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3. Work of the Highest and Lowest Classes. Highest. —English—Nesfield's English Past and Present, and Grammar and Composition; Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice ; Milton's Minor Poems, L'Allegro and H. Penseroso ; Chaucer's Prologue; composition. Latin—Virgil, iEneid XII.; Tacitus, Agricola and Germania; Cicero. In Catilinam, I. and II.; sight translation ; grammar and composition. Mathematics —Arithmetic, geometry, algebra, trigonometry, as for Junior University Scholarship. French —Merimee's Colomba; Voltaire's Charles XII.; grammar; free composition; sight translation. History and geography, as for Junior University Scholarship. Lowest. —English grammar—Nesfield's Outline ; parsing, analysis, paraphrase, composition. Latin —Scott and Jones's First Latin Course. French —-Dent's First Course ; Wellington College Accidence, as far as third conjugation of verbs. Geometry —Sanderson's Geometry for Beginners. Algebra (elementary)— David's Algebra for Beginners. Arithmetic—Pendlebury and Beard, from fractions to the metric system ; miscellaneous examples. Reading and spelling—Standard VI., Royal Reader. Nature in New Zealand. Spelling and dictation. Recitation — Lyra Heroica. History —Gardiner s Outline, 1603-1900. Geography—Standard VI., maps of Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, Australia, the world ; British possessions, their products and the reasons for their importance. Physical—Climate, seasons, meridians, parallels, movements of the earth, distribution of land and water. Drawing—Freehand and geometrical. NELSON COLLEGE. Staff. Boys' College.—Mr. H. L. Fowler, M.A.; Mr. F. Milner, M.A. ; Mr. G. J. Lancaster, M.A. ; Mr. C. H. Broad, B.A. ; Mr. M. K. McCulloch, M.A.; Mr. W. Kerr, M.A.; Mr. E. H. Severne, B.A. ; Mr. P. D. Mickle ; Mr. A. P. Cox, M.A.; Mr. F. F. C. Huddleston ; Mr. S. W. Thornton. Girls' College.— Miss A. C. Tendall, M.A.; Miss E. Gribben, 8.A.; Miss M. Pickmere, M.A. ; Miss F. M. Kirton, M.A. ; Miss H. Jenkins, 8.A.; Miss M. McEachen, M.A.; Miss F. E. Livesay, 8.A.; Miss E. T. Chisholm ; Mr. F. F. C. Huddleston. 1. Report of the Governors. Early in the year the Hon. Albert Pitt resigned his position as a Governor, finding that the claims on his time as Attorney-General and a member of the Cabinet precluded him from sharing longer in the duties of the Council. Colonel Pitt's resignation was received with much regret, as during the many years in which he had been a member of the Council of Governors he had at all times shown a deep interest in the welfare of the College, and was always ready to aid it by every means in his power. Mr. Francis H. Richmond, an old College boy, was appointed as his successor. The year 1904 will remain a memorable one in the annals of the institution, owing to the destruction of the Boys' College by fire on the 7th December, the forty-fifth anniversary of its foundation. It was a matter of much regret that a building which had been for so long a credit and an ornament to the city should have been so ruthlessly swept out of existence in the course of a brief hour or two. Its memories are, however, imperishable, and the Governors trust that before long a new College, retaining the familiar features of the old building, but constructed of more enduring materials, will occupy the same site. Substantial assistance has been promised by the Government in aid of this. Boys' College. The high attendance of the previous year was well maintained, sixty-two new pupils being admitted, of whom thirty-four joined as free pupils under the provisions of the Secondary Schools Act. The number of boarders was eighty-six. The College was very successful in the public examinations. Four boys passed the first year's examination at Victoria College, and three the second. E. J. Wilson won the Junior University Scholarship, and two boys obtained credit. Sixteen passed the Matriculation Examination, four taking the Medical Preliminary at the same time. Four passed the Junior Civil Service Examination, and twenty-two obtained extension of their term of free education on the Civil Service papers. In the Entrance Army Examinations, G. G. Everett passed his final, and has obtained a commission as lieutenant in the Somersetshire Light Infantry, now in India, while H. Watts passed the literary section. The fire which destroyed the College buildings on the 7th December was not allowed to interrupt the school work, which was resumed the following morning in the large hall of the School of Music, and carried on until the end of the year. The boarders were accommodated by friends, and it was a source of much gratification to the Governors and Principal that the tenders of hospitality to the boys were so prompt and numerous, considerably exceeding the needs. To make temporary arrangements for the new year, it was arranged that the large house opposite the College grounds, which the Governors had acquired a few months previously, be enlarged to accommodate fifty boarders, in addition to being the temporary residence of the Principal and some of the assistant masters. Class-room accommodation was secured in the School of Music Hall, the Presbyterian Hall, and the Shelbourne Street School. The use of two class-rooms in the Central School was also granted, free of charge. It has been decided to proceed with the levelling of the College playground, an improvement which has been long desired. It is hoped that this will be completed by the time the new College is opened. The Governors are gratified to find that the accommodation provided for the new year has proved all that is necessary for the comfort of boarders and the carrying-on of the work. They desire also to express their highest appreciation of the manner in which the Principal and the staff have successfully faced a time of great difficulty.