E.—2.

[Appendix A.

were also received to replace schools destroyed by fire at Saunders (one room), and Kaiwaiwai (two rooms), and the former was completed. The rebuilding of the Johnsonville School is approaching completion. Conveniences were reconstructed at three schools, and at five city and suburban schools they were connected with drainage and high-pressure water service. Fifteen schools and six residences were overhauled. A new residence was erected at Mangamaire, and improvements wjere effected at .ten other residences. It has been the endeavour of the Board to add, as far as is possible, to the comfort of country teachers. The Board urges that it be provided with more .money for this very desirable purpose. The Board hopes to be in a position to begin shortly the erection of the school and college at Kelburne. Finance.—The year began with a debit balance of £966 7s. 5d., the receipts were £120,997 2s. 2d., the disbursements £116,462 Is., leaving a credit balance of £3,568 18s. 9d. Necessary reconstructions to be undertaken in the near future will make heavy demands on the funds of the Board. Subsidies. —For manual and technical purposes ten claims were received for Government subsidy, and for district high school purposes eleven claims. Besides, the Board has, in a number of instances, been pleased to assist by subsidy those Committees who, by their own efforts, are improving the school premises and grounds. The Board has aimed at cultivating by supply of good pictures the artistic taste of scholars, and it is now arranging for mounting in all the larger schools a better selection, some of which Inspector Tennant brought from England. School Libraries.—During the year the Board issued a suggestive list of books suitable for school libraries. As a result, a considerable number of Committees and teachers have availed themselves of the subsidies offered. Amounts ranging from a few shillings to £5 have thus been contributed to the library funds of thirty schools. The Board has observed with pleasure the wise encouragement to sound reading offered by the Wellington City Council and its library staff. At the public library a special room is set apart for children's books, and is placed in charge of an assistant specially qualified for this particular work. Reports.—The Inspectors report a general improvement in efficiency. Their report and that of the Principal of the Training College are attached.* Friendly relations continue to exist between the Board and School Committees and teaching staff, a point pleasantly emphasized in the concluding paragraph of the Inspectors' report. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. Robert Lee, Chairman.

HAWKE'S BAY. Sir, — Education Office, Napier, 31st March, 1912. In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1908, the Education Board of the District of Hawke's Bay has the honour to submit the following report of its proceedings during the year 1911 : — Board. —At the beginning of the year the members of the Board were : North Ward, Mr. W. Morgan, Mr. G. E. Darton, Mr. K. McLeod; Middle Ward, Mr. C. M. Whittington, Mr. G. F. Roach, Mr. J. H. Sheath; South Ward, Rev. A, Grant, Mr. W. G. Hunter, Mr. 0. Erickson. In August Messrs. Morgan and Roach were re-elected for the North and Middle Wards respectively, and Mr. R. B. Ross was elected to succeed Mr. Erickson, who did not offer himself for election. Mr. C. M. Whittington was elected Chairman for the year. The Board records its appreciation of the valuable services rendered by Mr. Erickson as a member of the Board for many years. The Rev. A. Grant and Messrs W. Armstrong and W. G. Hunter represented the Board on the Dannevirke High School Board of Governors, Messrs. Sheath and S. McLernon on the Napier High School Board, Messrs.- Sheath and McLernon on the Board of Managers of the Napier Technical School, and Messrs. Whittington, W. G. Downes, and W. J. Pellow on the Board of Managers of the Waipawa Technical School. Schools.—The number of schools in operation at the end of 1910 was 121. During 1911 four schools (Portland Island, Wairoaiti, Port Awanui, and Tahunaroa) were closed, and eight (Tanguru, Totangi, Waikare, Te Uri, M-arakeke, Ngapaeruru, Ngatapa, and Te Hapara) were opened, leaving 125 (including twelve household schools) in operation at the end of the year. Teachers. —The teachers employed in December, 1911, numbered 321. Of these, fifty-eight were pupil-teachers and thirteen probationers. Of the 251 adult teachers, fifty-nine, or 70 per cent., were uncertificated. Th-j Board has continued to experience considerable difficulty in procuring the services of teachers for the smaller country schools. Attendance. —At the end of the year the number of scholars on the roll was 10,591, an increase of 301 during the year. The average attendance for the year was 9,223, and the percentage of attendance was 884. When it is considered that during three-quarters of the year scarlatina, measles, and whooping-cough were rife throughout the district, this percentage must be regarded as highly satisfactory. There were 353 Maori and half-caste scholars in attendance at fifty schools. During the year five hundred warnings were sent to parents of irregular attenders, forty informations were laid, convictions being recorded in every case, while the defendants were mulcted in fines and costs amounting to nearly £50. Physical Instruction.—The Inspectors report that military drill still continues to form a regular part of school training in the ordinary schools of the larger class, but instruction is also given to the girls in calisthenics and to the younger children in physical exercises.

* See Appendix C and Appendix D.

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