E.—2.

[Appendix B.

Medical and Dental Services. —The development of these services is much appreciated. To assist in the establishment of the schools dental service many communities have ottered free, rooms for clinics, transport, and oven lodgings for the dental nurse. 'The extension of the dental service to remote districts is much desired, and, the Board understands, will be undertaken as soon as the training of staffs permits. School Libraries.- -The service to the school community by the library department of the City Council is so unobtrusively and so efficiently performed that its great value is apt to be overlooked. It serves thirty largo schools, containing quite one-third of our scholars, with well-chosen books, ample in number, nourishing in quality. The success of the Featherston County library has encouraged the formation of a similar exchange in South Wairarapa County. Efficient management merits public approbation and should secure substantial monetary support. Quite considerable sums have been raised for this worthy object. Other public bodies may with advantage, to the extent of their means, follow the worthy examples above mentioned. In each case an essential condition of success is the sound sense and the enthusiasm of the chief librarian and his associates. Buildings. —Prices were still high and skilled, labour by no means plentiful, so that a good deal of work had to stand over for more favourable conditions. Nevertheless much good work was done in overtaking arrears from the war period. Fencing renewals, overhaul of schools and residences, improvement of sanitary conveniences, asphalt and grading, were undertaken, besides smaller works too numerous to specify. The following new buildings were completed :in briek —South Miramar, Te Aro Infants', Training College gymnasium, and lecture-hall, Hutt Technical School; in wood — schools, Koromiko (rebuilding) and Dillon's Point (addition) ; residence, Carluke. Unused schools at Tahuahua and Wairere were removed and re-erected at Mirza and Ngaumu respectively. The Board, has recognized that, owing to the exigencies of finance, it was only the most urgent new works that should proceed. It appears to the Board, however, that the time for a more rapid advance to pick up arrears has now arrived, and that permanent buildings to replace, temporary ones should be erected at the earliest possible moment. Rapid increase of population, chiefly in the urban and country town areas, must be provided for without delay. Such districts are -Kaiwarra, Clyde Quay, eastern Ilutt, south Miramar, Lyall Bay, Petone area, Khandallah, Hataitai, Levin ; and, of country places, Pine Valley, Poroutawhao, and Silverstream. The need for replacement, of very old schools in the city is recognized, the first of these being the Mount Cook group. The erection of a hostel for Training College students must be faced in the near future. In order to assist in a time of pressing financial difficulty the Board has placed over three-quarters of its Rebuilding Fund at immediate, disposal, mostly on the basis of half cost, for works of immediate urgency, including additions, conveniences, sheds, and teachers' rooms. The purchase of sites ahead of requirement is strongly advocated in districts of assured increase. It is before population presses close that choice of laud can be made at moderate price. If the future is to be assured, quite twelve to twenty more of such areas should be procured without long delay in districts of growing population. Finance. —There was on deposit with the Public Trustee and the Bank of New Zealand on the 31st December, 1922, a total sum of £6,000. On that date there was a credit balance on the current account amounting to £6,206 Bs. sd. Unpresented cheques amounted to £842 18s. 9d. The net balance to credit on the 31st December, 1922, was £11,363 9s. Bd. General. —The Board has received with much satisfaction the evidence furnished by the Inspectors' report that the great majority of our schools are conducted with faithfulness and efficiency. It is a subject of congratulation, too, that the Committees, the School Committees' Association, and the parents take an increasingly keen interest in seconding the efforts of the teachers, both by their personal support and by combined help to promote in various ways pleasure and efficiency. No less than seventy-four Committees applied for subsidy on a, total of £2,396 16s. sd. Many are striving to improve the environment, by laying down lawns and flower-beds, and by rearing plantations. For this purpose the, Board, as in past years, supplied suitable trees. A number of the schools also raised many trees in excess of their own requirements, and so were able to supply neighbouring schools. The Board strongly urges that the regulations in relation to subsidy under section 159 of the Act should receive the most friendly and liberal interpretation, and that in particular the limitations which were temporarily imposed should be withdrawn, and in no case should be allowed to operate retrospectively. The active good will of its friends is worth much to the school. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. T. Forsyth, Chairman.

NELSON. Sin— Education Office, Nelson, 31st March, 1923. I have the honour, on behalf of the Board, to present the following report on the proceedings for the year ended 31st December, 1922 :—- Board. —The personnel of the Board at the end of the year was as follows : Messrs. F. W. 0. Smith (Chairman) and E. E. Boyes, Nelson Urban Area ; Messrs. S. B. Canavan and W. C. Baigent, North Ward ; Messrs. E. J. Scantlebury and H. J. Hill, East Ward ; Mr. G. B. Sinclair and the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre, M.L.C., West Ward. The Board's representatives on other bodies were as follows : Board of Managers, Nelson Technical School, F. W. 0. Smith and E. J. Scantlebury ; Board of Governors, Nelson Colleges and Council of Victoria University College, Mr. F. W. 0. Smith. During the year the biennial election of members was held, those retiring being Messrs. E. E. Boyes, S. B. Canavan, A. C. Cottrell, and F. W. 0. Smith. The election resulted in the return of the following: Messrs.

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