E.—9

11

An examination of the school was held at the end of the second term, in August. The examination of the upper Forms, V.and IVa., was undertaken, at the Board's request, by Professors Tucker, Thomas, and Aldis, of the Auckland University College. The remainder of the school was examined by the Board's Inspectors of Schools. The examination in each Form was based upon the work actually done during the school-year. Copies of the examiners' reports are appended. A careful revision of the prospectus and course of study was made during the year. The Board has prescribed as an entrance examination to be passed by applicants for admission to the school, the requirements of the Third Standard in reading, spelling, and. writing, and of the Second Standard in arithmetic and geography. This entrance examination is conducted by an Inspector of Schools. Three scholarships, of the value of £15 a year, tenable for two years, were awarded to pupils of Form IVa., upon the result of their work at the annual examinations. Certificates of merit were also awarded to 150 pupils, who had gained an average of half-marks. Sixteen district scholars and seven holders of certificates of proficiency received free tuition during the year. The reports of their conduct, attendance, and progress in study were satisfactory. The Board has appointed a visiting committee of four members to visit the school once a month, and to report upon its state and requirements. A statement of accounts for the year is appended. The income from fees was £1,898 17s. 6d. The usual grant of £1,000 was voted by Parliament in lieu of endowment. The expenditure on salaries and management was £2,354 7s. 7d.; on examinations, £52 7s. 6d.; on scholarships, £60 7s. 6d.; on printing, stationery, and advertising, £207 Bs. 6d.; on cleaning and sundries, £108 6s. : making a total of £2,782 17s. Id. expended during the year upon maintenance alone. Besides this expenditure, the charges for rent, repairs, furniture, and additional class-room amounted to £814 2s. 4d. The total expenditure exceeded the actual income by more than £600. It will thus be seen that without the parliamentary vote of £1,000 the school could not be maintained. A permanent and adequate endowment is required. So large and important a school ought not any longer to be dependent upon an annual vote for its maintenance. To quote from last year's report: " Other secondary schools are richly endowed, some to the extent of £2,000 or £3,000 a year. Their endowments are yearly increasing in value ; and they are provided with handsome and capacious buildings, fitted up with all necessary appliances: On the other hand, the Auckland Girls' High School—having, with a single exception, the largest attendance of any secondary school within the colony —is both unhoused and unendowed." The provision made under "The Auckland Girls' High School Act, 1878," for an endowment of land to the value of £5,000, to be selected from the education reserves in the Auckland District, has remained a dead-letter. An endowment of land to the value of £5,000 is quite inadequate, and to appropriate a number of small reserves scattered over the country would give an endowment of little value, besides diminishing to a large extent, if not wholly absorbing, the ordinary reserves for primary and secondary education. The Board has asked Government to introduce a Bill to provide for an endowment in land to the value of £25,000, to be selected from any unappropriated Crown lands, and it is hoped that early and adequate provision will be made accordingly. The present lease of the school-building will terminate in December, 1886. The Board has not yet received a transfer of the Howe Street property, promised by Government as a site for the future location of the school; but steps are being taken to secure a fulfilment of the promise. The buildings in Upper Queen Street are very inconvenient, and require a large outlay for repairs over and above the charge of £300 a year for rent. The school has sustained a severe loss through the resignation of Mr. Neil Heath, after a connection of nearly seven years' duration as Headmaster. Mr. Heath resigned upon his appointment to the Headmastership of the Boys' High School at Napier. The Board felt a special regret at parting with Mr. Heath, through whose exertions mainly the school had been raised to its present satisfactory condition. The Board having advertised for a Headmaster, Mr. John F. Sloman, 8.A., Senior Mathematical Master of the Auckland Boys' College and Grammar School, was selected from among eighteen candidates to fill the appointment. Samuel Luke, Auckland, March, 1885. Chairman.

2. Pkofessoe Tuckeb's Eepoet. Gentlemen, —• Auckland, 3rd September, 1884. I have completed the examination of the upper part of the Auckland Girls' High School in the subjects which you did me the honour to intrust to me, and I herewith submit my report upon the English, Latin, and French work of Forms V. and IVa. 1. English. —The English literature of Form V. showed work of high average merit. Particular words and phrases were fully explained, and the general knowledge of the subject-matter was wide and useful. Perhaps more attention might be paid to derivations, and I could wish that the girls were better practised in clear and direct answering. The rather roundabout Answers which were the rule did not arise, as they usually do, from ignorance and an attempt to throw dust in the examiner's eyes, but simply from lack of practice. It is quite time that this class learned to estimate the relative importance of their items of knowledge. The knowledge itself subsists to a very commendable extent. The excellence of the English composition of this Form is one of the most gratifying features of the school. The marks obtained were high and unusually equalized. The language was natural, the grammar free from lapses, and the spelling nearly faultless. In English language and grammar the answers display careful and lucid teaching, and a wise expenditure of study. The analysis was especially excellent, and the knowledge of grammatical history very sound. I am glad to find that a certain superficiality, of which I complained last year, is now removed. The weakest part of the work is that which deals with the beginnings and relationship of the language. In Form IVa. I was not so well satisfied with the English language and grammar