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Enclosure. Sir, — Otago High Schools Office, Dunedin, sth February, 1904. By direction of the Board of Governors of the Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools, I have the honour most respectfully to bring under your notice the grave disability under which many deserving pupi's in primary schools in country districts throughout Otago suffer by reason of the agelimit of fourteen years imposed by clause 3 (d) of the regulations. It is manifest that these pupils have not the same educational facilities as their town brethren. It is only reasonable to conclude that a large number of promising children are unable to pass the Sixth Standard under fourteen years of age, and are therefore precluded from taking advantage of the liberal provisions of the Secondary Schools Act of last session, which was, no doubt, introduced by your Government for the purpose of securing the benefits of a secondary education to all classes of the community. In view of the foregoing, and believing it is the wish and intention of the Government to bring the benefits of the high schools within reach of residents in the country districts, my Board ventures to express the hope that you will see your way to remove the age-limit. I may say that my Board has resolved to come under the provisions of section 5 of " The Secondary Schools Act, 1903." I have, &c, J. R. Sinclair, Chairman. The Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Minister of Education, Wellington.

No. 2. SUMMARY OF REPLIES TO CIRCULAR RECEIVED FROM GOVERNING BODIES OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS. The governing bodies of nine institutions, controlling thirteen schools, desire to retain the age-limit, namely : The Whangarei High School, the Auckland Grammar School, the Wanganui Collegiate School (for Boys), the Napier High Schools (separate Boys' and Girls'), the Marlborough High School, the Nelson Colleges (Boys' and Girls'), the Christchurch High Schools (Boys' and Girls'), Christ's College Grammar School (Boys'), the Southland High Schools (Boys' and Girls'). The following six bodies would retain it with the modification indicated in brackets : The Thames High School (special provision for country children) ; the New Plymouth High School and the Waitaki High School (pupils passing the standard when under fourteen years to be allowed to enter next Ist January); the Palmerston North High School (two years tenure to be given to holder of free place from term when admitted); the Timaru High School (14i years to be substituted for 14); the Governors of Wellington College express no opinion of their own, but forward that of the headmaster, who thinks the limit not strict enough. The remaining three high schools desire to have the age-limit abolished entirely : The Wanganui Girls' High School (also that the standard of proficiency should be lowered to Standard V.); the Rangiora High School; and the Ashburton High School (but that the standard of proficiency should be made higher than Standard VI.).

No. 3. REPLIES IN FULL OF THE SEVERAL GOVERNING BODIES. Whangarei High School - . Sir,— Whangarei, Bth July, 1904. I have the honour to own receipt of yours of the 26th May, covering a circular letter received from the Chairman of the Otago High School regarding the age-limit of free-place scholars, and in reply beg to state that my Board has discussed the matter carefully, and considers the age-limit fixed in the secondary regulations satisfactory. Yours, &c, The Secretary, Education Department, Wellington. J. McKinnon, Secretary.

Auckland Grammar School. Sir,— Secretary's Office, Auckland, sth June, 1904. In reply to your circular letter of the 26th May last re. the age-limit of fourteen years under clause 3 (d) of the regulations of " The Secondary Schools Act, 1903," I have the honour to inform you that the Board of Governors of this school recommends the adherence of the age-limit of fourteen years in such regulations for the following reasons : — 1. The average age of passing Standard VI. being 13 years 10 months it is evident that the privileges are not reserved for the exceptional child, but are open to all of average ability. 2. The privileges will be most valued when some slight effort is needed to win them. 3. The retention of the age-limit will have the effect of making the idler children of the primary schools put forth an effort, and to will raise the standard of primary education.