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E.—9

THAMES HIGH SCHOOL. 1. Eepoet of the Board of Goveknohs. Sir,— Office of Thames High School, Thames, 6th May, 1886. I have the honour herewith to forward you the annual report of the Board of Governors of the Thames High School; also the audited statement of the Board's accounts for the year ended the 31st December, 1885. The attendance at the school shows an average of about fifty-nine pupils, or a slight decrease from the attendance of the previous year. Financially the school is not nearly in such a satisfactory position as at the close of 1884. The income from the Aroha Goldfield again shows a most serious decrease, it only amounting to £231 9s. 5d., as against £563 2s. 7d. in 1884, and £745 17s. in 1883. Mining matters at To Aroha are still in a most depressed state, and unless a revival takes place there—of which, however, there seems no immediate probability—the Governors fear a still further diminution of income from that source. The depression at Te Aroha is also shown by the small amount received for rent from the agricultural sections leased by the Board, considerable difficulty being experienced in collecting the rents as they fall due. The evening classes instituted by the Governors in the winter of 1884 were again continued last year, and the Governors believe considerable benefit resulted therefrom to those who attended them. Considerable attention has also been given by the Governors to the matter of technical education. A furnace has been built at the school, a laboratory established, and all the appliances necessary for assaying have been obtained from England for the use of the pupils. Professor Brown, of the Auckland University, and Professor Black, of Otago, when on a visit to the school, expressed themselves greatly pleased with the arrangements made for the pupils and with the proficiency attained by them. The Governors would also again bring under the notice of the Minister of Education the necessity for the appointment of an examiner of secondary schools, and trust arrangements may shortly be made for the examination of all secondary schools by a gentleman specially appointed by Government for that purpose. Herewith are copies of the report of the examiners, Professors Brown and Thomas, of the Auckland University. I have, &c., The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. W. Feaser, Chairman.

2. Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1885. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. dTo Balance in hand and in bank at begin- By Office—Salary .. .. .. 30 0 0 ning of year— Other office expenses .. .. 4 17 G Fixed deposit account .. .. 1,200 0 0 Teachers' salaries and allowances .. 981 10 0 Current account .. .. .. 343 12 5 ' Prizes .. .. .. .. 12 5 0 Current income from reserves .. .. 11l 9 4 Printing, stationery, and advertising .. 37 15 0 School fees .. .. .. 335 8 6 Cleaning, fuel, light, &o. .. .. 41 1 0 Interest on deposit account .. .. 77 1 7 New works .. .. .. .. 77 10 0 Goldfiolds revenue .. .. .. 231 9 5 ; Fencing, repairs, &c. .. .. .. 142 4 5 Drawing prizo (special) .. .. 2 2 0 Rents, insurances, and taxes .. .. 19 fi 4 Balance at end of year .. .. 30 17 2 Interest on current account .. .. 0 5 4 Expenses of survey, sales, management, &o. ".. .. .. 18 13 5 School requisites .. .. .. 172 12 5 Balance in bank at end of year — fixed deposit .. .. .. 800 0 0 £2,338 0 5 £2,338 0 5 W. Fkasee, Chairman. Eichaed A. Heald, Secretary and Treasurer. Examined, and found to be correct. —L. A. Dueeieu, Auditor.

3. Examinees' Bepobts. Gentlemen, — University College, Auckland, 21st December, 1885. In accordance with your request, we have carefully examined the various classes of the High School, and we now have the honour of reporting as follows :■ — Arithmetic. —The arithmetic of the school is very fair, though the problem work is weak, and in much the same condition as in former years. Algebra. —The examination in this subject showed very great inequality, some of the pupils being evidently capable of doing better work if they had had the opportunity, while the knowledge of others was deficient. Geometry. —Classes I. and 11. did their work very fairly, while the answers sent in byClass lIIa. were, with a few exceptions, very good. With regard to Class lIIb. it should be noted that the marks returned really refer to a maximum of 50, whereas in Class lIIa. the maximum is 100. The marks in lIIb. have not been doubled in order that the state of knowledge of the two divisions of the class might be measured by the same standard. In the subject of geometry there is a very decided improvement on the work of last year. Physics. —The examination in this subject calls for no special remark. It was on the whole satisfactory. Chemistry. —As in the case of one or two other subjects, there was very great inequality here. Some of the papers returned were remarkably good, being far above those usually sent in by