E—■ 7

4

on the gable and door, where it is more profuse than on any other part of the building. In its present position, these destructible features are becoming weather-worn and deteriorated. Their preservation would be secured by the proposed change. I desire, also, to draw attention to the extreme poverty of the library in books of reference in all departments. For the work of the museum to be carried on efficiently, or with any satisfaction to myself, it will require at the earliest opportunity to be largely augmented. A largo number of books, chiefly serial works, and Transactions of Societies, to the number of about one hundred and fifty volumes, are in urgent need of binding. In their present state they are very inconvenient for reference, and are in danger of becoming incomplete through the loss of loose numbers. It is with pain that I have to draw attention to a matter that concerns the public. Of late deliberate acts of mischief have been of so frequent occurrence that, if continued, it will be necessary to employ an additional attendant to protect the property of the Governors. Wanton damage has been done to the statuary, and to many of the specimens in the Mammalian Gallery. There have been cases of theft, also, from the umbrella stand. Boys from several of the schools in Christchurch have been specially troublesome by their uproarious conduct. A list of the donations to the museum during the year is appended to this report. In conclusion, I have to report that my assistants have performed their duties to my entire satisfaction. I have to thank the Directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company for their continued kindness in carrying exchanges free of charge; and to the Inspector of Police I am indebted for permitting the attendance of a constable on Sunday afternoons. Henby 0. Fokbes, Curator. The Chairman, Board of Governors, Canterbury College. School of Act. The various branches of work have been carried on successfully during the year. The draped and nude life classes have been held twice a week each, and entrance examinations for students wishing to learn these subjects have taken place at the end of each term. Six exhibitions amounting to remission of fees have been granted by the Board to deserving students attending the classes. One hundred and thirteen boys belonging to the High School have received at their own school instruction by the Art Master and his assistants during the year. The course of teaching was as follows : Freehand, three hours per week; model, one hour; geometry, one hour; and an extra class for boys has met for three hours weekly at the School of Art for model-drawing. The attendance each term for the morning classes during the past year has been as follows: Seventeen, twenty-six, and thirty-one; and, for the evening classes, sixty-nine, fifty-four, and seventy-five. With a view of encouraging and giving a thorough art-training to boys who showed a talent for drawing, the Board at the beginning of the year offered a free studentship for one year to the head boy in drawing in each of the ten largest district schools in the City of Christchurch and neighbourhood. At the Auckland and Dunedin Society of Arts' exhibitions, students of this school competed, and were so far successful that they gained one medal, three prizes, and four certificates for drawing from the life and the cast, sketching from Nature, and decorative design. The annual exhibition of students' work for the past year was held as usual in the school buildings in February, and was attended by a large number of visitors, who expressed themselves highly pleased with the work exhibited. The annual examination was held in December last, and the number of students who passed and received certificates was as follows: Freehand, 30; model, 29; geometry, 11; perspective, 5. The Art Master's report is as follows :— I have the honour to submit to you the report for the session ending on sth May. As compared with former years the numbers attending the morning class have been as follows : 1886-87—second term, 12; third term, 12; first term, 21. 1887-88—second term, 12; third term, 20; first term, 24. 1888-89—second term, 17 ; third, term, 26 ; first term, 31. This class is gradually increasing, and is now doing good work. The classes for sketching from nature, restricted to the morning students,, and held on Tuesday and Thursday, have been well attended, the advanced students going out on the former day. A series of good sketches were exhibited at the annual exhibition. By the kindness of the Director of the Museum, I was enabled to send a class one morning a week to study from the antique in the statuary gallery. Much better practice and good results were obtained by this means. The life class has been held twice a week throughout the year, the drawings being done in outline, monochrome and colour. Two classes have been held every Wednesday for painting from still life, one for colour and the other in monochrome. Drawing from the antique and all elementary work has been carried on as usual. Scholarships, amounting to remission of fees, have been awarded for this year to Misses E. B. Aldridge, E. G. Culliford, and M. 0. Stoddart. The numbers attending the evening class for the past three sessions were as follows: 1886-87 —second term, 50; third term, 55; first term, 61. 1887-88 —second term, 73; third term, 78; first term, 63. 1888-89 —second term, 69; third term, 54; first term, 75. We have had another successful year in this class, the' same earnestness and enthusiasm being shown as in the former year. Since the establishment of the school in 1882, there has never existed such an emulatory spirit in the work amongst the students as I have seen for the last two years. The morning class has been much better in former times as far as numbers are concerned, but the evening class never in any respect. Notwithstanding the success in this class, in some aspects the work is still disappointing. After being with us for two or, perhaps, three years the older students gradually drift away, and this state of things will always remain so—until more convenience and provision is made for the further education of the advanced students. Take a student in decorative design : we teach him freehand, model, light and shade, and the principles of colour and design, but when he has arrived at the stage when he ought to begin designing for himself we have not a single example as yet to put before him as a guide, not in any branch of industry. Now, although the school is better equipped at present for teaching fine art, it must be remembered that fully 75 per cent, of our students do not come for this purpose, and this, I do not hesitate to say, will