33

E.—7

Mr. It. Speight left to take up his position at the Museum at the end of March. The vacancies created by the loss of Mr. Smith and Mr. Speight were rilled by the appointment of Mr. R. J. Thompson, 8.A., formerly assistant master at Waitaki, and then at the Thames High School, and of Mi. W. Watt, M.A. (Senior Scholar of New Zealand University), who had been a year at Auckland Grammar-school. Both these appointments have been very satisfactory. • In December last a very complete examination of the middle and lower classes of the school was conducted by Professor Blunt, at the instance of the Board of Governors. Professor Blunt acted as Examiner-in-Chief, and was assisted by Professor Chilton for science, Dr. Hight for English and allied subjects, and Mr. A. C. Gifford for mathematics. The reports were on the whole of a satisfactory nature, showing that the school was doing the work for which it was established. The cadet corps numbered over a hundred boys in two companies, and for a second time won both the Victory Shield offered for competition to the Defence Cadets of Canterbury, and the Snow Shield. The want of a hostel continues to make itself felt: three boys quite recently were sent to other schools owing to its absence. Many country boys are in unsatisfactory lodgings, and many parents, owing to the absence of a properly supervised boardinghouse, feel compelled to send their boys elsewhere. The Preparatory Form was examined by Mr. E. K. Mulgan, one of the Education Board's Inspectors. He seemed very pleased with it, speaking of the pupils' keenness, and praising their nature-study work. Early in November the whole school was inspected by Dr. Anderson and Mr. T. H. Gill, from the Education Department, and a report was sent to the Board of Governors. Seventy boys of the Upper School entered for outside examinations in December, 1909. Nine entered for the Junior University Scholarship Examination. To four of these —viz., W. O. Gilling, A. K. Baker, C. S. Marshall, and G. S. Uambie, Senior National Scholarships were awarded. To the same boys the Education Board also awarded Gammack Scholarships. Two others obtained places on the credit list, and the remaining three (one of whom was ill) qualified for matriculation. Five of the above boys were under the age-limit of nineteen. Twenty-seven boys entered for Matriculation, Medical Preliminary, &c, and 15 passed, including 4 for Medical Preliminary, and one for Engineering Preliminary. It is to be rioted that the standard of Matriculation was (informally) raised, and that barely 10 per cent, of the candidates from the Dominion passed the examination. Forty-two boys entered for Junior Civil Service, or Senior Free Place examination, and 34 passed. It is to be noted also that some of the best boys do not enter for Matriculation (or Junior Civil Service), reserving themselves for the Junior University Scholarship Examination, and that several boys enter for Matriculation owing to the wish of their parents, though advised by the Headmaster not to do so. The distinctions won by old boys in 1909 were as follows: Mr. D. C. H. Florance obtained his M.Sc, and proceeded to England with a free Orient passage to study under Professor Rutherford. Mr. D. B. Macleod won the Senior University Scholarship for Mathematics, and also the Haydon Prize. Mr. C. M. Stubbs won the Senior University Scholarship for Mathematics. Exhibitions at Canterbury College were gained by four old boys for Latin, Greek, history, and chemistry. Two old boys proceeded to Cambridge University during the year, Mr. M. B. Martin to King's College, where he will take the History Tripos, and Mr. C. M. Bevan-Brown to Emmanuel for a science course. MUSEUM. Annual Report of the Curator. As a result of my previous reports, and subsequent interviews, you are so well aware of the congested condition of the collections that I need scarcely refer to the matter ; the establishment of an Early Colonists' Section creates necessity for additional spaces and will be an important subject to engage attention during 1910. Structured. —The new whale-house was completed as far as at present intended. The lighting of the main corridor was greatly improved by glazing the panels of three doors opening on to it. The taxidermist's room was thoroughly overhauled and painted, and provided with an additional skylight, while gas service was laid on to the Curator's workroom. Stuff. —The staff was increased by the appointment of Mr. R. Speight to the newly created position of Assistant Curator. Mr. W. J. Sparkes, taxidermist, the oldest servant under the Board, resigned during the year, and Mr. E. J. Haynes was appointed as his successor, to commence his duties in 1910. Mr. R. D. Barker, Curator's Assistant, resigned, ami was succeeded by F. J. Pollard. Museum Work. —During the first three months of the year the whole of the available staff was engaged in mounting the Okarito whale's skeleton, which was completed and opened to the inspection of the public on the 23rd March. During the week or two following the building was literally packed with visitors, and on Sundays and holidays throughout the remainder of the year the increased attendance has been very marked —wholly due to the attraction provided by " the whale." Owing to the absence of the taxidermist on six months' leave, and his subsequent unexpected resignation, the efficiency of the staff was considerably reduced, and I had to devote some time to a periodic examination of the specimens and of her work, of which normally I should have been iclieved. The central groups in the statuary gallery were railed in to protect them from the constant thumbing of a thoughtless public. Some hundreds of labels and explanatory tickets* were printed on the premises, being used mainly on a rearrangement of certain collections on an educational and descriptive basis. Some founts of new type were purchased for the purpose.

s—B. 7.