15

E.—s.

Lady Peincipal's Eepobt. Dueing the session, just closed, 176 pupils have been enrolled—s of whom are provincial scholars : 61 of these have been in the upper, 115 in the lower school; 59 have entered the school for the first time. The attendance for the four quarters has been, respectively, 150, 154, 150, 138. As in several preceding years a number of girls left at the end of the third quarter, ill-health or need of rest being, in most cases, assigned as the reason. Many of these girls were promising pupils who had worked well and diligently so far, on whom the year's teaching was beginning to tell, and who seemed likely to take an honorable position in the class-lists at the close of the session. The loss of such pupils causes regret and disappointment to teachers. In connection with this fact, I would again urge on parents the advisability of making gymnastics an item in the educational course of their girls. From the results of long experience, I can testify to the beneficial effect of systematic physical training on the general health and mental vigour of both boys and girls. No pupils have attended Mr. David's classes during the last six months. The five provincial scholars have given me every satisfaction as regards conduct, diligence, and regular attendance. In the first quarter 46 pupils took music lessons ; in the second, 44; in the third 40 ; and in the fourth, 32. M. G. Buen.

Receipts and Expendituee for the Tear ending 31st December, 1880. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ a. A. To Balance in hand, Ist January, 1880 ... 85 5 6 By Salaries, Boys' High School ... ... 3,579 17 11 Boys' High School fees ... ... 1,425 6 0 Salaries, Girls' High School ... ... 1,386 17 4 Girls' High School fees ... ... 1,208 8 0 Salaries, Janitor, High School ... ... 166 13 4 Rectory High School fees ... ... 83110 0 Salary of Secretary ... ... ... 50 0 0 Colonial Government grant ... ... 2,000 O 0 Incidental expenses ... ... ... 303 3 5 Rent of High School reserves ... ... 1,275 1 1 Scbool buildings ... ... ... 121 7 5 Grant from School Commissioners, Second- Rectory buildings ... ~, ... 43 10 11 ary Reserves rents ... ... ... 203 7 9 Auctioneer's charges ... ... ... 64 11 3 Interest from bank on credit balances ... 115 9 Rectory supplies ... ... ... 662 12 0 Gymnasium ... ... ... ... 852 School prizes ... ... ... 18 10 6 Insurance ... ... ... ... 23 6 0 Balance in Bank of New Zealand ... 60118 10 £7,030 14 1 £7,030 14 1 - — D. M. Stuaet, Chairman. I certify the above statement to be correct, and the transactions included therein to be properly vouched, and in accordance with law. H. Livingston, Auditor.

SOUTHLAND BOTS' AND GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOLS. Sic, — Invercargill, January, 1881. I have the honor to transmit to you herewith the report of the Board of Governors of the Southland Boys' and Girls' High Schools for the year 1880, as follows :— Constitution op the Boaed.—On the Ist January, 1880, the following gentlemen composed the Board : Mr. George Goodwillie, the Mayor of Invercargill; Messrs. H. Jaggers and J. P. Joyce, appointed by the Government; and Messrs. James Harvey and T. M. Macdonald, who were elected by the Southland Education Board. Mr. Macdonald was Chairman of the Board. During the month of January the Education Board re-elected Messrs. Harvey and Macdonald to the seats previously held by them on the Board. In the month of August the term for which Messrs. Jaggers and Joyce had been appointed expired, and Messrs. George Lumsden and F. W. Wade were appointed by the Government to fill their places. At the first meeting of the Board after its reconstitution, Mr. Macdonald was re-elected Chairman, until the expiration of his term of office as a member. There were 19 meetings of the Board during the year. Schools.—Before Christmas there were two schools under the control of the Board, viz., a Girls' High School and a Boys' High School. The Girls' High School has been in existence since the beginning of 1879. The subjects taught in it during the year 1880 were: Arithmetic, algebra, Euclid, English composition, and grammar (including analysis), English and European history, local and physical geography, French, German, Latin, elementary science, drawing, needlework (plain and fancy), and music (vocal and instrumental). The Boys' High School was opened on the 17th December, and closed for the Christmas holidays on the 22nd December. As this school has been in existence so short a time, any account of its operations is unnecessary in this report. Teaching Staff. —At the beginning of the year 1880 the staff of the Girls' High School was composed of the following ladies and gentlemen : Miss Hood, lady-principal; Miss Christie, first assistant; Miss Milne, mistress of languages ; and Miss Mehaffey, second assistant. Miss Waymouth was a visiting teacher of instrumental music ; Mr. West, visiting teacher of of singing and instrumental music; and Mr. Tait, visiting teacher of drawing. In the month of July the Board considered it necessary, on account of its financial position and the diminished attendance at the school, to reduce the staff, and to intrust the teaching of French and German to a visiting teacher, who should undertake these subjects in both the girls' and boys' schools. To carry out the intentions of the Board, notice was given to Miss Milne, Miss Mehaffey, and Mr. West that their respective engagements as mistress of languages, second assistant, and visiting teacher of singing, would terminate at the end of the year. In the month of September Miss Hood resigned the position of lady principal, and in the month of December Miss C. S. Spence, lady-principal of the Government Training School at Madras, was appointed to fill her place. In the month of December Mr, Blanchflower, 8.A., of the Geelong Scotch