Appendix B.

E.—2.

E. E. Boyes (Nelson Urban Area), S. B. Canavan (North Ward), G. B. Sinclair (West Ward), and H. J. Hill (East Ward). An election to fill an extraordinary vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. J. W. Treacher resulted in the election of Mr. F. W. 0. Smith. Schools. —At the end of the year there were open 137 main schools, four half-time schools, and six side schools. New schools were opened at Crushington, Okiwi Bay, and Wangapeka Track (Grade 0), and Whangarei (Grade I). The school at Whanganioa was closed. The Westport District High School was disestablished, and a technical high school established in its stead. Attendance. —The total roll at the end of the year was 7,133, being an increase of 105 over that at the end of 1921. The average attendance was 6,554, as against 6,328 for 1921. The average attendance expressed as a percentage of the average roll was 91-2, as compared with 90 for the previous year and 88 for 1920. District High Schools. —Secondary departments were, in operation at, Motueka, Reefton, Takaka, and Westport. The number on the roll at the end of the year was eighty-one, a decrease of 109, which is accounted for by the closing of the secondary department at Westport. Teaching Staff'. —The number of adult teachers in the service of the Board at the end of the year was 241. Of these, 153 were certificated or had licenses to teach and 88 were uncertificated. It is pleasing to note that the number of certificated teachers shows an increase of thirteen over that for the preceding year, and the number of uncertificated teachers a corresponding decrease. The practice of terminating the engagements of all uncertificated teachers, unless of exceptional merit, at the end of each year is resulting in a number of the vacated positions being filled by certificated teachers and ex-training-college students. The percentage of uncertificated teachers is still greater than we wish, but this is to some extent accounted for by the fact that over half of the schools in the district, arc in grades 0 and 1. There were four male and fourteen female pupil-teachers and six male and eighteen female probationers on the staff at the. end of the year. The Board had the services of three organizing teachers throughout the year. Buildings. —An additional class-room was erected at Stockton, and the new school at Oparara is practically completed. The schools at Brightwater, Brook Street (Nelson), Spring Grove, and Stoke were remodelled. The school at Mapua was removed, enlarged, and re-erected on a new site. A residence was purchased at Denniston for the use of the teacher of the Burnett's Face School. Eleven schools and two residences were repainted, and a considerable amount of repair work was carried out. Sites. —New sites were acquired at Corbyvale, Mapua, and Ngatimoti, and additions made, to the, sites at Cronadun, Foxhill, Pangatotara, and Tasman. The old site at Mapua and a portion of that at Wai-iti were sold. Conveyance and Boarding Allowances. — Conveyance allowance was paid for an average of 139 children in attendance at twenty-two schools, and boarding-allowance for thirty-nine children in attendance at eighteen schools. The total expenditure was £1,117 16s. Voluntary Contributions. — The total amount received during the, year by way of voluntary contributions towards improvements to buildings, purchase of sites, improving grounds, library books, &c., was £399 9s. lid. The thanks of the Board is due to all who assisted, in this direction, and it is a matter for regret that the Government has seen fit to place a limit on the amount, of subsidy to be, paid. Training of Teachers. —Successful Saturday instruction classes were, conducted at Nelson and Westport. During the, coming year it is hoped to have such classes established at Motueka. At present trainees and uncertificated teachers in the Motueka, Takaka, and Collingwood districts are unable to receive the benefits of these classes. Manual Instruction. —Manual-training classes were held at Denniston, Motueka, Nelson, Reefton, Takaka, and Westport. The classes at Nelson and Wakefield were conducted by teachers on the Nelson Technical School staff ; those at Denniston and Westport by full-time, itinerant instructors. At Motueka, Reefton, and Takaka the domestic-science classes have been efficiently carried on by Miss E. J. Kingsland. The want of a full-time instructor for the woodwork classes is very pressing. The engagement of part-time teachers resident in the districts has been most unsatisfactory, and it is hoped the Department will approve of the, Board's application and agree to the appointment of an additional woodwork instructor for the ensuing year. The classes in agriculture throughout the district are still far from satisfactory. There is no doubt that the district is too large to enable one instructor to put the instruction on a, sound basis. It is sincerely hoped that improved conditions will prevail in the near future. The Board deplores the lack of facilities for the teaching of swimming throughout the district. It is a matter for considerable regret that even in Nelson there is no proper swimming-bath available. Many teachers have, however, done excellent work in this direction by making use of suitable pools in creeks and rivers where available. Technical Instruction. —Technical classes were conducted by the Board at Motueka, Reefton, Takaka, and Westport. This was the first year in which classes had been conducted at Motueka, and they met with conspicuous success. The lack of suitable instructors prevented the establishment of classes in woodwork and applied art, for which there was a great demand. The new Technical High School at Westport was officially opened by the, Hon. Minister of Education on the 31st May. The building is a splendid one, and will meet the, needs of the Buller district admirably. The building was first occupied by the pupils on the 12th September, the roll number on that day being 112. Medical Inspection. —The School Medical Officer and school nurses have continued to do good work throughout the year. It is hoped that by the end of 1923 there will be several dental clinics in operation throughout the district. This district is practically devoid of railway services, and owing to there being so few large centres country parents find it a costly matter to have the teeth of

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