E.-2.

[Appendix B.

with 1921 will show that the financial position of the Board has very much improved during the past year. It has been necessary to restrict expenditure on maintenance as far as possible, but; as this account is now on a more satisfactory basis the normal expenditure under this head may now be resumed. The cost of administration in 1.922 was 4-435. per pupil in yearly average attendance, compared with 5-18s. in 1921. Attendance. —The number on the roll at the end of 1922 was 15,755, compared with 15,242 at the end of 1921, an increase of 513. The attendance for the year 1922 averaged 14,160. The average attendance in 1920 was 12,234, so that the increase in the two years 1921 and 1922 was 1926, which is evidence of the, rapidly growing school population of this district, and is ample justification of the many applications made by the Board for new schools and for increased accommodation in existing schools. The following table shows the average roll and average attendance for the years 1921 and 1922 :— Average Number Average on Roll. Attendance. Average for 1922 .. .. .. .. .. 15,460 14,160 Average for 1921 .. .. .. .. .. 14,899 13,475 Increa.se . . . . . . .. . . 561 685 Number of Schools. —The number of schools in operation at the end of 1922 was 183, an increase of eighteen over the number at the. end of the previous year. Schools were opened during the year at Drumblair, Ilangaroa, Hauturu, Kowhai, Lunesdale, Manganuku, Mangaone, Mangatarata, Mangataura, Mata'kaoa, Ngapakira, Otawhao, Panikau, Pukctawa, Reay Bridge, Tarewa, Te Awaputahi, Te Kohanga, Waimata .Household, Waimoko, Waiwhare, Wallace's Crossing, and Whakarau ; while the schools at Mangakiore, Mount, Herbert, Tangatapura, Tangoio, and Woodlands North were closed. Proficiency Examination and Junior National Scholarships.—As in former years, a, synchronous examination was arranged for the outlying schools, the pupils in the other schools being examined either at convenient centres or at their own schools. For the synchronous examination special papers were prepared by the Inspectors, and the Board arranged for responsible supervisors to be present. The results of the synchronous examination were considered in conjunction with the results obtained in all subjects by the Inspector at his annual visit to the school, while in the centralized school the headmasters were consulted as to the merits of the various pupils. Notwithstanding the fact that the percentage of results was somewhat lower than last year's, the Board considers that a high standard has been maintained. The successes in external examinations, particularly the Junior National Scholarship Examination, would appear to bear this out. The numbers of candidates and certificates obtained were, as follows :

The best results this year thus appear in schools of Grade II! is and Grade IV, which are more or less country schools having three and four teachers respectively. The number of Junior National Scholarships gained at the examination held at the end of 1922 was twenty-five, compared with twenty-one in 1921 and ten in 1920. Teachers. —On the 31st December, 1922, there were in the Board's service teachers classified as follows : —

Included in the 124 uncertificated teachers shown above are thirteen relieving teachers and thirtythree engaged in conducting household schools.

VI

School. •■role charge Two teachers Three and four teachers Five teachers and upwards Present. 11] 147 175 716 Percentages Proficiency. ('ompetency. : Proficiency. Competency. 78 12 70-2 10-8 104 19 70-8 12-9 147 12 84-0 6-9 535 84 74-7 11-7

Certificated. Licensed. Uncertificated. All Teachers. Total. l_ i M. F, Head teach its Sole teachers Assistants Organizing teacher M. F. 65 6 14 24 32 142 M. F, M. F. 65 6 20 90 36 196 1 71 110 232 1 2 1 2 1 4 65 2 53 Pupil-teachers Probationers 112 172 4 2 6 118 122 292 19 29 9 39 414 48 48 Totals, 1922 Totals, 1921 112 172 108 .182 4 2 2 4 6 118 10 85 150 300 138 339 510 477