27

E.—l2

4. Arrangements foe Drawing ; for Manual, Commercial, and Technical Instruction ; foe Gymnastics, Drill, Swimming, etc. Boys' School. —Drawing: Geometrical drawing taught by members of the staff to the five lower forms (Lower V.—III. inclusive) one hour a week. Mechanical drawing taught by a visiting master to such boys as desire it (one hour a week). No arrangement for instruction in drawing from the round. There are no arrangements for manual instruction. Gymnastics : A fully equipped gymnasium under a skilled master ; Form 111. two hours per week, the other forms one hour. A considerable amount of work under supervision of the master is done out of school hours. There are no arrangements for instruction in swimming. Drill: Cadet corps drilled every Monday afternoon, and at extra times. The rest of the school drilled on Wednesday afternoon by members of the staff, except in the depth of winter. Commercial instruction: Commercial arithmetic in all forms. Book-keeping in Forms Lower IV. Eemove and 111. Shorthand in Forms Upper IV.-111. inclusive. An hour a week to book-keeping. Short lesson twice a week in shorthand. Commercial geography in Forms Lower V.-111. inclusive. Technical instruction :In the sense of special preparation for particular trades there is no technical instruction. Instruction is given in science (chemistry, botany, physics) in a specially constructed science-room, fitted up with necessary appliances. Mechanical drawing is taught for such boys as require it. Girls' School. —There are two studios, and drawing is taught to the whole school. Advanced pupils, on the payment of a fee, are admitted to a " life " class, for which models are engaged twice weekly. There is a full equipment of casts, cards for test-drawing, &c. Instruction is given in sewing, plain and fancy work, dress cutting and making. Cooking-classes are held during the winter term. Gymnastics and drill are compulsory for the whole school. The instructor, Mr. Hanna, gives a thorough training in all kinds of gymnastic work. Bach class has two lessons weekly, except the two highest forms, which have one lesson weekly.

5. Scholarships. Free education was given to twenty-four pupils at the Boys' School, and to nineteen at the Girls' School.

SOUTHLAND HIGH SCHOOL. Stag. Mr. H. L. Fowler, M.A.; Mr. J. B. Vernon, M.A., B.So. ; Mr. F. Poote, M.A.; Miss J. E. Billing; Mias K. Isherwood, M.A. 1. Eepoet of the Board. In the month of June Mr. C. George resigned his position as second assistant in the Boys' School, and Mr. Frank Foote, 8.A., was appointed to fill the vacancy. During the year the subject of shorthand has been added to the branches already taught in the Boys' School. The Board has resolved to offer tuition at half-fees to all primary-school pupils who pass the Sixth Standard of the primary-school course, provided they are under fourteen years of age at the date of passing this standard. The Board anticipates that this concession will have the effect of materially increasing the attendance. Fifteen candidates from Invercargill passed the Matriculation examination; of these, ten —namely, five boys and five girls—were pupils at the High School. The boys made a first attempt at the University Scholarship examination; one of them " passed with credit," while the other two " qualified for matriculation "on their papers. The cadet corps is doing good work under the captaincy of Mr. Vernon, the first assistant in the Boys' School. The owners of the " Zealandia " hall have kindly placed that building at the disposal of the Board for purposes of drill. The main hall is well suited to the purpose. In the last report reference was made to the desire of the Board to obtain a piece of ground adjoining the school for a lawn-tennis and playground for the girls. The land, containing half an acre, has been purchased and suitably laid off. This investment will not only provide a playground for the girls, but the rent obtained for a cottage on the property will return a revenue almost equal to the interest which would have been received had the money remained in the bank on fixed deposit at current rate. Harry Stocker, Chairman. 2. General Statement of Accounts for the Year ended 31st December, 1899. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance .. .. .. .. 2,374 19 7 Office salary.. .. .. .. 60 0 0 Current income from reserves .. .. 750 16 8 Other office expenses .. .. .. 5 15 8 Interest .. .. .. .. 68 1 4 Teachers'salaries and allowances .. 1,152 14 1 Paid by School Commissioners .. 163 9 4 Examinations .. .. .. 3 16 7 School fees .. .. .. .. 401 13 4 Printing, stationery, and advertising .. 41 7 6 Prizes donation .. .. .. 110 Cleaning, fuel, light, &c. .. .. 103 18 8 Fencing, repairs, &o. .. .. .. 5 4 9 Rents, insurance, and taxes .. .. 19 3 10 Expended on site or buildings.. .. 64 19 8 Expended on purchase of other lands .. 996 1 3 Chemicals .. .. .. .. 17 13 7 Balance .. .. .. .. 1,289 5 8 £3,760 1 3 £3,760 1 3 Examined and found correct.— J. K. Warbukton, Controller and Auditor-General.