E.—9

22

3. Woek op Highest and Lowest Classes. Boys. Highest. —Junior scholarship standard, shorthand (advanced), drawing, drill, &c. Loivest. —Latin : Via Latina, Ex. 1 to 40 ; a few pupils to Ex. 60. French : Macmillan's First Course ; Oxford and Cambridge First Writer and Eeader ; Parallel Eeader and Writer I. English: Blackie's Grammar; Longmans' Composition; Scott's Waverley; Longmans' Geography; Gardiner's History; St. Matthew's Gospel. Science: Physiology (Murche). Book-keeping; drawing; writing, Jackson's Civil Service Series; drill. Arithmetic: To interest and discount. Algebra: To simultaneous equations. Euclid : Book 1., with deductions. Boys are prepared in the Lower School for the Otago Education Board senior scholars' examination (open to town and country boys under fifteen and sixteen respectively). Girls. Highest. —English: Macmillan's VI. Eeader; Smith's English Grammar; Morris's Historical English Grammar; precis writing, and other exercises ; weekly essay. Latin: Bradley , s Arnold; Caesar's Gallic War; selections from various authors. French: Le Eoi dcs Montagnes (About); Eacine's Andromaque ; Chardenal's Advanced Course; French Grammar to matriculation standard; prose composition. Arithmetic: Goyen's Higher Arithmetic, whole subject. Algebra: Hall and Knight Euclid: Books 1., 11., and 111. Science (botany) : The morphology and physiology of the commonest order of flowering plants. Scripture: The Acts of the Apostles, chapter xii. to end. History : Epochs; the settlement of the Constitution; England during the American and European War. Geography : Longmans' School Geography for Australasia, pages 1-202. Lowest. —English : Chambers's Graduated Eeader, No. VI.; parsing and analysis ; composition lessons; weekly essay. French: Chardenal's First French Course, Ex. 1-172. Arithmetic: Hamblin Smith; practice; simple problems; and vulgar fractions. History : Miss Buckley's History of England for Beginners, Stuart period. Geography : New Zealand, Australia, Polynesia, brief sketch of the world. Science: MurcWs Animal Physiology, pages 1-62. Scripture: Gospel according to St. Matthew, chapter xi., to end. Drawing; singing; drill.

i. SOHOLAESHIPS. Free education is given to candidates who gain 50 per cent, of attainable marks at the Otago Education Board's scholarship examination. A resident scholarship, obtainable by competition, is also given to one pupil.

OTAGO BOYS' AND GIELS' HIGH SCHOOLS. 1. Eepobt of the Boaed. Sib,— Dunedin, 16th April, 1896. I have the honour to forward herewith report of the Board of Governors of the Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools for the year ending 31st December, 1895. I regret to say that the attendance in both schools this year showed a decline on that of the previous year. The enrolment of boys during the present term, however, shows a substantial increase over the attendance during the fourth quarter of last year, and it is hoped that the attendance will be not only maintained, but also increased during the current year. The falling off in attendance at the Girls' School is attributed to the fact that several private schools for girls have been established in Dunedin, which probably attract pupils who would otherwise attend the Girls' High School. These private schools are largely attended. During the year thirty-three boys and seventeen girls received free education in the High Schools by virtue of having obtained 50 per cent, of the attainable marks in the Education Board's senior and junior scholarship examinations, from which it will be seen that the Board is practically carrying out the object of the Endowed Schools Bill which your predecessor proposed to introduce into Parliament last session, and which would have provided for the free education of about fifty-four pupils. The Eev. Henry Belcher having signified his intention of resigning the Eectorship of the Boys' School at the end of the year, the Board appointed Mr. Alex. Wilson, M.A., Eector of the Girls' High School, to the Eectorship of the Boys' School; and, having resolved to place a lady at the head of the Girls' School, it advertised in New Zealand and the Australian Colonies for a Lady Principal, the result being that Miss M. E. A. Marchant, M.A., of the Wellington Girls' High School, was selected from thirty-nine candidates for the vacancy. Mr. Wilson and Miss Marchant assumed the charge of their respective schools at the commencement of the present year, and the Board fully anticipates that under their management the schools will maintain the same efficiency and success as heretofore. I am sorry to say that the unusual severity of last winter pressed so heavily on most of the Board's pastoral tenants that it was found necessary to make very considerable concessions in the year's rents, and it was therefore with the utmost difficulty that the Board was enabled to keep its expenditure during the year within its income. I have, &c, J. F. M. Fbasee, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.