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an advertisement inviting applications from persons qualified to perform the duties of the mastership. Forty-one applications have been sent in, and it is hoped that by the next mail advices will be received by the College giving the name of the gentleman appointed. It may therefore be confidently expected that this School will be opened at an early date. By desire of this Board I wrote to Mr. Kennaway conveying to him the thanks of the College for the valuable services rendered by him from time to time to this institution. Giels' High School. The progress made during the past year has been satisfactory. There is an increase of attendance during the present term, there being 94 pupils compared with SS in the corresponding term of last year. The annual examinations in December were conducted by Professors Brown and Cook, whose report of the work done in the higher classes was very favourable. These gentlemen made valuable suggestions respecting certain portions of the work in the lower classes to which the attention of the Lady Principal has been directed. The report of the Eev. W. J, Habens, Inspector-General of Schools, is as follows :" I visited this school on the 29th November. On the occasion of my first visit in June, 1878, 1 said, ' I am satisfied that, though the present standard of attainment is low, this is to be accounted for by the necessity of laying a good foundation where it has not before been laid, and that the present staff is quite competent to do much higher work when the pupils are ready for it.' The confidence which I then expressed is fully justified by the present state of the school. The work now being done in it is of a high order, very thorough, and altogether worthy of a good secondary school preparing pupils for a course of University studjj. The Lady Principal is still too closely engaged in class-work to have sufficient time to become personally acquainted with the state of the classes taught by other teachers, but the general efficiency of the staff is such as to render this defect in the organization of comparatively little moment —W. J. Habens, Inspector-General of Schools." One of the pupils, Edith Searle, gained a junior University scholarship ; and a second one, Caroline Woodley, was mentioned as proxime accessit. Another pupil, Ellen Pithcaithly, gained a scholarship in Class D, given by the Board of Education. The building near Cranmer Square, in course of erection last year, is now finished. It is admirably adapted for the purposes of a school, the rooms being lofty and well ventilated, and the means of keeping an even temperature in all the rooms carefully provided. The pupils will probably attend there in a few days, the building at present occupied by the school being required for the reception of models for the School of Art. Boys' High School. This school was opened on the 18th May last. The number of pupils in attendance, 78, is quite equal to the expectations of the Board. The Board took every care to make success highly probable by erecting excellent school-buildings, by providing a most efficient staff of teachers, and by fixing the school fees as low as possible. The head master, Thomas Miller, M A.., late Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge, and the second master, George Hogben, M.A., late Scholar of St. Catherine's College, Cambridge, were selected by the Commissioners in England from a large number of highly qualified applicants. The following assistant masters have been appointed : Thomas Scholfield Foster, B.A. and Senior Scholar, University of New Zealand, Exhibitioner of Canterbury College 1879 and 1880 ; Basil K. S. Lawrence, 8.A., University of New Zealand, formerly Scholar of Jesus College, Oxford ; E. de Montalk, B. es L., Examiner in French in the University of New Zealand ; B. Mainwaring, 8.A., drawing master; W. H. Simms, class singing master; drill instructor, Staff Sergeant-Major Morgan. Public Library. During the past year large additions have been made to the reference and circulating departments ; to the reference library, 1,100 volumes ;to the circulating library, 2,100. The number of volumes at present in the Library i« about 14,000 Thirty-two periodicals are received each mail from England, and the increase in the number of copies of each periodical taken has been thoroughly appreciated by the public, no class of literature being more largely read. The number of subscribers to the circulating department has fallen off considerably, probably owing partly to the increase of the subscription from 10s. to 15s. per annum, and partly to the necessity of economy felt by all classes during the past year. No doubt this matter will receive due consideration from the Library Committee. By the decision of the Board the reference department and reading-room were opened to the public on Sunday for the first time on the 10th April The hours are from 2to 5 and from 7to 9 p.m. None of the ordinary staff attend on Sunday. Two extra assistants are employed at a small cost. The attendance of the public on Sundays has been considerable, perfect order prevailing. School of Medicine. There has been no further progress made towards establishing this School, owing to the want of funds. The reserve of land made for the maintenance of the School, though not of the best quality, has the advantage of a railway-line passing through it. Inquiries have been made as to terms from persons wishing to lease part of the reserve, and it is therefore probable that the Estates Committee will shortly make a recommendation to the Board. School op Agriculture. This School was opened on the 19th July last year with 8 students in residence. Accommodation had been provided for 20 resident students. Shortly after the first term the number of applications received from various parts of the colony, from persons wishing to place their sons at the School, made it evident that the accommodation already provided would be quite insufficient, and in consequence the Board decided to make additions to the buildings. Plans were therefore prepared, tenders called for, and contracts accepted for such additions as would afford accommodation at the School for 56 students, with rooms for the teaching staff and quarters for the servants. The cost of