33

H.—l

For the success of evening classes it seems necessary that there should be a combination of the teachers of a town or district, so as to secure that there may be a proper subdivision of classes, and that the extra labour undertaken by each teacher may interfere as little as possible with his ordinary duties. That an organization such as this may be both extensive and efficient—in large towns at least—is proved by the success of the Caledonian Society's evening classes in Dunedin, where there has been no difficulty in obtaining a sufficient number of teachers for the remuneration offered by the Society, and where last year no fewer than 385 pupils, ranging in age from eleven to forty-four, and representing seventy-four different trades and occupations, attended the classes. It may be doubted whether the admission of children at so early an age as eleven years is not attended with some danger, since it may induce parents to remove them from school too soon. In most subjects a fee of 7s. 6d. was charged for a course of four months: this produced in all a sum of £108 55., which, along with £126 15s. contributed by the Society, paid all the expenses. The classes that attracted the greatest number of pupils were those which have a direct bearing upon commercial pursuits. The example of this Society is very praiseworthy, and might bo advantageously followed by other societies which are more directly interested in the education of those engaged in daily labour. The Caledonian Society of Timaru has also established evening classes, the attendance at which has ranged from twenty-five to one hundred. The Napier Athenseuni has it in contemplation to institute similar classes. That no kind of organization of evening classes can as yet be self-supporting, even in the large towns, is shown by the experience of those Avhich have been most successful as well as of those which have failed. Where, therefore, no private society will undertake, like the Caledonian Society in Dunedin, to defray the expense, a small grant to the Boards of Education, for the purpose of subsidizing the salaries of the teachers, might go far to supply the evident demand for such classes. In the larger towns especially, where there is a sufficient number of Government schools to sujjply efficient volunteers, there ought to be no difficulty in organizing a general scheme.

Caledonian Sociot?'9 classes-

Proposed grant bo^o^"^ in organizing eTemns classes.

V.—SCHOLARSHIPS. The scholarships open to competition in New Zealand may be divided into three classes : —■ 1. Scholarships tenable by undergraduates during their University course. 2. Scholarships tenable by scholars receiving secondary education. 3. Scholarships tenable by students receiving professional or technical education. Of the first class of scholarships, th.e most important are those offered by the University of New Zealand. Under a regulation of the Senate a sum of £1,500 is transferred yearly to the scholarship fund, and a certain revenue is also received from an accumulated balance of more than £6,000 standing at the credit of the fund. The University scholarships are of two classes, distinguished as junior and senior scholarships. The junior scholarships are competed for at the entrance to the University course, and are tenable for three years at any institution affiliated to the University of New Zealand. They are of the annual value of £45, and for the last few years ten have been offered yearly. The senior scholarships are conferred upon students who, at the time of passing either the first or second part of their examination for the B.A. degree, exhibit great proficiency in one or more of the subjects of examination. They are of the annual value of £60, and are tenable under certain conditions for one year, and in some cases for two years. The number of these scholarships is unrestricted, but hitherto not more than four or five have been awarded yearly. We are of opinion that the scholarships are sufficient, both in number and value, for the present requirements of higher education. As regards the future, although it is not probable that the scholarship fund administered by the University will be largely augmented, still, when it is 5-H.I.

University scliolar3llips.

Scholarship* fo^atioo