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Dear Sir, — Secretary's Office, Wellington, 3rd September, 1895. I have to inform you that there are at the Girls' High School twenty to twenty-five pupils who probably would not pass for Standard VI. Girls who have passed the Sixth Standard are placed in the third form for English subjects, and in the lower fourth form for arithmetic. Arrangements are made by which they may begin Latin, French, algebra, and euclid without respect to the classes in which they happen to be in for English. Girls of exceptional ability are placed in higher forms than those who have merely passed the Sixth Standard. Yours, &c, Chas. P Powles, Secretary The Rev. W. J Habens, Secretary for Education.

Napier High Schools. Deab Sir,— Napier, 26th July, 1895. In answer to your circular of the 24th July, I have the honour to reply:— 1. How many of your pupils are unable to pass the Sixth Standard of the public schools ? —ln the boys' school there are four. The whole of these boys pass in various subjects in which Sixth Standard children could not. In the girls' schools there are forty-one. The whole of the forty-one learn French besides common subjects. Twenty-three of them learn Latin, algebra, &c, besides. 2. What arrangements are made in your school for the instruction of children who have passed the Sixth Standard?—ln both schools the same course is.followed. Pupils are separately classified in every subject. Sixth Standard children when they enter continue their studies in English and arithmetic, &c. from the place at which they left off in the public schools. In secondary subjects, such as classics, mathematics, and French, they have to start at the commencement in each subject. I have, &c, Eev W J Habens. David Sidey, Secretary to High Schools.

Nelson College. Nelson College, 13th August, 1895. This circular seems to me to be addressed to the District High Schools or Seventh Standard schools. It is quite impossible to say how many in Nelson Boys' College are unable to pass the Sixth Standard, because (1) the boys are not classified according to their knowledge of Sixth Standard subjects or any other Government standard, and (2) the examinations are not conducted on the lines of Government standards. All that I can state is that all boys learn Latin, all above Form 1 learn French as well, and all above Form 2 learn algebra and euclid. Thus, practically, the whole staff is engaged in secondary school work. W S. Littlejohn, Boys' College. The Secretary, College Office, Nelson.

Nelson College for Girls. 1. There are about sixteen pupils who could not pass the Sixth Standard. 2. Those who have passed the Sixth fall, roughly, into two groups— (a.) Those who are working with a view to pass one of the following examinations Matriculation examination, Civil Service, and Teachers' Certificates , (b.) those who are not being educated for any special career. The subjects taught are as follows: — 1. Mathematics —Arithmetic, algebra, euclid, trigonometry. Class B would omit one or more of these subjects. 2. Latin —Grammar and translation. Many in Class B would omit. 3. English —Grammar, essay-writing, literature, English history, geography (including set text-books and miscellaneous reading). Both A and B. 4. French or German —Grammar and translation. Many in B take both. 5. Science —Physics, botany, physiology All these subjects seldom taken. 6. Music, Drawing, Physical Exercises —Throughout a certain amount of liberty in choice of subjects is allowed. Division A working for examinations , Division B for more general education, paying more attention to modern languages and accomplishments.

Canterbury College. Christchurch, New Zealand, 30th July, 1895. Sir, — Boys' High School. In reply to your circular dated 24th July, I have the honour, by direction of the Chairman, to inform you that in the Boys' High School there are at present forty-six boys who are quite unable to pass the Sixth Standard of the public schools , there are twelve others who could, I think, pass the Sixth Standard in English subjects, but would be unable to do so in arithmetic. Of the fortysix boys above mentioned, twenty-two are doing Fourth Standard work and twenty-four Fifth Standard work. There are at present 245 boys in attendance. There is a special form for the reception on entrance of the scholars, exhibitioners, and brighter boys of those who have passed the Sixth Standard. Other boys who have passed the Fifth or Sixth Standards are put into such arithmetic and English classes as their attainments admit of. No boy is kept in a low class because of his ignorance of Latin or any secondary subject, the school being reclassified for each subject, so that a boy may be in the upper third mathematics, middle third English, and upper first Latin. There is a strong modern form, taught by two masters, where boys may go who do not learn Latin. They receive, instead of Latin, instruction in shorthand, science, drawing, and manual training. A great deal of