E.—9

7

AUCKLAND GIBLS' HIGH SCHOOL. 1. Eeport of the Board. Numbers. —There has been a gradual decrease in the number of pupils. At the end of 1885 the number was 199, at the end of 1886 it was 152, and at the end of 1887 it had fallen to 115. The number of teachers has been reduced from seven to six. Scholarships. —Free tuition has been given to five girls holding scholarships competed for by pupils of the school, and to twelve other girls who had gained scholarships from the primary schools. Examination and Inspection. — The annual examination of the school was conducted by the Eev. D. W. Eunciman, M.A., assisted by Mr. Arthur Gifford, M.A., of the Auckland Training College. The school was visited once during the year by the Inspector-General. Building. —Nothing has yet been done towards the erection of a school building. All efforts have failed to obtain from Parliament either a grant of money for the purpose, or authority to raise funds upon security of the lands held for the benefit of the school. The school is still carried on in premises of an unsuitable kind, for which the Board has to pay a rent of £300 a year, a sum which would amply provide for interest on the cost of a suitable and commodious building. The want of a building is a serious drawback to the progress of the school. Finance. —The financial position of the school is most precarious. If Parliament should persist in its determination to grant no further aid of any kind, the Board will be obliged reluctantly to close the school. The revenue from fees is less than one-half of what it was a few years ago. There is no income from endowment. A grant of £150 may possibly be received from the Commissioners for Secondary Education Eeserves. With this grant, and with the reduced income to be derived from fees, the Board expects to raise about £900 this year for the maintenance of the school. This sum is quite inadequate. Even with the most stringent reduction which can be made in the expenditure, the account will show a large debit balance at the end of the year. Auckland, March, 1888. Samuel Luke, Chairman.

2. Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1887. "Receipts. £ s. d. ! Expenditure. £ c. d. To Balance at beginning of year .. .. 77 12 6 By Management—Salary .. .. 16 13 4 Grant from vote of the General Assembly 500 0 0| Teachers'salaries and allowances .. 1,519 19 8 Paid by School Commissioners .. 275 0 0 ! Examinations— School fees .. .. .. .. 965 810 ; Examiners' fees .. .. .. 37 16 0 Debit balance at end of year .. .. 257 0 5 Other expenses .. .. .. 1 411 Prizes .. .. .. .. 14 15 0 Printing, stationery, and advertising .. 84 13 7 Cleaning, fuel, light, &c, .. .. 30 3 0 Fencing, repairs, &c. .. .. .. 30 711 Rents, insurance, and taxes .. .. 303 7 6 Interest on current account .. .. 0 9 3 Pee paid upon Crown grant of endowment 25 18 10 Drawing materials .. .. .■. 518 3 Legal expenses .. .. .. 4 0 6 £ 2,075 7 9: £2,075 7 9 Samuel Luke, Chairman. Vincent E. Bice, Secretary and Treasurer. Examined and found to be correct.—L. A. Durrieu, Auditor.

3. Statement of Work done in the Highest and Lowest Forms respectively during the Year 1887. Highest. —English literature: Spenser's Faerie Queen, Book I.; Milton's Samson Agonistes. Grammar : Morris's Historical Grammar : Word formation, derivation ; analysis, parsing, paraphrasing. Composition : Original essays. History : James I. to George I. Geography : New Zealand, Western Europe and British Possessions; physical currents, tides, climate, winds. Latin : De Amicitia (Cicero) ; Sallust's Jugurtha; sight passages ; composition, Bradley's Arnold's Exercises in continuous passages; antiquities. French : Chardenal's Exercises for Advanced Pupils; translation of passages from English authors into French; dictation, Eacine's Athalie, Act i. Mathematics: Trigonometry, to chap, xv., Todhunter; algebra, to variations, Todhunter; geometry, Books 1., 11., 111., IV., VI., with riders. Arithmetic, whole subject. Science: Chemistry, non-metallic elements and atomic theory. Needlework : Running and felling, stitching, button-holing, darning, grafting, cutting-out garments. Drawing: Shading from model and from nature, water-colouring. Loivest. —English literature : Globe Eeader No. IV. ; Grammar : Easy analysis, parsing. Composition: Essays on easy subjects. History: George I. to Victoria. Geography: New Zealand, Australia, England. Latin : Smith's Principia, Book I. French : Chardenal's First French Book, Exercises 1 to 120. Arithmetic : Simple rules, reduction, weights and measures. Science : Health in the House ; laws of health. Needlework : Hemming, top-sewing, running and felling. Drawing : Outline from the flat.

4. Scholarships held at the School during the Last Quarter op the Year. Education Board Scholarships. —At £40, 3 ; at £35, 1; at £20, 6. The school gave free education to these scholars, and to seven holders of Education Board's certificates of proficiency.