WORK OF THE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 47

WORK OF THE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL.

At the meeting pi the Otago Boys' High School Governors last week a report from the rector stated: —The number of candidates for University Entrance Scholarships (nine) was smaller than usual, and their average age less. In the circumstances we have every reason to be satisfied with their performance. J. F. Landrcth came eighth on the list, but being still under 16 was not eligible for the junior university scholarship which he would otherwise have won: 6. A. Holmes, A. T. M'Naughton, and D. W. Faigan gained university national scholarships, with twelfth, fifteenth, and thirty-first places respectively: and the five remaining boys all obtained credit. No fewer than 67 boys were sent up for matriculation and allied examinations, as against 60 in the previous year and 53 in 1915. Of these 41 were successful, eight obtained partial passes, and 18 failed. OF the successful candidates _26 passed the medical preliminary and general examinations in addition to matriculation, four matriculation and solicitors' general, two matriculation and. engineering preliminary, and four matriculation only. _ Three candidates completed the qualifications for medical preliminary and two for engineering preliminary. Twenty-four candidates sat for the senior national scholarship examinations, of whom all but one passed, five gaining scholarships and five more obtaining credit. Fifteen sat for the public service entrance examination, of whom 14 passed, four with credit, and one failed. H. S. Ray was placed third on the dominion list. One junior national scholarship was gained by a first-year pupil of the scnool. Two of our boys had entered for the Royal Military College cadetships. One of these was prevented by illness from completing the examination: the other, D. H. Moir, gained a cadetship, coming first upon the dominion list. The total number of candidates for examinations of all standards was 248. Of this number 164 were successful (including those exempted from sitting, for the senior free place examination, on the recommendation of the department's inspectors); 15 secured partial passes or were eligible for a third year of the junior freo place; and 69 failed. The general proportion of passes was thus 69 per_ cent., as against 75 per cent, in tho previous year and 78 per cent, in 1915. There can bo no doubt that the slight falling-off is due to the many successive disturbances_and_ interruptions in the work which have inevitably resulted from war conditions. Taking all into consideration, I believe that it is much less than might have been anticipated, and that the results above enumerated afford ground for satisfaction.—Received.