2 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF EDUCATION IN IRELAND<lb/>

Capital.—Our capital account has undergone two changes during the year:—<lb/> (1) by the investment of £300 in £318 2s. 10d. 31/2 per cent. War Loan Stock, and<lb/> (2) by the conversion of 36,801 2s. 1d. Consols into £4,534 1s. 4d. 41/2 per cent. War<lb/> Loan Stock.

Ulster Royal School Endowments.<lb/>

General.—We believe that, on the whole, the Schools sharing in these endow-<lb/> ments continue to be efficiently conducted. Of the twelve "selected" Schools only<lb/> one failed to qualify under the Scheme, and this one is a School of small resources<lb/> which has never yet fulfilled the prescribed conditions. The return dealing with<lb/> the other eleven schools, their rolls, educational results, and the condition of the<lb/> School premises are, speaking generally, of a satisfactory character. For par-<lb/> ticulars on these points we would refer to the report of our Secretary, who, as Lord<lb/> Lieutenant's Inspector, visited the various Schools in September last. This report<lb/> will be found on pp. 10-12.

Numbers,—The total number of pupils on the rolls for the year 1914-15 was 686,<lb/> which is exactly the same as that for the previous year. It is to be noted, however,<lb/> that in 1913-14 twelve Schools were included, while in the returns for 1914-15 only<lb/> eleven Schools are dealt with. Taking the same eleven Schools for the two years<lb/> we find that the total roll had been a constantly diminishing<lb/> quantity—820 in 1909-10 having fallen to 686 in 1913-14. It should be mentioned,<lb/> too, that the whole increase registered for 1914-15 is due to boarders.

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