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The special report on the Normal School (Appendix A) constitutes an eminently satisfactory record of the first year's work. The number of students, their general fitness for their calling, the success achieved by those who have undergone examination for certificates, and the marked effect of what may be called the outside work done by the Principal, all testify to the necessity which existed for such an institution, and to its great usefulness. The Board is of opinion that the lecture-hall and infant-school buildings referred to by Mr. Howard are both absolutely necessary. A. very complete gymnasium has been erected in connection with the Normal School, which is found to be of great use in giving instruction, not only to students, but also to teachers of district schools, to fit them for superintending the physical education of their pupils. Separate reports have been supplied by Mr. Restell and Mr. Hammond on the inspection of the Board's schools (Appendix B), presenting not only a view of the general condition of the schools, but also an account of the principles on which the inspections are conducted, and a summary of results of examination according to standards. They contain, the Board believes, ample evidence of real progress, and of a thoroughly progressive tendency. The Board has hitherto not been in a position to take cognizance of the public libraries which, in some instances, are connected very closely with the schools, and which, by recent legislation, are acknowledged as being intimately related to the school system. The Public Libraries Subsidies Act will bring the libraries in future into closer connection with the Boards, but at present, and until the libraries make formal application, as they are invited to do by the middle of next month, the Board has no information respecting them which can be regarded as having any value. The position of the Board with regard to orders and regulations has been throughout the year one of considerable difficulty. Regulations were drafted last year with very great care, and submitted for approval with the report for 1877. But at that time the Government, anticipating the passing of a new Act of general application, was naturally unwilling to sanction rules applicable to one district alone. The Board has, therefore, been under the necessity of observing regulations made in circumstances widely differing from those which at present prevail, and by no means accordaut with its own views. The standards now in force are not those prepared a year ago (for which I beg to refer you to the last report, pp. 55, 56), but the original standards which were framed when the system of examination by standards was first established, and which were set forth iv the Provincial Government Gazette of June 26th, 1875. The scheme of last year for the employment, remuneration, examination, &c., of pupil-teachers has, by way of exception, received the authority of the Governor in Council, and is now in operation (Report, 1577, pp. 56, 57). The amended syllabus for examination and classification of teachers (Report, 1877, pp. 58, 59) remains unauthorized, and certificates have during the. year been granted under the old regulations (Report, 1875, pp. 16, 17). The scale determined upon in 1873 to regulate the number and status of the staff, and the payment of teachers iv district schools, has been observed throughout the year so far as it was applicable, except in a few cases, in which, as well as in regard to some schools of a magnitude greater than was contemplated by that scale, the Board has endeavoured to give effect as far as possible to its own views, as exhibited in the report for 1877 (pp. 59, 60). The new Act empowers the Boards to frame their own scales of staff and payment, but, having regard to its speedy dissolution, the Board has deemed it advisable to leave to its successors the settlement of this question. In all other respects the Board has been nominally bound by the regulations published in the Provincial Government Gazette of September 23rd, 1875, but has really followed to a great extent its own rules in Chapters v., vi., vii., viii., ix., and x. of the regulations submitted last year (Report, 1877, pp. 60-62). Rule 57, however, which provides for the payment of the fees for Normal School students attending lectures on physical or natural science at Canterbury College, has not been acted upon ; nor has Rule 48, which is repugnant to the regulations of September, 1875. The books prescribed by that regulation are too well known to require further specification than the mention of their titles. In place of any such prescription the Board strongly recommends the adoption of the principle laid down in Rule 48 : "No book shall be used in any school until it has been submitted to, and 9—H. 1.

Names of Scholars. Date of Scholarship. School from which Scholarship waa gained. Date when Scholarship expires. School at which the Scholar waa being educated at December 31st, 1877. Leonard P. Chapman Richard A. Green Joseph P. Grossman... Louis Cohen Edith Dunnage Katherine Alexander Margaret Menzies ... Walter J. Pilliet ... Mary Wells Cecilia Ross Frances Taylor William F. Ward Annie Hallamore Mahala Mills Janette Grossman ... Carolino Woodley June, 1876 Christ's College Grammar School Melville House, Christchurch ... Christchurch West School June, 1878 Christ's College Grammar School 11 jj jj jj Christchurch West School 11 11 11 M ,, 11 JJ jj 11 JJ JJ 11 JJ JJ u JJ JJ 11 JJ JJ 11 JJ U Colombo Eoad School Loburn School Mrs. Boss's School, Christchurch Kaiapoi School Waimate School Christchurch West School 11 JJ JJ II M JJ JJ Loburn School Girls' High School, Christchurch Kaiapoi School Waimate School Girls' High School, Christchurch 11 ii June, 1877 June, 1879 >» a a Ii jj » it jj jj ii Miss Ashwin's School, Christchurch Lyttelton School Lower Heathcote School Christchurch West School Christchurch East, Gloucester Street Riecarton School ji jj jj 11 M jj jj Elizabeth Milsom ... John R. Boswell Frank Dunnage William Craddock ... It )» ») II Lyttelton School Lower Heathcote School Christchurch West School Christchurch East, Gloucester Street Riecarton School. it ii II William Gilberthorpe il June, 1878