8.—2,

APPENDIX A.

REPORTS OF EDUCATION BOARDS. AUCKLAND. Sir, Education Office, Auckland, 31st March, 1915. In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1914, the Education Board of the District of Auckland has the honour to submit the following report of its proceedings for last year :— Board. —The members now holding office arc : North Ward —Mr. A. R. Harris and Mr. J. D. McKenzie ; East Ward—Mr. W. Auld, Mr. E. C. Banks, and Mr. A. Burns; West Ward—Mr. C. T. Barriball, Mr. G. W. Murray, and Mr. G. J. Garland. At the election held in August last Mr. G. W. Murray was elected in place of Mr. Edgecumbe, who did not seek re-election. Mr. E. C. Purdie has recently resigned office as a member of the Board for the North Ward. The Board records its high appreciation of the valuable services rendered by Messrs. Edgecumbe and Purdie in the cause of education in this district. Mr. G. J. Garland was re-elected, for the fifth time, Chairman of the Board. During the year 1914 twenty-three meetings of the Board were held, with an average attendance of eight members. Matters of finance and the appointment of teachers continue to be dealt witFi Jby a committee of the whole Board which meets fortnightly. Finance. — The total receipts for the year 1914 were £317,327 Is., and the expenditure was £307,915 15s. 6d., which amount was made up as follows: Teachers' salaries and cost of administration, £223,591. 14s. 2d.; secondary education, £5,925 10s. 4d. ; manual and technical instruction, including buildings, £20,855 10s. lOd. ; maintenance of buildings, £16,956 8s. 5d. reinstatement of buildings damaged by fire, £387 16s. 5d. ; teachers' house allowance, £6,778 6s. lid. The amount expended on new buildings and sites and on the enlargement of existing buildings was £33,420 8s. 5d. The credit balance at the end of the year was £31,035 4s. 8d., including a sum of £21,749 1 Is. 7d., which has been placed on fixed deposit to provide for future requirements in rebuilding worn-out schools. Schools. —The number of schools at the end of 1914 was 629,. being an increase of eighteen. ] 32 part-time schools were in operation at the end of the year. During the year the following schools were closed : Paramata Valley, Horse-shoe Bush, White Hills, Awaawakino, Manawaora, Geord's Bay, Kaimarama, Waitaanga, Waiwhero, Turoto Road, Ramarama Creek, Moerangi, Oropi No. 1, Tapuwai, Pungaere. Attendance. —The number of scholars enrolled in the public schools in this district at the end of last year was 48,909 —viz., boys 25,469, girls 23,440 —an increase of 2,302 for the year. The average attendance for the last quarter of the year was 43,960, an increase of 2,546 for the year. The average attendance for the year was 43,045, being an increase of 2,330. At the end of last year there were 2,587 Maori and half-caste scholars on the rolls of public schools. Buildings. —During the year twenty-three new schools were erected, and twenty-one schools were enlarged. Five teachers' residences were erected, and three residences were enlarged. The painting and improvement of school buildings, and the undertaking of extensive repairs, were carried, out by competent foremen under the direction of the architect. v * Grading of Teachers. —The teachers were regraded by the Inspectors during the year, the marks for grading being the same as those awarded last year—viz. : Efficiency, 155 ; service, 25 ; scholastic attainments, 20 : total, 200. A teacher holding a license to teach is awarded five marks for attainments. Training College. —At the beginning of last year the number of students was 106- -thirty-six males and seventy females. Two students joined the Expeditionary Forces, and fifteen students were employed as temporary relioving-teachers during the absence of teachers with the Expeditionary Forces. Sixty-two students left at the end of last year. The Board is pleased to be able to report again that in general the reports on the work of ex-training-college students are highly satisfactory. Scholarships. —The number of scholarships held at the end of last year was as follows : Junior National, 31 ; Junior Board, 89 ; Senior Board, 35. The reports on the school-work of the holders continue to be very satisfactory. Physical Instruction.—The Board has to report that due attention is being given in the various schools to the requirements of the Act in respect of physical drill. Classes for the instruction of teachers in physical training were held during the year at Maungaturoto, Dargaville, Tauranga, Opotiki, and Auckland. Manual and Technical Instruction. —[See E.-5, Report on Manual and Technical Instruction.] Inspectors. —Mr. H. K. Burns, B.A., was appointed an additional Inspector of Schools in April last. The Board regrets to report that Mr. Burns died on the 22nd March, after three months' illness. Mr. E. K. Mulgan, Senior Inspector, has been granted leave of absence for nine months on account of ill health. Mr. C. W. Garrard has been appointed Acting Senior Inspector during Mr. Mulgan's absence. Secretary. —The Board regrets to report that the Secretary, Mr. R. Crowe, has been absent through illness for some months. During Mr. Crowe's absence Mr. R. P. J. Ray, Assistant Secretary, 1 has been acting as Secretary and Treasurer. Thanks. —The Board desires to thank the Education Department for the careful consideration of its recommendations, and T the School Committees of the district for their cordial co-operation during the year. • T have, &c, Georotc J. Garland, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington,

j—E. 2 (App. A.)