348 8 6 Training of teachers .. .. 98 6 10 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 300 0 0 ScholarshipsPayments by School Commissioners, for Paid to scholars .. .. .. 331 2 0 primary education .. .. 856 10 0 Examination expenses .. .. 35 710 Other receipts— School buildings— Sale of school-books, &c. .. .. 531 6 1 New buildings .. .. .. 1,165 0 8 Rents of school sites .. .. 615 0 Improvements of buildings .. 737 14 4 Furniture and appliances .. 81 8 11 Sites .. .. .. .. 58 17 0 Contractors' deposits .. .. 20 0 0 Purchase of sohool-booka .. .. 672 6 9 Contribution to school libraries .. 10 0 0 Balance— On Building Account .. .. 299 12 7 On General Account .. .. 965 3 7 £23,025 2 0 £23,025 2 0 Geo. Talbot, Chairman. Stead Ellis, Secretary. Examined and found correct.— J. K. Waebubton, Controller and Auditor-General.

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