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There were 1,240 entries for the Intermediate Examination, 1,126 candidates presenting themselves, of which number 385 passed and 741 failed to do so. The number present at the Public Service Entrance Examination was 2,397, 1,090 of the number passing and 1,307 failing the examination. The number of candidates who sat for the different stages of the teachers' certificate examinations was 2,086 (590 for the whole or part of Class C and 1,496 for Class D). Of the total number 275 obtained complete passes in Class D, 116 in Class C, 2in Class B, and lin Class A. 1,221 improved their status and 471 failed. The technological examinations were inaugurated in 1928, and were held in the intermediate grade only. Fifty-one candidates presented themselves for examination, of which number 32 passed and 19 failed. Teachers' Superannuation Fund. The position of the fund at the 31st January, 1929, and the principal figures concerning the transactions for the year, compared with those for the year ended 31st January, 1928, are given below : — 1927-28. J 928-29. £ £ Balance at credit of fund at end of year .. .. .. 1,134,015 1,171,990 Increase over balance at end of previous year .. .. 50,860 37,976 Income for the year — Members'contributions .. • .. .. 131,872 136,061 Interest .. . . . . . . • ■ • • 68,053 67,828 Government subsidy .. .. .. .. .. 71,228 72,000 Total income £271,153 £275,889 Expenditure— £ £ Retiring and other allowances .. .. •• 188,553 207,706 Contributions refunded, &c. .. .. 26,075 26,781 Administration expenses .. .. •• 3,845 3,426 Bad debts on realization of securities and reserve .. 1,820 Total expenditure .. .. .. £220,293 £237,913 Number of contributors at 31st January .. .. .. 8,680 9,281 Number of members admitted during period .. .. 841 1,160 Number retiring from the fund during period .. .. 532 559 Net increase in membership at 31st January .. . . 309 601 Number of allowances in force at end of period .. .. 1,364 1,444 Representing an annual charge of .. .. •• £192,635 £210,154 Ordinary retiring-allowances .. .. •• •• 843 £149,554 911 £165,979 Retiring-allowances under extended provisions of section 75 of the Act 109 £17,504 107 £17,250 Retiring-allowances in medically unfit cases .. .. 128 £17,205 139 £18,435 Allowances to widows .. .. •• •• 195 £6,058 203 £6,306 Allowances to children .. .. •• ..89 £2,314 84 £2,184 Funds invested at 31st January — £ At 4i per cent. .. . • • ■ • ■ • • 30,350 30,250 At 5 per cent. .. •• ■■ •• •• 12,920 12,920 At 51 per cent. •.. . • • • • ■ • • 81,160 137,260 At 6 per cent. .. .. •• •• •• 935,487 965,845 At 6J per cent. .. .. •• 73,127 30,002 Total £1,133,044 £1,176,277 Average rate of interest on investment at 31st January .. 5-87 per cent. 5-88 per cent. Subsidy to Public Libraries. The sum of £3,000 was distributed to public libraries in country districts on the basis of subsidy on moneys raised locally by voluntary contribution. Three hundred and twenty-five libraries participated in the grant, receiving amounts varying from £6 10s. to £11 19s. The subsidy is not paid to libraries situated in towns or boroughs with a population exceeding fifteen hundred. Parliament will be asked to appropriate a further sum of £3,000 this year to enable the payment of subsidy to be continued.