E.—l

(4.) Do you think that, when a master of any school acts as examiner in a subject in any year, his school should stand out of the examination in that subject for that year ? I should prefer to have this question answered in the negative by a clear profession of thorough mutual confidence on the part of the masters. Yet I can understand that high motives may inspire an affirmative answer. (5.) As to the time of the examination, I suppose for most schools the early part of December would be most suitable, if the examination is to be (as I think it ought to be) a form examination, and therefore to be regarded as a part of the ordinary annual school examination. (6.) In what subjects would j fou be willing to examine ? No doubt it will be found that I have overlooked some details of practical importance, and perhaps you will be good enough (if you approve generally of the outline of the scheme) to send me notes of any that occur to you. It is probable that it may be necessary, after a few weeks, to submit to headmasters that are favourable to this proposal a synopsis of replies to this letter, and to seek further advice from them. You will see therefore that I must naturally wish to receive your reply as soon as it is possible for you to send it. I have, &c, Wm. Jas. Habens, Inspector-General of Schools. Up to the date of this report nineteen replies have been received. An analysis of them will be made in a few days, and will be printed with the reports of the schools (E.-9). Miscellaneous. The following correspondence needs no introduction or comment: — The Inspector-General of Schools to the Chairman of the Professorial Board of each of the three University Colleges. Sir,— Education Department, Wellington, 15th February, 1887. I have the honour, by direction of the Minister of Education, to invite your attention to a proposal for the institution on a small and inexpensive scale of a system of instruction and registration designed to serve (in some measure) in this colony the purposes answered'by the Science and Art Department in England. The object is to promote the popular study of technical science. There is no doubt that the desire for a degree brings a large number of students to the University classes. Probably the prospect of certificates in the several branches of technical science would attract a large number of students of another class, who might derive great benefit from the instruction they were thus induced to seek. If the Professors (say) of Mathematics, Mechanics, Physics, and Chemistry in each of the University Colleges could give evening lectures to students of the class whoso wants are here under consideration, on a programme for each subject constructed on the lines of the South Kensington syllabus, and divided into an elementary stage and an advanced stage, and would examine the students, and send the names of successful students to this Department, the Department could register the names and issue certificates. The names could be published in the Gazette, and, if it was thought desirable, they could be arranged in order of merit in each class at each examination. It is possible that the scheme might be made more widely applicable by enlisting the services of alumni of the several colleges, who could conduct classes in parts of the colony that could not be reached by the direct agency of the Professors. The Department might recognise as an authorised teacher of a subject, competent to send in to the Department for registration and certificates the names of his successful pupils, any person recommended by a Professor of that subject, and by any two other Professors. Probably, if the scheme were made as wide as this, it would be advisable to issue an authoritative programme to which the teachers who were not professors should be required to conform. I am to ask you to be so good as to bring this matter under the notice of the Professorial Board of your College, and to let me know if the Board can favour the Minister with any suggestions, and is willing to co-operate with him in any such way as is here proposed. I have, &c, Wm. Jas. Habens.

Professor F. D. Brown to the Inspector-General of Schools. Sir. — University College, Auckland, 18th April, 1887. Referring to your letter dated 15th February, 1887, in which you suggest the institution of a system of technical instruction similar to that of the Science and Art Department in England, I have to inform you that I have, in accordance with your request, brought the matter under the notice of the Professorial Board of this College, and that the Board is willing to co-operate with the Department in the direction indicated, and to draw up at the earliest opportunity a scheme suitable to the requirements of this district. lam further directed by the Board to ask you to be good enough to communicate any suggestions on the subject which you may have received from other quarters. I have, &c, The Inspector-General of Schools, Wellington. Feed. D, Brown,

XXII