B.—l

88

Lawrence District High School. English. —Class I. made a fair appearance in this subject. The paraphrase was in many cases weak, and a few selected passages of some difficulty were but fairly explained. The story was -well known, and the pupils showed an excellent verbal acquaintance with the text. Derivations and meanings of single words were in general well given. In Class 11. the answering was all round inferior to that of Class 1., and the paraphrase was especially weak. Latin. —In Classes I. and 11. the translation was accurate; but English idiom was not sufficiently observed. The syntax of Class I. was fair, and all the rest of the work of both classes was of very satisfactory quality. In Class 111. most of the pupils answered well. Their translation was more correct than that of the more advanced pupils. French. —The papers in this subject were very well done : only three fell below the level of fair. German. —The work read was very well known. Geometry. —Of the pupils, four gained full marks, three made 90 per cent., four did well, seven fairly, and two poorly. Algebra. —In Class I. one pupil answered all the questions set, three answered well, and the others fairly. The equations arising out of the problems were not in all cases set out with commendable clearness. Eive of the pupils of Class 11. did well, and the rest fairly. Trigonometry. —One boy did well, one fairly, and one poorly. I have, &c, The Secretary, Otago Education Board. D. Petrie, Inspector.

SOUTHLAND. Sm, — Education Office, Invercargill, 23rd March, 1888. I have the honour, in pursuance of the provisions of " The Education Act, 1877," to submit for your consideration the following report of the proceedings of the Southland Education Board for the year ended the 31st December, 1887. -Board.—At the commencement of the year the Board consisted of the following gentlemen : Mr. Thomas M. Macdonald, Chairman; and Messrs. George Lumsden, John Morison, George McLeod, Alfred Baldey, John Turnbull, Donald L. Matheson, James S.Shanks, and George Eroggatt. The retiring members for the year were Messrs. A. Baldey, G. McLeod, and J. S. Shanks. To fill the vacancies so caused, the district School Committees nominated seven candidates, and the voting at the election held on the 4th March, 1887, resulted in the return of the two first-named retiring members and Mr. James W. Bain. Board's Meetings.—As in past years, the regular meetings of the Board have been held on the first Friday in each month, with occasional special meetings when found necessary. The Executive Committee, which usually meets two or three times a month, has contributed very largely to the success which has attended the transaction of the business of the Board at its ordinary monthly meetings. During the past year the Board has held twelve ordinary and two special meetings, while the Executive Committee has met thirty-three times. The attendance of members has been uniformly good, the average for meetings of the Board being 8, and for those of the Executive Committee 5"7. The following are the individual attendances made by members during tho year ; — Meetings of Board: Mr. Baldey, 14; Mr. Lumsden, 14 ; Mr. Matheson, 13; Mr. Morison, 13 ; Mr. Eroggatt, 12 ; Mr. Macdonald, 12 ; Mr. McLeod, 12 ; Mr. Turnbull, 11 ; Mr. Bain (nine months), 8 ; Mr. Shanks (three months), 3. Executive Committee : Mr. Lumsden, 32 ; Mr. Eroggatt, 27 ; Mr. McLeod, 25; Mr. Matheson, 24; Mr. Baldey, 23; Mr. Macdonald, 23; Mr. Bain (nine months), 18; Mr. Morison, 13; Mr. Turnbull, 4; Mr. Shanks (three months), 0. Number op Schools.—This Board's last annual report showed that on the 31st December, 1886, there were ninety-two schools in operation ; and, if two half-time schools be reckoned, ninetythree. An increase has taken place during this year, new schools having been opened at Drummond, Balfour, Mossburn, Wendonside, Mandeville, and Mokoreta, the last-named being worked in conjunction with the school previously established at Eedan as a half-time school. There are now (31st December, 1887) ninety-eight schools in existence, four of these being half-time schools. The school at Moke Creek was closed in the early part of the year, the decreased attendance rendering it inexpedient to keep it open. A considerable number of applications for the establishment of new schools are registered on the books of the Board, the final consideration of which has been deferred for various reasons, chief amongst which must be reckoned the insignificant balance standing to the credit of the Board's Building Account. Teaching Staff.—The staff of teachers employed in the various schools under the Board was, at the close of the year 1886, 175. This number has, notwithstanding an increase of five in the number of schools, decreased by three, there being now but 172 teachers of all grades in the Board's service, classified as follows :— Male. Female. Total. Principal ... ... ... ... 10 ... 0 ... 10 Head of department ... ... ... 0 ... 10 ... 10 Head of school ... ... ... 20 ... 0 ... 20 Sole teacher ... ... ... 52 ... 14 ... 66 Assistant... ... ... ... 7 ... 13 ... 20 Pupil-teacher ... ... ... 7 ... 28 ... 35 Sewing teacher ... ... ... 0 ... 11 ... 11 96 76 172