E.—l

office contingencies—but excluding the incidental expenses of schools) was as follows : North Canterbury, 4-1 ; Hawke's Bay, 4-2 ; Auckland, 43 ; Otago, 49 ; Wellington, 5-0 ; Wanganui, 5-4 ; Southland, 57 ; South Canterbury, 6-0 ; Nelson, 62 ; Taranaki, 6-3 ; Marlborough, 77 ; Grey, 8-3 ; Westland, 10-3. Table Hi is a summary of assets and liabilities compiled from returns furnished by the several Education Boards. H2 is a similar summary for the Building Account.

TABLE H1.—General Account.—Assets and Liabilities of Boards on 31st December, 1905.

TABLE H2.—Building Account.—Assets and Liabilities of Boards on 31st December, 1905.

Training of Teachers. Last year Parliament appropriated two sums of £5,000 each for alterations and. additions to the Wellesley Street School, Auckland, and the Thorndon School, Wellington, to adapt them for the purposes of training colleges for teachers in these centres. The training colleges at Auckland and Wellington thus provided were opened at the beginning of 1906, and now with the two training colleges already for many years in operation at Christchurch and Dunedin, but recently reorganized under more liberal conditions, complete the provision of a training college for each of the four University districts. The demand for teachers in New Zealand is still so great that many ex-pupil-teachers without adequate additional training are being employed as teachers, and the needs of many of the smaller schools are still served by persons who, whatever their attainments may be, would manifestly benefit materially by even a short period of training under proper direction. The allowances to students are, however, so liberal, and the advantages of careful practical training so obvious, that the attendance at the training colleges is fast increasing, and it is expected that before long the numbers seeking admission will tax the present accommodation to its fullest extent.

XV

Assets and Deficits. Liabilities and Balances. 1904. Education Districts. Cash. Due from t-»„« -.. all Sources Deficits. Over- Due to Other ■„ , drafts. Government. Liabilities. ■ Lsalances - Deficits. Balances. Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland £ £ 2,896 5,672 436 716 1,086 2,131 2,322 2,777 3,392 1,710 322 ! 13 | 1,000 75 19 ; 236 4,588 . 2,845 1,824 1,043 5,586 I 1,675 1,177 ! 2,084 £ 323 364 £ 152 316 £ 1,922 475 681 844 1,028 635 88 £ 1,528 251 1,129 3.7S0 493 19 536 35 62 1,797 455 548 1,793 £ 5,118 420 1,407 475 3,581 316 £ 300 448 £ 4,647 779 2,291 824 2,551 177 4,677 1,099 3,529 193 959 1,313 3,184 1,468 1,497 209 764 2,121 2,355 Totals 23,048 I 21,977 18,440 2,251 687 468 14,978 12,426 16,721

Assets and Deficits. Liabilities and Balances. 1904. Education Districts. Cash. Due from r, e ., all Sources! Defl «ts. I Over- Other tj„i„„„„drafts. Liabilities. Balances. " Deficits. Balances. £ £ 6,427 2,153 9,378 14,957 9,588 2,177 4,180 978 1,112 11,800 4,731 9,877 8,201 £ .1,617 £ 5,5S0 £ 2,494 1,869 4,293 13,696 7,135 1,110 1,074 358 100 8,659 2,659 6,365 3,559 £ £ 3,900 £ Auckland Taranaki Wanganui .. Wellington .. Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland .. 593 323 1,143 1,310 2,588 2,571 1,375 ii)3 87 877 2,497 1,078 1,390 4,249 517 919 6,579 3,422 4,634 6,719 994 1,167 3,092 1,610 1,002 4,141 1,040 1,068 4,720 2,786 7,027 4,372 3,438 1,350 1,122 2,077 .. I Totals 10,046 85,559 2,957 12,304 53,377 32,881 4,894 32,025