E.-l

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Johnston Eamsay. In November Mr. Mackenzie, owing to his removal from the colony, resigned his position as a member. Four candidates were nominated for the vacancy, and the voting resulted in the return of the Eev. Philadelphus Bain Fraser. At the first meeting of the Board in April Mr. Mark Cohen was appointed Chairman. The Board held twenty-six meetings during the year. Mr. James Green was re-elected to represent the Board as Education Eeserves Commissioner, Mr. J. F. M. Fraser and Dr. Stenhouse were appointed members of the Board of Governors of the Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools, and Mr. Donald Borrie was appointed the Board's representative on the Waitaki High Schools Board. Numbee op Schools. —At the close of 1895 there were 214 schools in operation in the district. In the course of the year schools were opened at Earnscleugh, Kokoamu, Kuriwao, and St. Clair. In addition to the schools opened during the year, the Board has sanctioned the establishment of schools at Tahakopa, Kahuika, Waiheke, Eomareka (all in the Catlin's Bush district), and Kokonga. Buildings were in course of erection in each of these districts at the end of the year. Eleven memorials for the establishment of schools were received during the year. Six of these were granted, three were declined, and the remaining two are still under consideration. The following shows the classification of the schools according to their average attendance : Under 15 pupils, twenty-four ; 15 and under 20 pupils, twenty-four; 20 and under 25 pupils, nineteen ; 25 and under 50 pupils, sixty-four ; 50 and under 75 pupils, thirty-one ; 75 and under 100 pupils, fifteen ; 100 and under 150 pupils, twelve; 150 and under 300 pupils, ten ; 300 and under 500 pupils, ten ; 500 and upwards, nine : total, 218. Tbachees. —There were in the Board's service on the 31st December 554 teachers, classed as under : Male head teachers, 90; male teachers in sole charge, 49; male assistant teachers, 54; male pupil-teachers, 24 : total male teachers, 217. Female teachers in sole charge, 78 ; mistresses, 90; female assistants, 62 ; female pupil-teachers, 75; sewing-teachers, 32 : total female teachers, 337. The supply of both male and female teachers has been more than adequate for all requirements.

The following table shows the classification of the teachers: —

A comparison of the above table with a similar one published some years ago shows that a marked improvement has taken place in the literary qualifications of a large number of the teachers in the Board's service. The scheme for the classification of teachers and positions has been in operation exactly fifteen months, having gone into effect on the Ist January, 1896, and this is a fitting opportunity for showing what the effects of its working have been up to date. During the period named sixtyseven appointments have been made. Of these, seven were to positions on the staffs of the district high schools, the remaining sixty having been to the staffs of primary schools. It should be borne in mind that the scheme had a twofold object—(l) To secure the promotion of deserving teachers under this Board, and in so promoting (2) to give due weight to the claims of those teachers who have faithfully and successfully served this Board in remote or out-of-the-way places. The subjoined table shows the nature of the appointments that have been made from the Ist January, 1896, to the end of March, 1897 [not reprinted]. PuPiL-TEACHBBs.—There were ninety-nine pupil-teachers—twenty-four male and seventy-five female—in the Board's service at the end of the year. The annual examination was held in December. The following table shows the number of pupil-teachers who went up for examination, the number that passed, and the number that failed : — Presented. Passed. Failed. Exempted. Absent. First class .. ... ... 22 22 ... 1 2 Second class ... ... ... 29 27 2 3 Third class ... ... ... 17 17 1 Fourth class ... ... ... 23 20 3 1 91 86 5 5 3 Three pupil-teachers failed twice to pass the annual examination, and their services were therefore dispensed with. School Attendance. —The following is an abstract of the attendance at the public schools of this district from the institution of the Otago education scheme in the year 1856 to the pre-

A. B. 0. I). E. Totals. .st rank !nd rank !rd rank :th rank ith rank ith rank th rank !th rank Ith rank ... ... iVaiting service and marks A 1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A 5 3 1 1 1 0 B 1 8 B 2 12 B 8 6 B 4 5 B 6 0 C 1 13 C 2 16 C 3 8 C 4 5 C 5 0 D : 29 D 2 80 D 3 85 D 4 42 D 5 2 E 1 18 E 2 50 E 3 30 E 4 3 E 5 1 3 9 26 52 111 140 72 5 1 4 D 4 Totals 81 42 242 102 423