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Inspectors, for the unusual leniency of the conditions. The next year's examinations will be a more searching test. But on the whole the reports are satisfactory. They show that the schools are, as a rule, in an effective state, and that the teachers are applying themselves zealously, and with fair promise of success, to carrying out the programme of instruction prescribed by the new regulations. Scholarships.—The examinations for scholarships were held in June, and were conducted by Professor Cook and J. V. Colborne-Veel, Esq. Tho number of candidates examined was 61—viz., in class A, 15 (under 11 years of age), 11 boys and 4 girls; in class B, 22 (under twelve), 13 boys and 9 girls; in class C, 14 (under 13), 8 boys and 6 girls ;in class D, 10 (under fourteen), 8 boys and 2 girls. The successful candidates were :—ln class A, John Smith, Emily Burgess, Charles Hall, and Thomas Crosswell; in class B, Robert Speight, Joseph Turner (who resigned the scholarship he gained in 1878), and Edward Cohen ; in class C, Ellen Pithcaithly (who resigned the scholarship she gained in 1878), William Hayward, and William Marshall; in class D, William Craddock. High Schools. —There are no district high schools in North Canterbury. No school answering that description was founded under the Provincial Ordinance, and none of the existing schools have been converted into high schools in the manner provided by the Education Act. The Board received an application on the subject from the school committee of Akaroa ; but as yet the applicants have done no more than make enquiry as to the effect of such a change upon the status and working of their school, and the conditions upon which it might be authorised. Libraries.—A list of the public libraries which shared in the distribution of the sum granted under the Public Libraries Subsidies Act, with the amount of annual subscriptions received by each, and the proportionate sum allotted, will be found in the appendix. None of these libraries is under the control of the Board. The public library of Christchurch, by very far the largest, is managed by the Board of Governors of Canterbury College ; others, as their names denote, are attached to literary institutes or similar institutions ; and the rest are conducted by committees elected by the subscribers. In country districts, however, it is sometimes the case that the room used for the library stands in the school ground, or even forms part of the building, and more frequently that the books are kept in the school room. In one or two instances the school committee is also the library committee. Full information as to the libraries is given in the returns supplied by the managers under direction of the Education Department, copies of which will be forwarded. Penny Savings Banks.—The proposal to establish Penny Savings Banks in connection with the schools has not in this district met with much success. The great majority of school committees have not thought it advisable at present to take any steps in the matter, and only two have applied for the necessary permission to open a penny bank. In neither of these cases had operations been begun on the 81st December last. The Compulsory Clauses.—The enforcement of the compulsory provisions of the Education Act is left entirely to the discretion of the committees, and they are being brought into operation-very gradually. So far as the Board has any official information, only a few committees—about eight in all—have determined to enforce the clauses. These, however, include the important schools of Lyttelton, Kaiapoi, and Rangiora. In several cases the committee allege want of sufficient school accommodation and funds, as reasons for leaving these clauses in abeyance. General Remarks. —The following particulars are added in compliance with the wish of the Government that such information should be supplied in the Boards' reports : —The minimum size of school rooms recently erected by the Board is 30 x 20 feet ; but for the future it has been resolved, unless under exceptional circumstances, to build the room 41 x 22 feet, so as to avoid the necessity of enlargement. The former size affords sitting room for 54 children, and the latter for 72. The desks, nine feet in length, and of graduated heights, are arranged along one side of the room in sets of three, a space of eighteen inches being left between each set, and the vacant floor space allows room for the children to stand out in class when required for reading lessons, &c. On the opposite side is the fireplace, (or two, as the length of the room may require), and the blank wall space is utilised for hanging maps and diagrams. The windows are on the side on which the desks are placed, so that the light falls from behind. The Board has given much attention, with more or less success, to ventilation, a point on which the old schoolrooms are found very deficient. The walls of all new school buildings are not less than twelve feet high. The windows, sash, open at top and bottom ; ventilators are placed in different parts of the room, provided with trunks built into the walls and communicating with air gates below ; and the vitiated air is carried off by a turret fixed at the outside and in the centre of the roof, communicating with trunks ascending from the ceiling, a shaft leading into air chimney shaft, or connected with louvres at the gables. The roof is boarded and covered with galvanised iron, with all necessary eaves, gutters, &c. ; and where water is scarce, provision is made for conducting the rain water by iron pipes into an iron or concrete tank. When the number of children is so large as to need another room, the second is fitted up with a gallery, built on the plan adopted by the London School Board. In still larger schools other rooms and class rooms are added, and in the largest the infant school is conducted in a separate building specially constructed and fitted for the purpose. Nearly all the schools are mixed,. i.e., boys and girls are taught in the same classes. The only exceptions are in the case of Kaiapoi, where, in deference to local feeling, the separate system is allowed for the present; and in the large schools of Christchurch, where the number of children in average attendance is so great as to allow of the boys aud the girls being taught in separate departments without sacrifice of teaching power. But this mixing of the sexes takes place only when the children are in class, in the immediate presence of the teacher. In play hours they are entirely distinct. The boys and girls have each their own play ground, generally divided by a fence. For this purpose, and with the view of affording sufficient space for recreation, the Board requires a school site to be of not less than two or preferably three acres. In the larger schools arrangements are made for keeping the children under supervision of one of the teachers during play time. Of course separate closets are provided for the sexes. They are placed as far apart as practicable, and generally effectually screened from view by paling or iron fences. Considerable attention is paid to drill and physical exercise. A gymnastic apparatus is provided in every play ground. The drill instructor, employed by the Board, holds classes for the instruction of teachers and pupil