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[Appendix A.

GREY. Sir,— Greymouth, 31st May, 1915. 1 have the honour to present the report of the Grey Board of Education for the year ending the 31st December, 1914. Board. —At the beginning of the year the Board consisted of Messrs. H. J. Bignell (Chairman), F. H. Kilgour (Treasurer), J. Noble, J. Ward, J. McCarthy, W. R. Kettle, E. W. Penhalluriack, J. Ryall, and J. Creagh. In connection with the statutory elections held in July, Messrs. Ryall, Creagh, and Kilgour were retiring members, and all were candidates for re-election. As result of the election Mr. Ryall was again returned for the North Ward, Mr. Harry Chilton for the Eastern Ward, and Mr. Alex. Doig for the Western Ward. The contests were close, and included a tie. At the annual meeting following the election Mr. Bignell was re-elected Chairman and Mr. W. R. Kettle was appointed Treasurer. Schools. —On the 31st December the Board had thirty-four schools in active operation, the schools being graded as follows : Grade 0, 7 ; Grade I, 8 ; Grade 11, 6 ; Grade 111, 3 ; Grade IV, 5 ; Grade Vlb, 1 ; Grade VIIa, 2 ; Grade IXc, J. (with one side school). Teaching Staff. —At the end of the year in connection with the primary and secondary departments there were in the Board's service seventy-four teachers, &c, classified as follows : Certificated, nine males, nineteen females; licensed, seven females; uncertificated, three males, twenty-two females; probationers, six females; pupil-teachers, two males, six females. Included in the "above totals are one assistant teacher and one pupil-teacher who joined the Expeditionary Forces at the commencement of the war. Attendance. —For the year the average roll number was 2,030, and average attendance 1,765, the percentage of average attendance to roll number being 86-9. For the preceding year the figures were respectively—Roll number, 1,953; average attendance, 1,765 ; and percentage of attendance, 90-4. The falling-off in the attendance is due to extensive epidemics of measles and scarlet-fever, which affected the whole education district. Manual and Technical Instruction. —[See E.-5. Report on Manual and Technical Instruction]. Physical Training. —At all schools due attention was given to the physical training of pupils, and good results were obtained. The Board desires to tender to the officers of your Department its heartiest thanks for their unfailing acts of courtesy and assistance. In special manner the Board wishes to place on record its sincere appreciation of the splendid educational work of Mr. G. M. Hogben, the retiring Director of Education. It is to be hoped in the interests of education that his valuable services will not be wholly lost to the Dominion, and that for many years to come we may further benefit by his sound judgment, ripe experience, and high educational attainments. The Board also regrets the loss of Mr. W. S. Austin, its late Inspector, who has volunteered for active service and is now Major at Trentham Camp. By the operation of the new Act the Board loses and the Department gains the services of a most competent officer and gentleman. The New Act. —While agreeing in the main with the provisions of the Education Act, 1914, the Board considers that the suggested abolition of the West Coast Boards and their incorporation with the Education District of Canterbury will be detrimental for teachers, schools, and the general conduct of education. The reasons on which this opinion is based are stated in the evidence submitted by the Board to the Education Commissioners and the Education Committee of Parliament. If it is ■j. deemed advisable to abolish small Boards, then one Board district should be erected for the Coast. I have, &c, H. J. Bignell, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.

WESTLAND. Sir, — Hokitika, 14th January, 1915. I have the honour to present the report of the Westland Education Board for the year ending the 31st December, 1914 : — The Board. —The representation of the respective wards at the beginning of the year was : North Ward—Messrs. T. W. Duff, T. T. Jones, and H. B. Forster; Middle Ward- Messrs. J. J. Clarke, G. A. Perry, and R. Wells ; South Ward—Messrs. A. Cumming, J. Grimmond, and H. L. Michel. In March Mr. W. J. Benyon was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Forster. In August Messrs. Jones, Wells, and Michel retired. The two latter were re-elected, and Mr. G. H. Harris was elected for the North Ward. Mr. G. A. Perry was reappointed Chairman and Mr. J. J. Clarke Treasure]'. During the year Mr. Michel continued to act as representative on the High. School Board of Governors. Thirteen meetings were held during the year. Schools. —At the beginning of the year thirty-seven schools were in operation. During the year the Haast and Mananui Schools were closed and the Pukekura School was opened, leaving the number thirty-six at the end of the year. Of these schools, classed according to the new scale, eight were in Grade 0; fourteen in Grade I; six in Grade II; four in Grade lIIa ; two, with a side school, in Grade lIIb ; and one in Grade Vc. In addition five Catholic schools were submitted for inspection. Seventy-nine pupils attended the secondary class of the Hokitika District High School, and sixtyone were on the roll at the end of the year. These included two holders of Junior National Scholarships and nine of Board's Junior Scholarships.

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