fully £800. The 88 public libraries now connected with the Board may be classified as follows:—17 public libraries, with reading-rooms connected with them; 63 public district libraries, many of which are also available as school libraries, and 8 purely school libraries. Since the beginning of the library scheme, the following-named public institutions have received grants of books through the Education Board:—The hospitals at Lawrence, Clyde, Wakatipu, Invercargill, and Oamaru; and the gaol at Invercargill. The managers of the following-mentioned libraries have been permitted to purchase at cost price a few books which were not particularly needed at the time for public libraries:—Dunedin Athenæum, Dunedin Police Library, Dunedin Gaol Library, Knox Church Library, St. Paul's Sunday School Library, and St. Joseph's Church and Sunday School Library." The Board was also authorised to encourage by grants of money or books, the formation of reading clubs or libraries in connection with teachers' associations that might be formed by the public school teachers in the Province.
The Ordinance also authorised the Education Board to establish scholarships, to be held in the High School, Dunedin, or in any university in Great Britain, Australia, or New Zealand, to be held by pupils of the public schools of Otago, such scholarships to be submitted to public competition.
APPOINTMENTS OF MESSRS. PETRIE AND TAYLOR AS INSPECTORS.
In consequence of the large increase in the number of schools, Mr. Donald Petrie, formerly senior classical master of the Scotch College, Melbourne, was appointed additional Inspector of Schools in January, 1873; Mr. William Taylor, who had been in the Board's service for ten years, was appointed Sub-Inspector in September, 1875.
SUMMARY.
The following summary of information regarding the public schools in Otago when the Provincial system was abolished (Dec. 31, 1875) is compiled from the last report submitted to the Provincial Government:—
