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Excellency Governor FitzRoy. The deed of grant signed and executed by his Excellency the present Governor, was received in March, 1847.

On the 14th February, 1843, the foundation stone was laid by William Fox, Esq., the subscriptions received up to that date amounted to £6 2s. 6d. On Easter Sunday following, (April 7th, 1843) the new school was opened, and an address delivered by Mr. Fox; the number of Sunday scholars being about 150 and the number of day scholars about 70. A library for the use of the teachers and children, was also established, of books presented for the purpose by various gentlemen. The expenses of the building and appurtenances amounted to £176 9s. 5d., the additional receipts amounting to £63. In the month of July, 1847, the establishment of an Infant school at Nelson, formed an additional department to the Institution, attended by about 50 children, between the ages of eighteen months and six years.

The first branch school at Wakefield, in the district of Waimea south, twenty miles distant from Nelson, was opened on the 8th of October, 1843, the number of children being about 30, which in the course of two or three months, increased to 65. The destruction subsequently made by the winter floods, decreased many of the inhabitants and consequently the number of scholars declined to 30.

The second branch connected with the Society was Spring Grove School, in the Waimea south district, fourteen miles distant from Town, which was opened on the 18th of May, 1845, with about 40 scholars, which number has since increased to 65. In October, 1847, a day school was opened in connection therewith, under the management of a sub-committee. The number of day scholars at Spring Grove is about 30.

The third branch school was opened at Stoke, on the Waimea plain, four miles from Nelson, on the 28th December, 1845. Twenty-six children attended as scholars, which number still continues about the same. The expense of the building amounted to £17 2s., the amount of subscriptions received, £6 14s. 7d.

The fourth branch school at The Village, Waimea west, thirteen miles from Nelson, was opened on the 1st January, 1846, by the Hon. C. A. Dillon, the number of children which attended were 40; since increased to 50. The expense of the building amounted to £10 3s., subscriptions received, £8 10s.

The fifth branch school was opened at Richmond, on the 16th February, 1848, the building being composed of part of the old Nelson immigration barracks, presented on behalf of the New Zealand Company, by Mr. Fox. The number of scholars attending the Sunday school is about 35, and the number attending the day school is about 35. The expense attending the removal and reconstruction of the building amounts to £12 6s.

The sixth branch school, in the district of Waimea east, twelve miles distant from Nelson, was opened on the 22nd March, 1848, the number of children who attended being about 40. The expense attending this building (which is the remaining portion of the Immigration barracks) amounts to £7 14s.

In consequence of the increasing number of scholars at Nelson, the present school is found inefficient for our purposes; it is therefore resolved to erect a new building of larger dimensions for the Sunday and Infant Schools, at an expense of about £300, retaining the use of the present building for the Day School and Library.

The committee trust, that with the promised assistance of his Excellency the Governor, they will be enabled to extend their usefulness, until every child in the settlement of Nelson, may be provided with an education, under the open and liberal system which they have established.

An account of the number of children at present receiving instruction in the several schools, will be forwarded herewith.

I have the honour to be,

&c., &c.,

For the Committee,

William W. Stanton,

Secretary.

To His Honor,

The Superintendent,

&c., &c., &c.,

Nelson.

An account of the Number of Children receiving Instruction from the Nelson School Society, April, 1848.

NELSON—

Boys Day School ........ 47

Girls " " ........ 33

Infants " " ........ 50

Sunday School—Boys ........ 80

" " Girls ........ 100

Total (average attendance) ........ 180

SPRING GROVE—

Day School ........ 30

Sunday School Boys ........ 37

" " Girls ........ 26

Total ........ 63

RICHMOND—

Day School ........ 35

Sunday School Boys & Girls ........ 35

Total ........ 35

WAKEFIELD—

Sunday School Boys ........ 12

" " Girls ........ 18

Total ........ 30

WAIMEA VILLAGE—

Sunday School Boys ........ 20

" " Girls ........ 30

Day School ........ 50

Total ........ 50

WAIMEA EAST—

Sunday School Boys & Girls ........ 38

Total ........ 38

STOKE—

Sunday School Boys ........ 10

" " Girls ........ 16

Total ........ 26

Total (average attendance) ........ 422