15

E.—9

satisfactorily a preliminary examination in divinity. The subjects of the examination, which is to be held in the month of September, are, for both classes, Latin, English, mathematics, French, and either Greek, or geography and English history. The scholarships are tenable for two years, and of the value of £18 per annum, with the addition of £15 per annum in the case of boarders in one of the school-houses. Somes Senior Scholarships. —Four are to be offered, if funds permit, in each year, namely: (a) Two to boys under the age of eighteen years on the first day of December in that year ; and (b) two to boys under the age of seventeen years on the same day. In awarding the scholarships use is made of the examination held by the University of New Zealand for Junior University Scholarships ; and, to be eligible, a candidate in Class A must obtain at least 2,000 marks, a candidate in Class Bat least 1,500 marks, in that examination. The scholarships are tenable for one year, and of the value of £25, with the addition of £20 in the case of boarders in one of the schoolhouses. Somes Scholarships for Music. —Sixteen scholarships, covering the school fees for tuition, and eight of half the value, are given after examination. The boys elected become members of the Cathedral choir. The junior and senior scholarships given by the Board of Education are tenable in the school, and may be held together with Entrance or Somes Scholarships. Buller and Eeay Foundation.—Exhibitions are given to the sons of clergy ministering in the Diocese of Christchurch, and to others who may require assistance; also six exhibitions of £2 are awarded at the end of each term to members of the Chapel choir, and two of £12 a year for two years to specially deserving boys on leaving the Cathedral choir.

BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL, CHEISTCHUECH. Ebport fob 1896. A new wing was added to the school this year and opened on the 20th February. It comprises the lecture-room already described. Above the lecture-room are two olass-rooms; in a basement below it is a new laboratory, a dark room, &c. The accommodation is already fully occupied. Gymnastic apparatus has been fitted up in a large room called the " Orderly-room " (used also for cadets), and large voluntary classes are held in it daily under the direction of a master. New outbuildings, comprising urinals, &c, were also erected in 1896. The staff comprised the headmaster, nine full-time masters, two part-time masters, and visiting masters in drill, swimming, singing, model-drawing and carpentry. This, with 259 boys on the roll, gives a somewhat high average of pupils per master. At the recent December examinations fifteen boys matriculated, three passed the Medical Preliminary, one boy headed the list of Junior University scholars, and three others passed that examination with credit, one of whom obtained a Gammack scholarship. One boy was second in order of merit on the Junior Civil Service list for 1896; and in that year the degree of M.A. was awarded to Mr. G. Lancaster, an old pupil, with double first-class honours in mathematics and chemistry ; to Mr. H. Craddock, with second-class honours in Latin and Greek, and to Mr. J. M. Waddell, with second-class honours in Latin and English. Another old pupil won the John Tinline scholarship, and another the Senior University scholarship for political science. The school is examined every year by outside examiners appointed by the Board.

2. General Statement of the Accounts for the Year ending 31st December, 1896. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance .. .. .. .. 32 13 9 By Office salary " .. .. .. 90 0 0 Current income from reserves .. 3,084 5 2 Teachers'salaries and allowances .. 3,885 0 0 School fees .. .. .. .. 2,058 10 6 Examinations— Interest on Current Account .. .. 10 3 3 Examiners' fees .. .. .. 78 3 0 Interest on promissory note for rent .. 2 8 5 Other expenses .'. .. .. 10 14 0 Sale of parsing notes .. .. 0 7 9 Scholarships .'. .. .. 30 0 0 Balance .. .. .. .. 33 6 6 Prizes .. .. .. .. 48 19 6 Printing, stationery, advertising, and books .. .. .. .. 163 11 6 Cleaning, fuel, light, &c. .. .. 65 9 0 Site and buildings, from current revenue— Purchases and new works .. .. 12 19 0 Poncing, repairs, grounds, &c. .. 106 18 4 Insurance .. .. .. 30 12 4 Endowments, Sales Account— Roads, &c. .. .. .. 116 13 0 Expenses of survey, sales, management, &c. .. .. .. 9 9 6 Inspection of reserves and advertising .. 165 0 10 Chemicals and apparatus .. .. 30 4 3 Interest on Loan Account .. .. 250 0 0 Grants to cricket club and cadet corps 60 0 0 Grant to school library .. .. 5 0 0 Legal expenses .. .. .. 14 12 0 Sundries .. .. .. .. 48 9 1 £5,221 15 4 £5,221 15~4 H. E. Webb, Chairman. A. Cbaceoft Wilson, Eegistrar. xamined and found correct.— J. K. Wakbubton, Controller and Auditor-General.