Dunedin

At the request of the Dunedin School Committee, the Board has sanctioned arrangements whereby the means of education may be supplied to the children resident at Caversham and at the northern parts of Dunedin; but in all probability both of those localities will be erected into separate educational districts in the course of next year.

The Board has had under consideration the necessity which exists for more satisfactory arrangements being made to provide for the Educational requirements of the inhabitants of Dunedin. From the extent of the city it appears highly desirable that Dunedin should be divided into two separate Educational Districts, for the purpose of supplying the means of Elementary Instruction to all the younger children resident within its limits. It is, therefore, respectfully suggested that two Elementary Schools should be established in Dunedin, under the provisions of the Education Ordinance, as soon as circumstances will permit; and that immediate steps be taken to institute the "High School of Dunedin," as specially provided for by the Ordinance. It may not be necessary, at the outset, to erect more than a part of the High School buildings, or to appoint more than a portion of the staff of teachers that will be ultimately required to meet the wants of the Province. A building that would supply accommodation for the purposes of the High School, as well as for one of the proposed Elementary Schools, might be erected on the Educational Reserve, between Dowling-street and Rattray-street; while a separate School-house might be built in a suitable locality at the northern part of the city. If the necessary Schoolrooms were provided in the meantime, arrangements might be made at a future period for the erection of the masters’ residences. Mr. Livingston’s services, as originally contemplated, would be secured by the Board, as Rector of the High School, while the Masters of the proposed Elementary Schools would be appointed by the School Committees of the respective districts, as provided for by the Education Ordinance.

The amount voted by the Provincial Council for Educational purposes during the year was —

Total amount voted ... £9502 17 4

Expended on —

Total expended ... £4610 18 5

Balance unexpended ... £4679 18 11

There is, however, a sum of £695 15s 9d required to meet the engagements of the Board up to September, 30th 1861, which would reduce the amount unexpended to £3964 3s 2d. Appended to this report is a tabular view of the expenditure incurred by the Provincial Government on account of Education, from the establishment of the scheme in 1856, to September, 30th, 1861. To this should be added the sum of £695 15s 9d, still required to meet the engagements of the Board up to the same date, making altogether an expenditure of £13,249 12s 11d (see Appendix D.)

The amount of School Fees paid into the Provincial Treasury for the year exclusive of Dunedin and Portobello, is £574 2s 8d. Application has been made by the Dunedin School Committee that £25 of the School Fees from Dunedin School should be paid to Mr. Hugh M’Leod, the late Assistant. In the event of the Government and the Provincial Council being pleased to cause the School fees to be returned to the Teachers, as in former years, and to accede to the request of the Dunedin School Committee, a sum of £599 2s 5d will be required for this purpose.

JOHN HISLOP,
Secretary to the Otago Education Board.