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Girls' High School. French.— J. examined about ninety-two girls by means of written papers based upon the year's work. These comprised—Form VI.; Form V., Upper Division ; Form V., Lower Division; Form IV., Upper Division; Form IV., Lower Division; Form 111. In addition to these, several beginners' classes, comprising about thirty-four girls, were at my request examined orally in my presence by their own teachers. lam pleased to be able to report an improvement upon the result of last year's examination. The papers were more accurate, and gave every indication of the work having been more carefully attended to and more thoroughly done during the year. This has resulted in a higher percentage of marks; but, apart from the result of a mere comparison of marks which I made for my own guidance, but upon which I do not rely as an absolute test, I was altogether better satisfied with the style in which the papers were answered. In Form VI. the average was 28|- upon a maximum of 50 as against 24 last year —a difference of 9 per cent, in favour of this year. The best papers in this class were a great deal better than last year. In Form V., Upper Division, the marks were nearly the same as last year. Form IV., Upper Division, shows an improvement equal to 9 per cent. In the junior classes I find a marked improvement. I was also very well satisfied with the results of the oral examinations conducted by Miss Gillies and Miss Little, whose work with the beginners' classes requires and gives indication of a great deal of perseverance. Throughout the school I find marked improvement in spelling, and very much less guessing than last year. Ido not wish it to be thought that Ido not still see a great deal of room for further improvement. lam satisfied that the standard may and should be considerably raised, looking at the fact that in this school French is regarded as one of the leading subjects. German. —l examined two classes, comprising eight girls, with highly satisfactory results. The very complex German grammar has been thoroughly mastered, and the girls have learned to apply it intelligently. 12th December, 1883. Feedk. Chapman.

7. Professob Black's Eepobt. The University, Dunedin, 14th December, 1883. I have great pleasure in reporting the excellent resvdts obtained in the High Schools' examination in chemistry, and herewith enclose in a tabulated form the percentages of marks made by the pupils. Of the eleven boys presented from the Sixth Form, four—namely, Montgomery, Forbes, Allen, and Copland—received 80 per cent, of marks and upwards; the others ranged from 30 to 77 per cent., the whole class averaging 62 per cent. These results are most satisfactory, and show not only very careful, systematic, and intelligent teaching of the subject, but also a clear apprehension, much study, and an evident love of work on the part of the pupils. The paper set to these boys covered the same ground as the chemistry required for Junior Scholarships at the entrance examination of the University of New Zealand. Ten girls were presented from the Sixth Class, and, of these, Annie E. Truman gained 97 per per cent, of marks, the others ranging from 36 to 77 per cent.; the whole class averaging 63 per cent. The paper set to this class was somewhat easier than the boys' paper. It covered the subject as required for the matriculation examination of the University of New Zealand. The results are highly satisfactory, showing a minute and accurate knowledge of the subject. From Girls' Class V. thirty-five candidates gave in papers. Four of these—o. Mackenzie, K. Begg, G. M. Wright, and F. Moore —received 90 per cent, of marks and upwards, eight received 80 to 90 per cent., and the others ranged from 20 to 80 per cent., the whole class averaging 60 per cent. The paper set to this class was of a more elementary and general character than either of the others. It covered the ground treated in Eoscoe's "Chemistry" in the Science Primers, and assumed a general knowledge of the chemistry of fire, air, water, food, breathing, oxygen, hydrogen, carbonic acid, phosphorus, and a good deal of knowledge of the chemistry of common things. The results obtained here, as in the other High Schools' chemistry classes, are such as to show that the chemistry of the High Schools is in most competent hands, and receives a fair share of the teaching of this institution. In conclusion, I must be allowed to say that it is very gratifying to me to see that chemistry receives so much attention and is so thoroughly taught at these schools. The Chairman, Board of Governors. James Black, Examiner.

8. Peofessob Parker's Eepoet. As far as my. experience goes, the results of this examination show a percentage of passes decidedly above the average for science examinations in schools. In the Fifth Form 88 per cent, of the total number of boys examined have passed, in the Upper Fourth 77 per cent., and in the Lower Fourth 74 per cent. In the Fourth Form none of the boys reach a high standard of excellence, while, on the other hand, very few sink much below the minimum for a pass. In the Fifth Form 11 per cent., i.e., two out of the seventeen examined, obtain over 70 per cent, of the marks, and are placed in the First Class, their papers being decidedly well done, and giving evidence of accurate observation and a clear understanding of the subject. Of the two unsuccessful candidates in this form, one is only a few marks below tho minimum, while the other obtained only 8 per cent, of the marks, his paper being extremely careless and inaccurate. I am disposed to think it would be an advantage if less importance were given to the niceties of botanical terminology, and more attention devoted to general morphology and physiology. I was much disappointed, for instance, by the answers to Questions 4 and 5 in the Fourth Form paper, and to Question 4 in that for the Fifth Form. As might have been expected, many of the boys have not yet conquered the habit, which it is one of the main objects of scientific education to eradicate, of "describing" not merely what they see, but what they consider they ought to see. Nevertheless it is satisfactory to notice that, as a

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