E.—9

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especially in Form IYb., to give answers got from books and not from observation. Teachers are led much astray by object-lesson books. It is singular that only one pupil gave evidence of having found out that a horse has a mane and a cow has not. Arithmetic. —Some of the arithmetic in all the forms except Form IVc. was good. That of Form 11., upper division, was very good. The arithmetic set down as having been learnt appeared in many cases above the powers of the pupils. Euclid. —There were some good papers from IVb., but the want of thoroughness of many of the pupils showed that too much had been attempted. The papers of IVc. were much better. Algebra. —The algebra of IVb. and IVc. was not good. There was evidence here also of an effort to do too much, and of a lack of thoroughness. French. —With the exception of the grammar, which was weak in llb., and the rendering of easy sentences into French, which few attempted in Ha., and which was attempted with unsatisfactory results in 111., the work of the Forms from I. to 111. was satisfactory. The translation and the grammar of IVc2. were very fair; but the work of IVc. was not so good as might have been expected considering the easiness of the paper set. The attempts to render English into French were not successful. The work of IVb2. was unsatisfactory throughout. Latin. —The Latin of the three divisions of IVc. was very satisfactory, that of the lowest division being particularly good. In IVb, the translation was fair, as were also the answers to the questions in the accidence. Some did not attempt the rendering of English into Latin, and the attempts of those who did were, with one exception, unsuccessful. Sewing. —The report of the examiner in sewing, which is appended, seems favourable. Drawing. —The examiner reports favourably of the drawing. Singing. —The examiner is of opinion that the results were good, taking into consideration that the tonic sol-fa system was begun in the school in February last. Of the paper work he says, " The bulk of the papers contain very satisfactory answers, snowing that the writers have mentally grasped the subject, and not a few are written in language that is technically exact." Calisthenics. —The instructor reports that the exercises were performed by all the girls in a very satisfactory manner, and that " the marching in slow time is deserving of special mention, the same being performed with a graceful and easy carriage." The results of this examination indicate that the school suffers through nearly the whole of its junior division from the unprepared state in which many of the pupils enter. If to pass an examination somewhat easier than that set down for Standard 111. in the primary schools were required as a preliminary to entrance, the work of the teachers would be rendered much easier and the school would undoubtedly benefit. E. J. O'Sullivan. PONSONBT PeACOCKB. William Fidleb.

6. Eepoet of Examines on Sewing. I beg to forward my report of the sewing of the Girls' High School. The work of the Fifth Form, as regards the cutting-out, is satisfactory; the number of failures is owing, in a great measure, to the " grafting " being unattempted, and other parts of the sewing being incomplete. As in Form V., the work of Form IVa. is, in a few individual cases, excellent; where there are failures, they are in the " whipping " and " darning." The failures of Forms IVb. and IVc. are in the "tucks," and the joining of the two pieces of calico ; but there is good work in some instances. The sewing of Form 111. is satisfactory; the stitching, darning, and buttonholes are good. In individual cases the work of Form 11. is satisfactory; but the failures are in the gathers, and the fixing into band. For a junior form I consider the sewing of Form I. to be particularly neat. Annie G. Jekeam, Assistant Teacher, Wellesley Street School.

7. Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditube for the Year ending 31st December, 1884. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance in hand, Ist January, 1884 .. 960 15 8 By Office salary .. .. .. 40 0 0 Vote of the General Assembly—Balance Teachers'salaries and allowances .. 2,314 7 7 1883-84, £500 ; part 1884-85, £500 1,000 0 0 ExaminationsSchool fees .. .. .. .. 1,898 17 6 Examiners'fees .. .. .. 35 14 0 Interest on Deposit Account .. .. 28 10 1 Other expenses .. .. .. 16 13 6 Scholarships .. .. .. 43 2 6 University College fees .. .. 17 5 0 Printing, stationery, and advertising .. 207 8 6 Cleaning, fuel, light, &c. .. .. 108 6 0 Furniture .. .. .. .. 166 12 7 Site and buildings— Purchases and new works .. .. 206 15 0 Fencing, repairs, &c. ■.. .. 135 13 1 Rents, insurance, and taxes .. 305 1 8 Balance, Ist January, 1885, cash on deposit, £600 ; less overdraft current account, £308 16s. 2d. .. .. 291 310 £3,888 3 3 £3,888 3 3 Samuel Luke, Chairman. Vincent Eice, Secretary and Treasurer. I hereby certify that I have examined the accounts and vouchers of the Auckland Girls' High School for the year ended 31st December, 1884, and that I find them to be correct, and the expenditure according to law.—L. A. Dubeieu, Auditor, 25th February, 1885,