E.—l2.

Waihi District High School.

Report op Inspector. I have the honour to submit a short statement relating to the lately established district high schools. Of these, there were seven in operation at the close of the year. I regret that I had no opportunity of inspecting them, owing to the unusual amount of work thrown on me through the absence for a time of one of the Inspectors and the extra holidays granted in connection with the coronation festivities. I have, however, examined the results of their last quarterly examination, where such was held, and feel satisfied that they have made a creditable start. Quite a large number of subjects has been taken up for study, including shorthand, which might well be omitted as being too special and technical. Latin is being studied at four of them, and French at three. At Cambridge and Tauranga no science subject has been taken up as yet; and at Aratapu the work in this department is of the nature of object-lessons rather than science. It is the desire to pass pupils at the Junior Civil Service and Matriculation Examinations that has led to the takingup of so many subjects —a step of doubtful wisdom. Several of the schools have been provided with a considerable equipment of science apparatus, but provision has not yet been made for a practical training in laboratory work. This should be arranged for as soon as possible, and will involve some outlay ; but a considerable part of it can be earned back from the Department, as these science classes will be "school classes" under the Manual and Technical Instruction Act. For the success of the district high schools two conditions seem to me of the greatest importance —one is that a special class-room with desks and furniture adapted for practical scienceteaching should be provided in each school ; and the second is that the teachers of these special classes shall be duly qualified for the wor,k they have to do, and be adequately remunerated. To each a minimum salary of £200 a year should, I think, be paid ; and the Minister might be asked, if needful, to make special provision for maintaining the salary at this figure. Copies of the work done in each of the schools are attached hereto. Several of the text-books in use seem to me scarcely suitable, and have not been approved bv the Board. D. Petrie, M.A., Chief Inspector,

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um ier o: sc. ars on ro assei itani an .: A , oi Subject taught. Class. Number of Pupils in Glass during Last Quarter of Year. Work done during the Year. jatin I. II. I. II. I. I. 31 5 31 5 31 31 Work of Via Latina, to the end of fourth conjugation. Various exercises—5, 15, 24, &c. Up to quadratics (not inclusive). Signs, symbols, and notation. Book I., and Book II. to proposition 7. Outline of world, mathematical and physical geography ; maps of Europe and Colonies as for Junior Civil Service. Australasia (recently admitted). Period 1688 to 1900, as required for Junior Civil Service. The whole of the play " As You Like It " read and copiously commented on ; Brandram's text-book used. Parts I., II., and III., Literature Primer, by Professor Nichol, LL.D. Covered the ground as per West's Grammar. Entered High School a few weeks (three) before close of 1902. Llgebra lluolid xeography ... listory .literature ... II. I. I. 5 31 31 English composition Irammat I. 31 Lrithmetic ... it I. II. I. 31 5 31 1 5) 31 Advanced work equal to Junior Civil Service requirements. 'hemistry Experiments illustrative of the three states of matter; indestructibility of matter; physical changes compared with chemical changes ; difference between mechanical mixtures and chemical compounds; phenomena of chemical action ; the properties of air and water ; solution and crystallization ; production and properties of oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen ; definitions and general properties of oxides, acids, and bases; production and properties of chlorine, hydrochloric acid, ammonia, and nitric acid; general properties of metals and non-metals : the work being taken on the lines of the requirements for Junior Civil Service Examination.