£.-9.

(whoie work). Chemistry: Miller's Inorganic Chemistry, pages Ito 107; problems; (advanced) Miller's Inorganic Chemistry, pages 95 to end, group tests for metals, problems. French : Oxford and Cambridge Grammar; (advanced) translations, various. English History: William 111. to present date. Boman History: Elements and antiquities. Geography: British Empire (Chishohn).

OTAGO HIGH SCHOOLS. 1. Report of the Boakd. Sib,— Dunedin, 25th April, 1891. In accordance with section 8 of " The Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools Act, 1877," and in terms of circular from the Education Department of date the Ist December, 1890, I have the honour to forward herewith the report of the Board of Governors of the Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools for the year ending 31st December, 1890. The attendance in the Boys' School for the first half of the year was 250, and for the second half 245 ; and the average daiiy attendance has been the highest recorded. In the Girls' School the numbers on the roll for the four quarters of the year were 173, 168, 168, and 165. Owing to the resignation of Mr. E. E. Morrison, English master in the Boys' School, and of Dr. Bulau, teacher of classics, French, and German in the Girls' School, several changes were made in the teaching staff during the year. Mr. W. B. Williams, 8.A., teacher of modem languages in the Boys' School, was appointed to take Mr. Morrison's place ; and the staff of the Girls' School was augmented by the appointment of Miss F. M. Allan, M.A., the other part of the work relinquished by Dr. Bulau being now undertaken by the Rector and staff. In consequence of the fact that Mr. D. C. Hutton's other engagements precluded him from giving sufficient time to the teaching of art in the Girls' School, the Board found it necessary to make other arrangements for carrying on this branch of study, and it therefore appointed Miss F. M. Wimperis to the position of drawing-teacher. • _ - During the year Mr. G. M. Thompson was appointed master of the boys' boarding establishment, in place of Mr. E. E. Morrison, resigned. The appointment of matron in the girls' boarding establishment, rendered vacant by Miss Bathgate's resignation, was given to Mrs. E. R. McKay. In order to come to a final and satisfactory understanding with the settlers at Wyndham Valley, who have been unable to meet their payments for land purchased from the Board on terms, and who have been very urgent in their applications for relief, the Board, in October last, deputed one of its members (the Hon. Thomas Dick) and the Secretary to visit the district and make personal inquiries into the merits of each case. Mr. Dick and the Secretary having interviewed all the parties concerned, and having carefully considered their surroundings, recommended that a rebate of 25 per cent, of the original purchase-money, in addition to all arrears of interest, be offered to those whose purchases had not been completed (except Mr. Murray, who purchased after the price of land had fallen, and who, consequently, obtained it at a comparatively low figure), and that the time for payment of the balance owing should be extended for five years, at 5 per cent. After perusing a report and valuation of the land by Mr. J. L. McDonald, an experienced land-valuer, the Board adopted Mr. Dick's recommendation, and submitted the same to the purchasers. The following table shows the original amount of purchase-money, the amount paid for principal, the amount of accumulated interest unpaid, the amount of proposed reduction or rebate, and the balance still due after making the reduction : —

With the exception of Messrs. Woodward, McCulley, Bews, and Graham, the above-named purchasers agreed to accept the concessions offered. Messrs. Woodward and McCulley have agreed to give back as much of their land to the Board as will extinguish the amount of their indebtedness; while Messrs. Bews and Graham state that they cannot see their way to meet their engagements with the Board even at the reduced amounts, which they consider still above the value of the land. A perusal of the above figures will show that the Board has offered very substantial reductions to its tenants or mortgagors, and! that it has given every consideration to their applications for relief. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Education. D. M. Stuart, D.D., Chairman.

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• Name of Purchaser. Original Amount of Pur-chase-money. Arrears of Interest. Amount of Principal, paid. Balance of Principal and Interest unpaid. Amount of proposed Rebate. Balance required to complete Purchase. £ s. a. Alexander Matheson ... 1,182 11 6 H. J. Woodward ... 1,072 10 6 Thomas Foster ... 468 9 0 C. E. Johnstone ... 114 16 0 J.E. Fraser j 495 0 6 F. O. Leary... ... 379 .4 0: D. K. McCulley ... ! 1,542 12 0; S. Bews 1,202 2 6 W.Graham... ... 774 4 8 £ s. a. 244 7 7 236 12 9 10 14 3 20 14 5| 3 13 3 39 11 0 169 16 7 235 3 2 121 13 0 £ s. d. 295 .13 3 268 2 6 234 5 6 28 14 0 371 2 3 189 5 8 971 5 8 300 10 7 293 5 2 £ a. a. 1,131 5 10 1,041 0 9 244 19 9 106 16 5 127 11 6 229 9 41 741 2 11 1,136 15 1 602 12 6 £ s. d. 540 0 4 504 15 6 127 17 6 49 8 5 123 18 3: 134 19 8 555 9 7 535 13 10 315 4 2 £ s. a. 591 5 6 536 5 3 117 3 3 57 8 0 3 13 3 94 9 8 185 13 4 601 1 3 287 8 4