E.—2.

Teaching-staffs.- —The sudden closing of so many schools threw many teachers out of work. The Government authorized the payment of all salaries until the 28th February. After that date payment was contingent on the teachers accepting any positions offered them. With the co-operation of other Education Boards in New Zealand, for which co-operation I especially desire to tender the Board's thanks, transfers of the greater number of the teachers were arranged to positions throughout the Dominion^ New School. —Early in 1932 a decision was arrived at to erect a separate intermediate school to provide for the instruction of Forms I and II only, and a grant for the buildings has been authorized. This school is to be erected on the site of the former technical school, a handsome new two-story brick building which was within two weeks of completion on the day of the earthquake, and which was so extensively damaged that it had to be demolished. Board's Offices. —The Board's offices (a brick building) withstood the earthquake well, but were completely gutted by fire, resulting in a heavy loss of records and material. . Immediately following the earthquake temporary offices were established in the old Napier Central Infant-school building at Clive Square. The loss of essential records was a severe one, and owing to the extraordinary conditions prevailing the work was carried on with the greatest difficulty. Nevertheless, with the assistance of the Department, it was possible to make immediate provision for all activities of an essential nature. The Department was especially helpful in the assistance given in re-establishing the most necessary records.

WELLINGTON. (Chairman, Mr. T. Foesyth.) The Board is pleased to record that in the estimate of the Inspectors there was in 1931 a perceptible increase of efficiency. The Inspectors report that their summary of the grouping of schools according to efficiency shows the following result: Excellent, 3; very good, 36; good to very good, 7 ; good, 85 ; very fair to good, 6 ; very fair, 74 ; fair to very fair, 4 ; fair, 18 ; weak, 3. It will thus be seen that the number of schools classed as good to excellent was 131, representing 55-5 per cent, of the whole, an improvement of 6-5 per cent, on the figures of the previous year. It is also pleasing to record that the number of schools classed as fair to weak has fallen from 29 to 21, and it is hoped that the teachers concerned will show a marked improvement in the work of the current year. The Board feels sure that the improving results each year serve to confirm the importance of efficient training as carried out in the four training colleges. Many of the schools which ranked from good to very good are in charge of young teachers, and the Board desires to congratulate them on the work that they have done. Most teachers are now keenly alive to the physical well-being of their pupils and spare no pains to assist them with their school sports and outside activities. In spite of a year of lessened finances, the output and quality of the work done in nature-study, agriculture, and science has been more than maintained. The work done during the past year has been charactized by particularly successful results, and a most encouraging advance made. Medical and Dental Service. —Notwithstanding the depression, these services have been fully maintained during the year, and the Board trusts that it will be possible to continue them. The dental services have been so much appreciated that it is fully expected that in each locality concerned sufficient funds will be forthcoming to meet the cost of the dental nurses.

NELSON. (Chairman, Hon. W. EL Mclntybe, M.L.C.) Buildings. —During the year the following programme of building-works was carried out: — New schools were erected at Bright-water (two rooms), Ikamatua (two rooms), Redwood's Valley (one room), Spring Grove (one room), Lower Takaka (five rooms), Tasman Street, Nelson (three rooms). Portable class-rooms were erected at Kotinga and Pahautane. Remodelling was carried out at Appleby, Bainham, Hampden Street (Nelson), Lyell, Millerton, Pigeon. Valley Schools and Wai-uta residence. An additional class-room was erected at Granity and a new sanitary block at Clifton Terrace. Shelter-sheds were erected at Motueka, Puramahoi, and Tutaki. A new dental clinic (two chairs) was erected at Westport; and the school at Little Wanganui was removed, remodelled, and erected on a new site. Extensive ground-improvement schemes were completed at Auckland Point, Nelson, Burnett's Eace, and Nelson Central. The rehabilitation of the primary school at Westport was finally completed, and the pupils again housed in their own building just prior to the end of the year. The Board continues to employ its own maintenance and painting staff with most gratifyingresults. During the year 29 schools, 3 residences, and the Board's offices were painted. Voluntary Contributions and Subsidies. —The withdrawal of subsidies on voluntary contributions rendered necessary owing to the economic position of the country naturally resulted in curtailing to a considerable extent schemes for ground improvements and similar works, but the Board is pleased to report that numbers of Committees continue to raise funds for the purpose of providing improvements to their schools and grounds.

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