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self for re-election. The other two retiring members were re-elected, and Mr. J. J. W. White was elected in the place of Mr. Seymour. The retirement of Mr. Seymour was deeply regretted, not only by the Board but by the Committees throughout the district and by the public generally. He had been Chairman of the Board without any interval from the first establishment of the present system of education, or for a period of twenty-seven years, and has " established a record " of uninterrupted occupation of a position which carries with it unmistakeable evidence of the high estimation in which he was held by all his colleagues in the important duties devolving (until recently) upon them as administrators of the Education Act. His successor in the chair, Mr. John Duncan, was elected to that position during his absence in England. Schools. —The number of schools in this district open at the end of 1904 was 61, graded as follows : Grade 0, 27 ; grade 1, 14 ; grade 2, 6 ; grade 3, 3 ; grade 4, 3 ; grade 5, 2 ; grade 7, 2 ; grade 8, 3 ; and grade 10, 1. A glance at the map of the northern extremity of the South Island, and even the names of many of the smallest schools, will show the necessity for so many schools in grades 0 and 1, and though the multiplication of small schools is much to be deplored, as a rule it is, nevertheless, quite unavoidable in the Sounds County, unless the education of some two hundred children is to be entirely neglected. Moreover, it should he remembered that the Government is, in most cases, relieved from the necessity of providing and maintaining school buildings for such children; and the cost of their education per head is not very much in excess of that of children attending schools of from twenty-five to fifty, when the cost of buildings and the grants to Committees are taken into account. The mean average roll-number for the year 1904 was 1,942, showing again a decline from the previous year of forty-seven. The mean average attendance for the four quarters of the year was 1,629, as against 1,644 for the previous year. The mean average attendance is therefore about 83-8 per cent, of the average roll-number. The number of teachers in the Board's service at the end of the year was eighty-four, including pupil-teachers, and only seventeen of these were men. Superannuation of Teachers. —In no other Department of the public service is it of such momentous importance to the country that a system of superannuation for its old servants should be established at the earliest possible moment. In other branches the ill effects of retaining old servants, after their energy and vigour have seriously declined, are of comparatively trifling importance and limited to the Department they serve, but it is of the utmost importance to the whole community that those intrusted with the education of the " rising generation " should be relieved from their duties before advancing age has commenced to bring about the inevitable deterioration of their work, and its necessarily detrimental effect upon the children under their control. Doubtless there are throughout New Zealand many teachers who are painfully conscious that they are no longer able to do their work as they could formerly and would still delight to do it, but who are compelled to struggle on until " the great teacher, Death," puts an end at once to their labours and their anxieties. Under existing circumstances, and with the (happily) general prevalence of humane and charitable feelings, it is a very rare occurrence for a Committee to attempt to remove such a teacher, although fully awake to the fact that his continuance in office is not favourable to the proper advancement of the children's education. If, however, a reasonable provision for old age were available, those responsible for the proper administration of the Education Act would not hesitate to act in the best interests of the children by removing any teacher whose usefulness had been seriously impaired by the advance of old age. With such provision in view, however, there would seldom be any need for the authorities to take action. The teacher himself, as an honourable man, would give up his charge voluntarily as soon as he felt that the failure of his powers of mind or body had incapacitated him for the successful prosecution of his important duties. Under present circumstances, however, while the salaries paid in the large majority of cases are barely sufficient to meet the daily wants of the teacher and his family, and quite inadequate to enable him to make any provision for the future, the unfortunate man is compelled to cling to his office long after he is painfully conscious of his failing powers, and of the fact that the education of his scholars is to some extent being sacrificed to his necessities. It is to be hoped, therefore, that this long-promised relief will be speedily provided for this deserving body of public servants, • and that the Government will not wait for the propounding of a scheme " actuarially safe," since, if there is any sincerity in the frequent professions of admiration for, and gratitude to, the teachers of the colony, the country will heartily support the proposal that has been more than once made, that the Government should in some way contribute to the foundation of the Teachers' Superannuation Fund. Changes in the Office Staff. —Early in the year, Mr. John Smith, who had filled the positions of Secretary and Inspector to the Board for a period of thirteen years, after sixteen years' service in a similar capacity in Westland, addressed a letter to the members of the Board, asking to be allowed to resign the office of Inspector at the end of June, on account of his age rendering him unfit for the exertion necessitated by the amount of travelling required in visiting twice a year schools in this scattered district. He asked to be allowed to retain the office of Secretary, and undertook to do without a clerk. The Board willingly agreed to this arrangement, and invited applications for the position of Inspector by advertisement in the four large centres. Forty-three applications were received, and after long and careful consideration of the evidence before it, the Board unanimously chose Mr. David Anderson Strachan, M.A., who entered upon his duties in July, and the Board, after nine months' experience of his work, is able to congratulate itself on securing the services of so thoroughly able and enthusiastic an officer, one fully impressed with the importance of the new education and losing no opportunity of promoting its advancement. Handwork and Technical Instruction.—During the past year school classes were held in needlework, ambulance, brushwork, and plasticine-modelling. A " continuation " class and teachers' classes were established, the subject of the latter being first aid and ambulance and brushwork.