[A.PPENDIX A

E.—2. 8B«u-

Instruction of Teachers. —The courses of instruction held during the year were as follows : Elementary agriculture and dairy-work, by Mr. L. J. Wild and Mr. W. A. G. Penlingtonj hygiene and physiology, by Dr. Adams. The Board also continued the training classes for uncertilicated teachers, under the direction of Mr. A. A. Wedde. We feel eertaifi that the classes will do much towards improving the efficiency of those teachers who take full advantage of the instruction which is now offered them. . Physical Instruction. —The Inspector of Schools in his report to the Board states that physical exercises are practised in all schools, and breathing-exercises receive ample attention. The oldfashioned one hour's drill is now a thing of the past, and the children are receiving great benefit by having short daily exercises. Scholarships. —The scholarships in force at the close of the year were —Board, 11; Junior National, 3. On the results of the Junior National Scholarship Examination, held in November, four Board Scholarships and one Junior National Scholarship were awarded. Free Books. —All the schools in the district are now supplied with continuous readers, and it is understood that the innovation is greatly appreciated by teachers and pupils alike. Manual and Technical Instruction. —[See E.-5, Report on Manual and Technical Instruction.] Buildings. —The expenditure under this head during 1913 was £2,452 18s. Id., comprising £1,286 7s. Bd. for new works, £1,166 10s. sd. for maintenance, and £18 in rents. During the year a new school was completed at Wairau Pa (including two living-rooms), and new residences were erected at Deep Creek and Seddon. Finance. —The balance-sheet shows a credit balance of £290 14s. sd. Returns, &c. —The Board is pleased to note that the Department has at last decided to simplify the forms and returns issued by the Manual and Technical Branch, but we are still unable to understand why it is considered necessary to supply more minute details of one branch of primary-school work than of another. Staff. —In the month of May Mr. D. A. Strachan resigned his position as our Inspector of Schools to take up a position as Assistant Inspector under the Hawke's Bay Education Board. The Board appointed Mr. D. A. Sturrock, headmaster of the Blenheim School, to fill the vacancy. Thanks. —The Board desires to place on record the loyal manner in which its officials, School Committees, and teachers have worked together in furthering the interests of education in this district. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. J. J. White, Chairman.

NELSON. Sir, — Education Office, Nelson, June, 1914. In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, the Nelson Education Board has the honour to submit the following report of its proceedings for the year 1913 : — The Board. —The members of the Board are: Messrs. W. Lock (Chairman), H. J. Harris, and F. W. 0. Smith (East Ward); J. D. Beuke, L. D. Easton, and W. N. Franklyn (Middle Ward); and G. B. Shepherd, G. H. Gothard, and E. J. Scantlebury (West Ward). At the annual election in July Mr. Harris was returned in j)lace of Mr. Maginnity for the East Ward, and Mr. E. J. Scantlebury in place of Mr. Munson for the West Ward. I regret to record the death of Mr. Fair, who was one of the representatives for the West Ward. The extraordinary vacancy was filled by the election of Mr. Gothard. I also regret to inform you that since the close of the year two other members of the Board have passed away —namely, Mr. Easton and Mr. Shepherd. Resolutions of sympathy were forwarded to the relatives of the deceased members. At the annual meeting held in August last Mr. Lock was elected Chairman. Twenty-four meetings were held during the year, the February meetings being conducted at Reefton and Westport. Primary Schools. —At the close of the year 118 schools were in operation. The number of household schools was smaller than usual, which fact is in a measure due to the liberal provision made for grants for board or conveyance of children who do not live within easy reach of public schools. The difficulty of securing teachers for Grade I schools was not so apparent during the yearj though, of course, it is practically impossible to secure the services of certificated teachers for such posts. District High Schools. —[See E.-6, Report on Secondary Education.] Private Schools. —Eleven private- schools were inspected by the Board's officers during the year. Attendance. —The number of scholars on tke roll on the 31st December was 6,522, and the average attendance at all public schools during the j'ear was 5,685, an increase of 123 on the previous year. The percentage of average attendance to average weekly roll was 8926. In a district such as ours, where school attendance is necessarily affected to some extent by industries requiring so much light labour at certain seasons, I do not think the percentage can be improved to any extent. Scholarships. —Seven Junior National, one Senior, and twenty-one Junior Board Scholarships were held during the year. The Tinline Scholarships (awarded by the College Governors triennially) were secured by pupils from the Reefton and Takaka District High Schools. Physical Education. —In the last report the Government was commended for placing the physical training of children on a more satisfactory basis. I regret to report, however, that up to the present time the Department's instructors have not visited the Nelson District. In the matter of medical inspection I find that a medical officer paid a visit to a few schools in the district soon after the inauguration of the system, but no systematic inspection has yet been made. • i

XII