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TARANAKI. (Chairman, Mr. S. G. Smith.) Buildings.—The free-air type of class-room designed by our Architect has been the subject of inquiries from various parts of the Dominion and is very popular with the teachers. Shields. —The Cuthbert Shield, awarded to schools of Grade 3a and upwards for arrangement and care of school-grounds, was won by Waitara School. The Tisch Shield, awarded to schools below Grade 3a for arrangement and care of school-grounds, was won by Makaka and Waitaanga Schools. A large number of certificates have been issued to individual pupils for exceptionally good work in agriculture. Afforestation. —Experimental work to determine the best time for sowing seeds and planting the nursery plants has been undertaken, and the planting of unused or rough areas has been encouraged. Boys' and Girls' Clubs. —Interest in the Boys' and Girls' Clubs is still well maintained, and much valuable assistance is rendered by the agricultural and pastoral associations and by the officers of the Agriculture Department. In the calf-rearing competitions 283 animals were judged during the year. The movement is now becoming so large and of such educational and economic importance that the closest supervision of the club work is essential. Conveyance and Consolidation of Schools. —My Board has in several cases submitted proposals to your Department for the closing of small schools and the conveyance of pupils to a centre. The Haparua School has been closed under this scheme and the pupils conveyed to Ohura, and the arrangements are working satisfactorily. The Board's experience of the benefits of conveyance of pupils to central schools has been so satisfactory that members are strongly of opinion that, wherever practicable, consolidation of schools should be adopted. The Board regrets greatly that approval was not given to the schemes which were submitted to the Department during the year —schemes favoured by all the local authorities and by the parents concerned. Necessary Reforms. —In reviewing the year's operations the Board is led to the conclusion that, whatever other reforms may be effected, the most pressing matters now are (1) the consolidation of groups of schools ; (2) the stabilization of school staffs and reduction in size of classes ; (3) the adjustment of allowances made to School Committees.

WANGANUI. (Chairman, Mr. W. A. Collins.) Teachers. —It is worthy of note that, with the exception of one school, which happens to be situated in a very remote locality, there are no uncertificated teachers employed in schools above Grade 0, and that of the thirty-one Grade 0 schools no less than eighteen are under the charge of certificated teachers. Organizing Teacher. —Owing to the greatly reduced number of uncertificated teachers now employed, it has been possible to utilize the services of the organizing teacher to a certain extent in visiting schools under the charge of young teachers who had taken up sole-charge work immediately after the completion of their period of training. Health Camp.—A children's health camp under the direction of Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, School Medical Officer, was held during part of February and March, 1930, in the Awapuni Racecourse grounds, Palmerston North, kindly placed at our disposal by the Manawatu Racing Club. The number of children taken into camp was 128, and of this number there was no child who did not show physical improvement as a result of camp life. Unfortunately the weather conditions were not all that could have been desired, but apart from this the camp was a complete success. Early this year a gentleman, who at the present juncture desires that his name be not disclosed, donated to the Board an area of 20 acres, situated within the Wanganui City area, as a site for a permanent health camp. For this generous gift the Board extends to the donor its sincere gratitude, and it is hoped that in the not-far-distant future it will be possible to erect suitable buildings on this site and to establish a permanent camp. School Environment. —That a high standard of environment at the schools is being maintained is evidenced by the fact that for the year 1930 no fewer than fifty-five schools which had qualified for environment certificates in previous years had their certificates endorsed by virtue of the continued excellence of their surroundings, while twelve schools reached for the first time the standard required for the issue of a certificate. In many other cases commendable improvements were observed, which, if continued, will no doubt result in the schools concerned obtaining environment certificates later on.

HAWKE'S BAY. (Report not received.)

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