33

E.-9

2. Exteact from Headmastee's Repoet. Among the important features of the school year 1885 has been the institution of geometrical drawing, which will be continued in the coming year 1886. The school has always devoted considerable attention to science, two afternoons in the week being wholly given to it. T. H. Green, of the Boys' High School, obtained the Auckland University Gillies Scholarship, of the value of £100, for three years for excellence in chemistry and physics, showing that the science work of the school has borne fruit. The Board of Governors has instituted four scholarships at the school entitling to remission of fees—two for boys under thirteen years and a quarter, and two for boys above that age. They are given on the results of examination ; but the headmaster also takes into consideration the circumstances of the parents and the likelihood of the boys proceeding to Canterbury College. The Boys' High School won two of the eight junior University scholarships announced last February. Four boys matriculated, and one boy passed the preliminary medical examination. At the last entrance examination of the University five boys from the High School presented themselves for junior scholarships, and two for matriculation.

3. Repoet of the Inspectoe-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee of Education. Boys' High School, Christchurch. —Postponed inspection, 18th March, 1886. In Latin the work of the highest class for the year includes iEneid, V. ; Livy, the Last Two Kings of Macedon; Horace, Odes, I.; Cicero, Stories from Roman History; Abbott's Latin Prose and Via Latina : the lowest class is in Principia, I. The highest class in mathematics has for its programme—Euclid, I. to VI., Todhunter's Algebra for Beginners, Barnard Smith's Exercises in Arithmetic, and Hamblin Smith's Trigonometry. In English the highest class is reading Julius Cassar, Paradise Lost, Waverley, Burkes Thoughts and Reflections, Hale's Longer English Poems, the Student's Hume, and Morris's Smaller Historical Grammar; the lowest class uses Morrison's English Grammar for Junior Classes, Paigrave's Children's Treasury of Songs, Gardiner's Outline of English History, and Petrie's First Geography. In French the highest class uses Brachet's Nouvelle Grammaire and Dussouchet's Exercises, and reads Moliere and Erckmann-Chatrian ; the lowest class uses Bue's First French Book. Greek is taught : Xenophon, Euripides, Thucydides, and the Greek Testament are the books in use ; together with Smith's First Greek Book and Sidgwick's First Greek Writer. In the science classes the Science Primers are in use for chemistry, physics, and geology, together with Garnett's Elementary Mechanics and Elementary Heat, and the London Science Class Books of mechanics, and hydrostatics and pneumatics. It seems to me that the school is not yet as well attended as from its organization and methods it deserves to be.

CHEISTCHUECH GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL. 1. Statement of Receipts and Expenditueb for the Year ending 31st December, 1885. Receipts. £ s. d. [ Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance in hand and in bank at begin- By Office expenses .. .. .. GO 0 0 ning of year .. .. .. 312 16 10 Teachers'salaries and allowances .. 1,406 9 0 Grant from vote of the General Assembly Examiners' fees .. .. .. 70 0 0 for 1884 .. .. .. .. 200 0 0 Other examination expenses .. .. 510 0 Endowments — . Prizes .. .. .. .. 26 12 6 Current income from reserves .. 232 0 6 Printing, stationery, stamps, and adverInterest on moneys invested and on un- tising .. .. .. .. 40 19 0 paid purchase-money .. .. 227 13 3 Cleaning, fuel, light, &c. .. .. 11 16 10 School fees .. .. .. .. 1,477 7 0 Books .. .. .. .. 19 17 9 Interest on current account .. .. 52 2 2 Site and buildings, from current revenue— Purchases and new works .. .. 203 3 4 Fencing, repairs, &o. .. .. 8 12 1 Rents, insurance, and taxes .. .. 87 0 5 Keeping grounds in order .. .. 11 0 6 Expenses on Endowment Account .. 3 8 0 Books for school library .. .. 67 11 3 Tuning pianos .. .. .. 5 5 0 Sundries .. .. .. .. 4 7 6 Balance in hand and in bank at end of year .. .. .. 470 6 7 £2,501 19 9 I £2,501 19 9 F. de C. Malet, Chairman. F. G. Stedman, Registrar and Treasurer.

2. Exteact from Headmastek's Repoht. The school has during the year 1885 increased in numbers, so that an addition to the staff has been necessary. The number of pupils last term was 125. The work of the school is on the whole similar to that of previous years, the upper classes doing for the most part work required for matriculation, and for the junior University scholarship examination. English is made the chief study of the school; and, though Latin is taught in all classes except the two lowest, it is not a compulsory subject—English may be substituted for it. As regards scientific and technical subjects, instruction is given throughout the school in botany, physiology, and physics, botany and physics being taught up to the standard required for the junior scholarship examination. Elementary drawing is also a regular subject, taught by the teachers who are themselves attending the School of Art. The middle and lower classes learn plain sewing. It is intended during the year 1886 to supplement the instruction in physics by les5—E. 9.