23

E.—9

Girls. Highest. —English—Chaucer, Prologue, and the Nonne Preestes Tale ; Shakespeare, As You Like It ; Spencer, Faerie Queene, Cantos I. to IV.; Wordsworth, The Excursion, Book I. ; Selections from Prose Writers, 1490 to 1684; Historical English Grammar; composition, <tc. Latin — Virgil, iEneid, Book IX. ; Livy, Book XXII., chapters 41 to 61, and Book 1., chapters 1 to 26 ; Horace, Selected Odes and Epistles : Cassar, Gallic War, Book VI.; Reid's Translation at Sight, selections; composition, grammar. <fee. Roman History, to end of Punic Wars. French— Chardenal's Advanced Exercises; Erckmann-Chatrian, Waterloo; Bo'ielle, poetry; grammar, composition, ka.; Scribe, Le verre d' eau. German: Homann, Maerchen ; Macinillau, Part II.; Poetry, selected. Mathematics —arithmetic, the whole subject; algebra, to permutations and combinations, inclusive; Euclid, Books 1., 11., 111., IV., VI.; Lock's Trigonometry. Botany— The Morphology and Physiology of the Botanical types specified in the Junior ScholarshijJ schedule. Chemistry- the metallic elements; revision of the non-metallic elements. The Senior Division have revised the whole of inorganic chemistry. Lowest. —English—Longmans' Royal Star Reader No. V. History—Blackwood's Short Stories; Geography—Macdonald's Zealandia Geography, Parts I. and 11. Physical Geography —explanation of geographical terms. Grammar —simple analysis and parsing. French —vocabulary and part of Chardenal's First French Course. Arithmetic—simple and compound rules in money, simple problems, mental arithmetic. Science —Object-lessons in the elements of botany. 4. SCHOLAESHIPS. The Gray Russell Scholarship of £40 per annum, tenable for three years, is attached to the school. Free education was given to forty-six pupils, who made 50 per cent, of the total attainable marks at the scholarships examinations.

SOUTHLAND BOYS' AND GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOLS. 1. Repoet of the Boaed. The only change in the permanent teaching staff was the resignation, towards the end of the year, of Mr. William Macalister, the second assistant in the boys' school. Mr. Charles George, M.A., of Aberdeen, was chosen out of sixty-one applicants as Mr. Macalister's successor. Sergeant Blackmore, visiting drill-instructor, resigned his position in the High School in February, and his duties were undertaken by Mr. Vernon, the first assistant. A cadet corps has been formed, and sixty pupils were enrolled. At an inspection, held in the month of November, evidence was given of good progress made in drill. During the year, shorthand has been taught by a competent visiting master, Mr. A. W. Nicol. It is intended to retain this subject in the school syllabus. Each year a satisfactory number of pupils attending the High School pass the Matriculation and Junior University Scholarship examinations. At the examinations in 1896, one pupil gained a junior scholarship, two passed the same examination with credit, two qualified for matriculation, fourteen passed the Matriculation examination, one the Medical Preliminary, and one the Junior Civil Service examination. During the last few years the average scholastic attainment of the pupils attending the schools has steadily risen. The Board has now resolved not to admit any pupil who has not passed the sixth standard of the primary school course, or an examination equivalent to that standard. In order that it might be in a position to deal more satisfactorily with its tenants, the Board has been proclaimed under the provisions of "The Public Bodies' Powers Act, 1887." Several leases have matured during the year, and the properties were re-let, resulting in a slight increase of revenue from this source. Haeey Stockee, Chairman.

General Statement of Accounts for the Year ending 31st December, 1896. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance .. .. .. .. 542 17 7 By Management—Office salary .. .. 75 0 0 Fixed deposit (grant from vote of the Teachers' salaries and allowances .. 1,188 17 0 General Assembly) .. .. 2,276 14 11 | Boarding-school Account .. .. 2 4 5 Endowments — Prizes .. .. .. .. 17 11 1 (a) Current income from reserves .. 705 17 2 Printing, stationery, and advertising .. 82 1 2 (6) Interest on moneys invested, and Cleaning, fuel, light, &c. .. .. 75 7 1 on unpaid purchase-money .. 66 18 0 : Site and buildings— (o) Paid by School Commissioners .. 168 811 ' Fencing, repairs, &c. .. .. 32 18 6 School fees .. .. .. .. 578 6 8 Rents, insurance, and taxes .. 29 7 0 Chemicals, appliances, and sundries .. 29 0 8 Balance .. ~ .. .. 2,806 16 4 £4,339 3 3 £4,339 3 3

Habey Stookee, Chairman. Chaelbs Rout, Secretary and Treasurer. Examined and found correct. — J. K. Wabbueton, Controller and Auditor-General.